“I have no hand, whatever, in that fun,” replied Verstork. “The people are rejoicing because you have come to rid them of the swarms of tjellings, which ravage their fields to a frightful extent. You will see how enthusiastically they will turn out to-morrow to help us in beating up the game.”
The cavalcade had now entered the grounds, in which stood the Controller’s house, and the riders were dismounting.
“Gentlemen,” said Verstork addressing van Nerekool and van Rheijn, “I bid you welcome to my poor dwelling.” And then more generally to the company, he said: “We shall take a few minutes to make ourselves comfortable after our hot ride, and have a bath, and then it will be time to sit down to dinner.”
“So early as this?” asked one of the guests.
“To be sure,” replied Verstork, “for after we have had something to eat—which meal you must take as a hunter’s dinner, substantial but short—we shall have to get into the saddle again, to make a reconnaissance at the Djoerang Pringapoes, for we must settle before sunset where our battue will have to start from, and where we shall have to post ourselves and lie in wait for the animals.”
“But we shall have the moon to-night, shall we not?” enquired van Rheijn. “I even fancy that it is full moon.”
“You are quite right,” said Verstork, “and we shall need it, too, on our ride home. Believe me, our arrangements will take up some considerable time; and then we shall all have to turn in early, because to-morrow by daybreak we must be at our posts in the Djoerang, and begin work.”
Then turning to two of the Javanese chiefs, who had followed the party into the grounds, he continued: “Wedono and you Loerah, you will both, I hope, presently, ride with us to the Djoerah?”
“Yes, kandjeng toean,” was their reply.
“Thanks; you will stay to dinner?”