r those two poor young chaps? I
can't talk much about it, but I have thought a deal."

"So have I, messmate."

"Ah," said Buck, "I'm afraid it's all over with the poor old governor.
Fine old English gentleman he was."

"Ay," said Dan, "and the poor doctor too. Talk about a man, Buck--they
don't build many craft like him. Thorough gentleman down to the ground,
and all the same a regular working man too. If there's anything he
couldn't do it's because it arn't been invented yet. My word, messmate,
what a skipper he would have made! I should just like to have gone
through life as his first mate."

"Ah," said Buck, "well, we shan't be long before we know the worst.
Look! Here they come, yelling and shouting and singing welcome home to
our lot. Now, what's it going to be next?"

"Ah, that's what I want to know," said Dan. "They arn't cannyballs, or
it would mean a big fire and a wholesale roast."

"Haw, haw!" ejaculated the big fellow, in a dismal attempt at a laugh.
"Why, they will be making you cook, Danny. Well, if they do, put me out
of my misery first, and good luck to 'em! They will find me pretty
tough. I know what I should like to do, Dan. I have been wishing that
I was a nigger like our Mak. He is just like a heel. No matter what
happens he's always able to slip out of the way. But just now I don't
wish I was a nigger. I should just like to be one of them Malay kris
chaps, get my arm set free, and then run amuck."

"What's the good of that, messmate? They'd only spear you at last."

"Well, I should have sarved some of them out for what they've done to
the boss and the doctor, and what they are a-going to do to them two
poor lads."

Buck Denham ceased speaking, for a party of about sixty of the Illakas
came rushing out, yelling, from the ruins, and brandishing their spears,
joining the boys' captors and beginning to indulge in a furious kind of
war dance, a savage triumph, in which the prisoners were surrounded and
hurried right in amongst the ruins to the opening of the kraal, and
where the clearing had been made by the travellers and explorers of the
wondrous ruins.

Mark and Dean allowed themselves to be forced unresistingly along,
wild-eyed and staring, but not with fear, for self for the time being
had no existence in their minds.

Their wildly staring eyes were searching here, there and everywhere for
a glimpse of Sir James and the doctor. But they looked in vain.

It is, they