“I am in earnest, sir! Not a night will pass without our being attacked, and in those constant raids we shall be exposed to terrible losses. And when finally we are exhausted by these daily skirmishes and by nightly watchings, the great battle will be fought which will annihilate us altogether.”
“But are you not three to one, Tomonggong?” was the bitter reproach of the Colonel.
“That means nothing against a well-entrenched army. And how long will our superiority in number continue after the tribes of the upper country shall have joined them?”
“But you forget that in ten days I will be here with a force sufficiently large to deal with all the tribes of Borneo.” [[216]]
“It will be too late then, sir!”
“Then what are we to do, Tomonggong?” the Colonel said, impatiently.
“Nothing but to let us go with you and return with you if necessary.”
“And in the meantime we allow the deserters to escape,” was the bitter reply.
“Very possible, sir! but rest assured they will escape just the same when you go away and leave us here.”
“But they are caged like mice.”