“By Jove,” cried August van Beneden, “that sucking pig is a most delicious morsel.”
“Very nice, indeed,” remarked van Rheijn. “But, how many of those chaps have we bowled over I wonder?”
“That I cannot tell you,” said Verstork.
“But,” resumed van Beneden, “we ought to know the number in order that we may be able to judge in how far our expedition may be called successful. How shall we find out?”
“Patience, August, patience,” said Verstork with a smile.
“All right, William,” continued van Beneden, “you know I have no great stock of that commodity. I wonder how many of those beasts we have knocked over. I saw a good number of them sprawling about.”
“The wedono will be here presently with his report,” replied Verstork.
“The wedono! Yes, he has disappeared—where can he have got to?”
“Well,” said Verstork, “I ordered him and the two loerahs to make a careful search in the Djoerang Pringapoes. He will no doubt soon be here to tell us the result of our day’s work.”
The words were scarcely spoken, before one of the oppassers came in to announce the arrival of the dessa-chief.