“Yes; some of the best jokes are made out of the real or fancied (it matters not which to the butt) miseries of others, while savages are always serious, either to friends or to enemies.”
“Claud, old fellow, you are a cynic.”
“That is better than being a wit, or witling, at the expense of the feelings of others.”
“Well, I don’t know, perhaps you are right—I am not so wise an old fellow as you; but see, Prabu is beckoning us to his cabin.”
Our captain had a meal ready, the best he could have made up, consisting of hot rice, dried fish, a fish-sauce, and slices of pork, to say nothing of a cup of hot rice-spirit, of which he insisted we should partake before saying another word—which good things made Martin bold enough to say:
“Now, Prabu, I don’t like half-confidence, and you know we shall be in a pretty mess if the Dutch happen to catch us; besides, we are all rowing in one boat, or prahu, which is the same thing. Do, therefore, like a good old Prabu as you are, tell us upon what errand you sent Kati up to that town with the very hard name?”
“Sahib,” replied Prabu, in measured tones, “I may tell you, Kati went to tell the Chief of Pugar our adventure with the Dutch ships, that he might be on his guard, knowing that the suspicions of the Government had become excited.”
“New conspiracies!—I thought so,” said Martin, laughing.
“Not so, sahib, but a part of the old one,” replied Prabu, astutely.
“But, anyhow, you will manage to get us hanged, drawn, and quartered, or something equally pleasant, if we don’t look out.”