Malay answered that he could not say, until he had spoken to
some of them; but he thought that for ten dollars they would be
willing to undertake it.

"Tell him that I would pay that, and will give them as much more
if, on their return, they will guide me and my party to the
residence of the rajah."

The Malay shook his head.

"They would want more for that," he said. "Two natives could pass
without much danger for, if they were caught, they could say that
they belonged to one of the other bands, but had lost their party.
It would be quite different if they were to have Europeans with
them.

"How many would go?"

"Seven of us, altogether."

"I will see about it," the chief said; "but if I succeed, you will
give me three bottles of that drink."

"I have very little of it," Harry said, "but I will agree to give
him the three bottles, if he finds messengers to take up my
letters; and arranges with them, or others, to guide us up."

The Malay nodded, when the answer was translated to him; drank half
a tumbler of ship's rum, with great satisfaction; and then went
off.

"This is going to be a more dangerous business than our expedition
to Nagpore," Harry said to Abdool, when he told him what the Malay
had said about the dangers, and the state of affairs on shore.

"My lord will manage it, somehow," Abdool said; "he was born under
a fortunate star, and will assuredly do what is best."

"I shall do what I hope is best, Abdool; but one cannot answer how
it will turn out. One thing is certain: that if we fall into the
hands of the Malays, we shall meet with little mercy."

"We should have had no mercy, if we had fallen into the hands of
the people of Nagpore, master," Abdool said.

"That is true enough, Abdool; and I don't think we should have been
much better off, if Scindia had laid hands on us after we had
bearded him in his tent. I cannot say that this expedition is one
that I should have chosen, were I not convinced that it is my duty.
However, we must hope that all will go well with us, as it has done
before."

The next day the Malay came off again.

"I have arranged with two men," he said, "to take your message, for
ten dollars; but if they go back with you, they will require
twenty, because the rajah might detain them."

"That I will pay," Harry said.

"But supposing you should not come back," the Malay said, "they
might lose their reward. Will you pay them in advance?"

"No. I will leave the mo