The clock showed that it only wanted a few minutes to midnight, and setting her teeth hard in her determination, the trembling woman gave herself till twelve before starting for the officers’ quarters and the Residency to give the alarm.
As she reached the gate she became aware of lights in the distance, evidently going in the direction of the river lower down. Voices, too, floated on the night air, and her spirits rose, for she was conscious of a merry laugh. It could not mean trouble, and she stopped short, watching the lights that seemed now to have stopped by the river’s bank, trying to fit them in somehow with a solution of her trouble. Still all was mental darkness, when she was conscious of a shout or two which made her start, but only to realise directly afterwards as she heard replies, followed by the splash of oars, that some one must be departing in a boat.
Then came the murmur of talking as the little party appeared to be not coming towards her but striking off diagonally in the direction of the officers’ quarters and the Residency.
A loud cry escaped her. It was answered, and the next minute hurrying feet were approaching her, and a voice exclaimed:
“Anything the matter?”
“Yes, yes!” panted the agitated woman.
“Who is it? Mrs Morley?”
“Yes. Help, Captain Down—I—I—” and, trembling and half-breathless, she clung to the speaker as he caught her hands in his.
“The Resident’s boat?” she panted.
“No, no—Rajah Hamet’s. We have been to see him off.”