“Was the fellow alone when you came upon him?”
“Oh yes, quite alone,” readily replied Liem King.
Lim Ho showed that he was greatly disappointed at the news.
“He came ashore in a ‘djoekoeng,’ I think you told me?” he asked.
“He did, sir,” replied Liem King.
“Could the ‘djoekoeng’ have turned over at sea?” continued Lim Ho.
“Very likely,” replied the wily Chinaman.
“When Than Khan and myself found the ‘djoekoeng,’ ” he continued, “Ardjan was lying exhausted and wet through on the beach—he looked as if he had been washing about in the water, and the bamboos of the rigging were smashed to pieces.”
“All right,” said Lim Ho superciliously, “we shall hear all about that presently.”
As he entered the hut, he did not deign so much as to cast a look at Ardjan; but abruptly asked him: