Minnie was silent directly; and close to the spot where Peter had been speaking a curious rustling noise arose, which Archie could not understand, till almost at once the edge of the moon appeared above the night mist and lit up the interior of the shelter, and then it was plain that the big Malay fisherman was busy at work cutting down branches and laying them across the boat, in which a pile of leafage was beginning to appear.
“What does he mean by this?” whispered Archie. “I suppose he means the branches to disguise the boat.”
“I don’t know,” said Minnie. “I suppose so. I don’t think we need ask. He and Dula have saved me, and have been most kind.”
“But can you talk now?”
“Yes, yes; I will not break down again if I can help it.”
“I’ll wait,” said Archie.
“No, no; go on talking, pray,” half-sobbed the girl. “It keeps me from thinking. What were you going to say?”
“I was going to ask you how you knew that we were in hiding here.”
“Knew! Oh no! It was like this. Dula and Pahan were bringing me down in their boat, believing that they could reach the bungalow in the darkness and hide me there. Of course you did not see in the dusk that I am wearing Dula’s baju and sarong.”
“No; it was all too dark and confused. But I did think you were a native woman.”