“Five million guilders,” cried the astonished Walloon. “Five million guilders! What wouldn’t I give to find a stone like that! I say, where is Landak?”
“In that direction,” answered Johannes, pointing to the south-west.
“Shall we pass there?” asked the Walloon.
“What do you mean?” Johannes replied. “How shall we pass there when we are journeying towards the north?”
“Look here,” said the Walloon, showing the tattered book. [[346]]“A diamond has been found in Landak valued at five million guilders. Suppose we could find such a stone?”
“Bah! you hope to find a diamond worth over two million dollars! Your aspirations are on the increase. Let us see what your book says about that gem.”
Johannes took the manuscript and commenced to read. Having finished the description of the jewel, he leisurely turned some of the pages, becoming gradually more interested in their perusal.
“Where did you get this book?” he enquired of the Walloon.
La Cueille related how Harimaoung Boekit had given it to him among other volumes for the purpose of making cartridges. The Poenan was now questioned, and after thinking awhile remembered that he had appropriated it during a head-hunting expedition among the Penhengs. He also informed them that it had been profusely illustrated, but that the children had torn out the pictures.
On further examination Johannes fancied that on the inside of one of the covers, over which a blank leaf had been pasted, he could perceive some writing. He carefully loosened the page and detached it from the cover, when he read the following: