“What made you run away?”
“I was homesick,” was the reply, “I was heartily sick of the ship and wanted to get back to the ‘dessa.’ ”
“Indeed!” sneered Lim Ho. “And that was the reason, I suppose, why you took Dalima with you?”
Ardjan kept silence; Liem King and Than Khan were growing as pale as death.
“Where was the girl drowned?” suddenly asked Lim Ho.
“Drowned,” shouted Ardjan, “you say drowned. Have they drowned her, then?”
“Have they drowned her?” said Lim Ho in a mocking tone of voice. “Was not the ‘djoekoeng’ upset when the pair of you tried to run away in her? Where did that take place? perhaps Dalima may somehow have been able to get out.”
“Able to get out,” repeated Ardjan. “But the ‘djoekoeng’ did not turn over at all,” he exclaimed. “We both of us got ashore. She was terribly frightened at the storm to be sure, but quite unhurt, and I was completely exhausted with rowing.”
“But,” roared Lim Ho, “what has become of her, then?”
“That, I cannot tell you,” replied Ardjan, “you must ask Liem King and Than Khan.”