The Doctor’s Call.
In spite of the Resident’s doubts and expressed opinion that the two Rajahs would display resentment, the neighbourhood settled down calmly enough. The village people nearest, notwithstanding their being chased helter-skelter, mixed up with the Rajah’s followers, very soon showed that they had thoroughly enjoyed the fun of seeing Suleiman’s haughty, tyrannical gang scared away and running as if for their lives.
The people of the more distant campongs came in just as usual, bringing their fruit and poultry to market as before; and though the half-military-looking armed men did not make their appearance, the Resident was bound to confess that this was not a bad sign, as they had rarely approached the cantonments to mingle with the soldiers off duty.
A few days elapsed, and then a present was sent in, consisting of supplies, by Rajah Hamet; and the very next day two of Suleiman’s chiefs brought in a letter, written in English, but dotted with French allusions which suggested its source.
It was an invitation for the Major and his officers to a tiger-hunt. This was considered, and then the Major replied in the most friendly way, begging to be excused on the ground that it was impossible to accept the invitation then, but asking for it to be repeated later on.
The weather was lovely, there being a succession of brilliant moonlight nights; while before the moon rose, even the Doctor declared that the display made by the fire-flies in the darkness was simply glorious.
One evening Sir Charles was dining at the bungalow, and, having got over his nervous doubts, upon hearing Minnie express a desire to go up the river and see the fire-flies first, and the rising of the moon after, the Resident at once proposed to have his smaller boat prepared, with a couple of his most trusty native servants to pole it a short distance up the river, and then bring the Doctor and the two ladies back to supper at the Residency.
Minnie was delighted; but, to the Resident’s great satisfaction, her aunt declared at once that she would not go up the river by night on account of the crocodiles.
“I don’t want to throw a wet blanket over Sir Charles’s kindly suggested trip,” she said, “but I certainly will not go.”
“Oh, there’s no danger to be feared, my dear madam,” said Sir Charles. “The reptiles would never dare to attack a well-manned boat.”