“Yes, sir. I got hold of one of the chaps who went with him.”
“Well, go on; I’m burning to hear. What have they found out?”
“He says, sir, that the Major did not want Sir Charles to go, and they had words together. He heard Sir Charles say the attack was made on the boat up the river, as well you and me know, sir.”
“Yes, Pete,” said Archie, who was listening and watching the movements of the boat at the same time.
“And that he felt sure Miss Heath must have been carried right up-stream, and that they should find her in one of the campongs, or kept shut up in some place belonging to the Rajah.”
“Well, go on.”
“And then the Major said, sir, to Sir Charles that they weren’t quite sure that the Rajah had done this, and that he should be obliged if Sir Charles would stay, and let one of the officers go instead. Then Sir Charles says that he’s morally sure that it was the Rajah’s doing, and that he feels he must go. And then they went, and they’ve been right up the river as far as they could get the big boat; and they landed over and over again and searched the campongs and examined the people, who all said they did not know anything about it, and looked stupid, as these Malay chaps can look when they don’t want to tell tales; and at last Sir Charles had to give up, after he had been down with something like sunstroke.”
“Yes—go on quickly,” said Archie.
“And he went onsensible like, and there was nothing else they could do but bring him back.”
“And they brought him back ill?”