“Prabu hath said it: do the sahibs doubt his words?”
“No, no!” replied Martin; “yet I cannot—I cannot feel convinced! But, anyhow, that fellow shall not escape me until I have the assurance from his own lips;” and so saying, he dashed up the steps and through the doorway, but then gave such a wail of agony and despair, that, fearing he might have been suddenly attacked and wounded by Huc-cuk, I immediately followed him; but there he stood, now speechless with rage, for the hunchback had escaped.
“Claud, Claud!” he exclaimed, on seeing me, “even Prabu has deceived us—but bitterly shall he pay for it;” and as the latter came up the steps, I believe he would have attacked him had I not held him back.
“Martin, my brother, for shame! Have faith in Prabu still—he would never betray us so cruelly.”
“Give me, then, thou Javan dog!—give me, I say, my cousin or this hunchback!”
“Javan dog in thy teeth!” exclaimed the descendant of Surapati, savagely; then, with a smile, he added: “But the poor young sahib Martin is mad with grief, and forgets that, for his uncle’s sake, the Javan dog is to him the most faithful of animals.”
“Well,” hotly replied Martin, “the words were wrong—I retract them; I believe in you, Prabu; but—but I insist upon knowing where our cousin is hidden.”
“Let the Sahib Martin have patience,” was the quiet reply—“let him wait. Prabu, who would die fifty deaths rather than betray or deceive the nephews of the good Councilor Black, swears by the Koran, that the girl shall be delivered to them safe and unharmed. More than this he cannot, dare not, must not now say! Will the sahibs trust him?”
“Frankly will I,” said I, shaking his hand; but Martin stood bewildered, and as if half-ashamed of his impetuosity, yet too proud to give in. It was, however, but for a moment; then, following my example, he took him by the hand, saying:
“Prabu, I submit; but, for Heaven’s sake, lose no time in relieving me from this cruel suspense.”