to be very difficult; but it will
make it easier if we cut the ground away, as deep as we can, on
this side of them."

Kneeling down, they set to work with their knives and, after half
an hour's work, they had laid bare the bottoms of four of the
bamboos, which were sunk two feet into the ground.

"Now, Abdool, we ought to get them up easily enough."

With their united strength they pulled up a bamboo, replaced it in
its position and, one by one, got the other three up, put them in
again, and lightly filled in the earth.

"Now we can go, at a minute's notice," Harry said. "At any rate, we
had better wait till it is dark."

The sun had just set, when they saw the rajah come out of his hut.
He gave an order, and the four troopers were brought out, and
placed in a line. Four natives took their places behind them, kris
in hand.

"They are going to murder them!" Harry exclaimed, in horror.

"Now, Abdool, there is not a moment to be lost; it will be our
turn, next."

Their guards had all risen to their feet, watching what was going
on. Three of the bamboos were plucked up in a moment. This afforded
an opening sufficiently large for them to pass through and, keeping
the hut between them and the guard, they made their way through the
plantation, and dashed into the forest. They heard yells of
satisfaction in the village, and Harry had no doubt that the four
troopers had been murdered.

They ran at full speed through the forest and, ten minutes later,
heard loud shouts of dismay; and had no doubt that a party had been
sent to take them out to execution, and had discovered their
escape. It was already almost dark, under the thick shade of the
trees; but for half an hour they ran on, the Malay in advance, for
he could see any obstacles better than they could, the habits and
training of his youth having given him experience in such work.

For a time they had heard loud shouts behind them. These had been
useful, in enabling them to keep a straight course. The Malay now
turned, and struck off at right angles to the line that they had
been pursuing.

"We must keep on, for a time," he said. "When they do not overtake
us, they will scatter through the forest in all directions."

For hours they toiled on, sometimes at an easy walk, sometimes
breaking into a run. At last the Malay admitted that, for the time,
they were safe; and they threw themselves down upon the ground.

"Tomorrow," he said, "they will take up the sea