The shock threw Mrs Langley into a violent fever. She even lost her reason for a time, and when at last she was restored to some degree of health, she went away to Bombay without saying to any one what were her intentions. She could never entirely forgive old George for having prevented her returning to the house to share the fate of her child, and left Sarawak without bidding him farewell, though, as old George himself pathetically remarked, “Me couldn’t ’elp it, you knows. De scoundrils kill missis if she goed back, an’ dat doos no good to Miss Letty.”
This was all the information that could be obtained about Mrs Langley, and on the strength of it Sam and Robin resolved to proceed to Bombay by the first opportunity. But their patience was severely tried, for many months elapsed ere they obtained berths in a vessel bound direct to Bombay.
Of course Jim Slagg determined to go with them, and so did Stumps, though a slight feeling of coldness had begun to manifest itself in that worthy’s manner ever since the episode of the division of jewels. John Johnson, however, made up his mind to take service with the Rajah, and help to exterminate the nests of pirates with which those seas were infested.
“Depend upon it, sir,” said Johnson to Robin at parting, “that you’ll turn out somethin’ or other afore long. As I said to our stooard on the night that you was born, ‘Stooard,’ says I, ‘take my word for it, that there babby what has just been launched ain’t agoin’ under hatches without makin’ his mark somehow an’ somewheres,’ an’ you’ve begun to make it, sir, a’ready, an’ you’ll go on to make it, as sure as my name’s John Johnson.”
“I’m gratified by your good opinion,” replied Robin, with a laugh. “All I can say is, that whatever mark I make, I hope may be a good one.”
Poor Robin had little ambition at that time to make any kind of mark for himself on the world. His one desire—which had grown into a sort of passion—was to find Letta’s mother. Nearly all his thoughts were concentrated on that point, and so great was his personal influence on his comrades, that Sam and Slagg had become almost as enthusiastic about it as himself, though Stumps remained comparatively indifferent.