"He's alive," Peter Gross declared confidently, although his own heart was heavy with misgiving. "We've got to rescue him."
"They've got at least five hours the start of us," Carver remarked. "How far are we from the seacoast?"
Peter Gross's reply was as militarily curt as the captain's question.
"They're probably at sea. We'll take a chance, though." He glanced upward at the sound of a footfall. "Ah, here's Jahi."
Peter Gross turned to the chieftain who had so promptly lived up to his oath of brotherhood. Warm with gratitude, he longed to crush the Dyak's hand within his own, but restrained himself, knowing how the Borneans despised display of emotion. Instead he greeted the chief formally, rubbing noses according to the custom of the country.
No word of thanks crossed his lips, for he realized that Jahi would be offended if he spoke. Such a service was due from brother to brother, according to the Dyak code.
"Rajah, can we catch those China boys before they reach their proas?" Carver asked.
"No can catch," Jahi replied.
"Can we catch them before they sail?"