ney in Captain Fairclough's hands, and
whether I return or not he will, before he leaves, pay it to the
men themselves, if they come back, or to their families."

"That is a fair proposal," the Malay said. "When do you wish the
messengers to start?"

"The letter will be ready for them, in an hour's time. I will come
on shore with it, see the men, and give it to them, with
instructions. Will they travel by night, or day?"

"They will start at daybreak," the chief said. "The road is but a
track, and could not be followed at night; for a forest extends
almost the whole distance, and they would find it too dark to keep
to the road. I told them that it would be safer to travel at night,
but they said it could not be done. They would not be likely to be
surprised in the day, as they would travel noiselessly, and would
be sure to hear any movement of a party of men coming along the
road, and could hide in the forest until they had passed. Moreover,
our people do not like travelling in the dark. Evil creatures are
about, and even the bravest fear them."

"Very well, chief; then I will come ashore in an hour, and give
them this letter."

As soon as they had left, Harry went down to the interpreter, and
gave him the exact purport of the message to the rajah; leaving it
to him to put it in the usual form in which communications were
addressed to persons in authority, but saying that it was necessary
that he should impress him with his importance, as the commissioner
of the great Governor of India. When this was transcribed, on some
parchment which had been brought for the purpose, Harry went ashore
with Lieutenant Hardy and a strong party of seamen for, although
the local chief had apparently been most friendly, the treacherous
nature of the Malays was well known, and Fairclough thought it as
well to order them to take their cutlasses with them, and each man
to carry a brace of pistols hidden beneath his jacket.

A number of natives assembled on the shore as the boat approached,
but they seemed to be attracted by curiosity, only. Just as the
boat touched the beach, the chief came down to meet them, attended
by a dozen armed followers. He invited Harry to follow him to his
own house, where the two messengers were awaiting him. They were
both men in the prime of life--strong, active-looking fellows.
Harry, through his interpreter, explained exactly what he wished
done.

"If you carry out your mission well, and quickly," he