comes."

"Would you take some blue jackets with you?"

"No. If we were attacked by a force of Malays, we should probably
be annihilated even if I took half your ship's company. Therefore,
the smaller the escort I travel with, the better. I shall, of
course, take the Malay, my man Abdool, and the four men of the
escort. That is quite enough, if we get up without trouble; whereas
if there is trouble, the fewer the better."

"Well, I hope no harm will come of it, Lindsay. Of course, if you
consider it your duty to go, go you must."

"Yes, I think it my duty. I consider the cession of this island to
be of extreme importance. If we only obtain it from the tumangong,
some day the Rajah of Johore might get the upper hand, and
repudiate the treaty made without his approval and, narrow as the
strait is, he might cross with forty or fifty canoes, make his way
through the woods, and annihilate the settlement at one blow."

"No doubt that is so," the other agreed. "Well, if you get detained
you will, of course, try and make your way down to the coast. I
will remain at anchor off the town for a month, after you start. If
there is no news of you, then, I shall conclude that it is hopeless
to wait longer, and shall sail for Calcutta with your despatches.
As I was present at both your interviews, I shall be able to
report, from my own knowledge, as to the disposition shown both by
the tumangong and the Dutch."

Ten days later, they cast anchor off the village. Some canoes soon
came off to them with fruit and other products and, shortly
afterwards, a war canoe came out with the chief man of the town. At
first he was very reticent; but a bottle of champagne opened his
lips, and he and the interpreter conversed for some time together.

"What does he say?" Harry asked, when there was a pause in the
conversation.

"He says, sir, that the country is very unsettled, and that it is
unsafe to travel. The town acknowledges the rajah as its master,
and the territory through which the road runs is nominally his; but
it is infested by bands owing allegiance to a neighbouring rajah,
who is at war with him."

"Have you asked him if it is possible to send a messenger through?"

"He said that there are plenty of men who would venture to go
through, if well paid. He thinks that two men would be better than
ten, for they could hide themselves more easily in the forest."

"Well, ask him what he would send two messengers through for."

The