Ned loses his Hat.
The two lads had grown in an hour as intimate as if they had been friends for months, and they were chatting away together as they approached Murray’s house, where Hamet was standing looking out.
“Hah!” he cried; “you are here. The master has been looking for you, and is gone again.”
“Here he comes!” cried Ned’s new companion, taking off and waving his cap as Murray came striding up, looked strangely at the Resident’s son, and then turned to his nephew.
“I was getting anxious about you,” he said. “Keep by me, my boy. Come along to breakfast. We are going up the river directly after. Mr Braine has been to say we are to go on with our work at once, and land and examine some hills about ten miles up.”
“I know,” said Ned’s companion, “Gunong Bu.”
Murray turned upon him sharply, but the lad was in nowise abashed.
“I’ll go with you, and show you. I know the way through the jungle. There’s an old path. I’ve been—”
“Thank you,” said Murray, coldly. “Come, my boy, the breakfast has all been sent on by the rajah.”
“I knew he would send,” said their visitor. “You keep friends with him, and you’ll see how civil he can be.”