A momentary flash of astonishment crossed Carver's face. Then his suspicions were redoubled.
"I hadn't expected this," he said, without mincing words. "I thought you would be on the other side."
Muller's face reddened, but he instantly recovered. "There was a time when I thought so, too, kapitein," he admitted candidly. "But I now see I was in the wrong. What has been done, I cannot undo. But I can die with you. There is no escape for you to-day, they are too many, and too well armed. I have lived a Celebes islander, a robber, and a friend of robbers. I can at least die a white man and a Hollander."
Carver looked at him fixedly.
"Where is the resident?" he demanded.
"In a hut, in the jungle."
"In Ah Sing's hands?"
"He is Koyala's prisoner. Ah Sing does not know he is there."
"Um!" Carver grunted. The exclamation hid a world of meaning. It took little thought on his part to vision what had occurred.
"Why aren't you with Koyala?" he asked crisply.