“Yes,” said Hamet quietly. “That is why I thought he would be here. Do you like him?”
“Not a bit,” said Archie. “Why?”
“Oh, I suppose it was because I dislike him myself. That is all. Good-bye. As we Malays say, apa boleh booat.”
“What is to be will be,” said Archie. “Good-bye.”
The parade-ground remained deserted for quite an hour, and then some of the campong people had regained sufficient courage to begin dribbling back, to be followed by a few of the inhabitants of the neighbouring villages. But not one of the Malays who followed their Rajahs made their appearance. Consequently there was no attempt made to carry out the sports; but on being consulted, the Major gave orders that the illumination of the boats should be encouraged, and the display of rockets and coloured lights should follow; and as this news gradually spread, some of the nearest village people and fisher-folk joined in, to display their lanterns upon their boats, and a pretty fair gathering of the campong people were present as soon as it was dark, it taking very little in so effective a position to light up the river and jungle banks in a most attractive way.
The Doctor and his wife and niece, in addition to several of the ladies of the station, dined at the mess that night, so that they might afterwards stroll down to the banks of the river and watch the rockets burst and sprinkle the jungle with their stars; and just as the enjoyment was at its height, and the simple Malay folk kept on bursting out with their ejaculations indicative of delight, the Major went up behind the Resident, who had been chatting with the Doctor and his ladies.
“Well, Dallas,” he said, “you don’t feel nervous now, do you?”
“Hush!” was the reply, as the gentleman addressed looked sharply round. “More so than ever. I hope you have got sentries out to command the river approaches to the station?”
“Of course I have. But why?”
“Because see what an opportunity is offered for those two chiefs to take revenge upon us for what they must consider an insult to their dignity.”