“But the safety of the post entrusted to you?”
“Oh, my dear sir, I will not endanger that.”
“How so? The garrison is not strong. You cannot take any men away from it without danger.”
“Oh, I will leave the garrison intact. I will have them hunted down by a native detachment.”
“That would be cruel. To be hunted down by Dayaks!”
“I must own that those fellows are not over-scrupulous; but what else can I do? As you say, I dare not take any of the garrison and I cannot very well remain inactive. However, it is impossible to decide what steps are to be taken until I have seen the Chief of the district. It may be that the deserters [[9]]have already been seized by the kampong guard and that our anxieties are premature. I am now going to visit the posts, will you come with me?”
“Donnerwetter! it is no treat to grope about in that Egyptian darkness.”
“Well stay behind and wait for me. The Chief may be here directly and I should like to have you present at our interview. I shall not be long.”
The Colonel went out. He had only a short distance to go, the fort being very small.
The sentries were found duly posted and peering sharply into the surrounding darkness. The bridge over the moat had been let down and the gates stood ajar; but outside at the further extremity of the drawbridge there was stationed a picket of six men, whilst behind the gate the whole garrison was drawn up with shouldered rifles. The Colonel, satisfied with his inspection, was about to return to his quarters and his guest when he was accosted by a corporal.