smile said a few words to Frank, who turned to his companion.

"The rajah says you are to come and see him to-morrow. He will send for
you to look at all his curiosities."

"But how can I come if I go with my uncle?" replied Ned.

"Says how can he come if he goes shooting and gold-hunting with his
uncle?" said Frank, in English.

The Tumongong smiled sadly, and replied in Malay.

"Tells me you're not to go with your uncle to-morrow, but to come here,"
said Frank, interpreting. "Never mind; I'll go with him."

The Tumongong said a few words.

"Oh, I'm to stop too. Very well. I don't mind. I'll stay, and we'll
make the old boy give us plenty of fruit and sweets. He will, I know.
Go and tell him," he continued, "that we kiss his feet."

The Tumongong smiled, patted Frank on the arm, as if he were a
favourite, and returned to stand behind where his master was seated,
smoking, and gazing amiably from one to the other, favouring Murray
several times, and each time their eyes met, the rajah raised his golden
cup to his lips, and sipped a little coffee.

At last, when the patience of every one of the English party was
thoroughly exhausted, the rajah rose, which was taken as a signal for
their dismissal; but the potentate reversed the etiquette of an English
parting by shaking hands with the gentlemen first, and smiling almost
affectionately upon Murray, whose hand he grasped warmly, while the
Englishman's grip was cold and limp. Then turning to the ladies, he
bade Mrs Braine, Mrs Greig, and Mrs Barnes good-night, after the
custom of his country, and lastly, held out his hand to Amy, who could
hardly master herself sufficiently to place hers within it.

As he grasped it firmly, he bent down and said a few words in a low
tone, which made the girl shrink away with a horrified look, while
Murray would have started forward, but for Mr Braine's restraining
hand.

But the rajah retained the hand he held, and slipping a ring from his
little finger, he placed it on one of Amy's, accompanying it with a
meaning look, and then drawing back to march slowly toward the hanging
mats which, divided the room from the next, and passing through followed
by the chiefs and attendants; while the visitors lost no time in making
for the veranda, below which an armed guard bearing lanterns was
waiting, ready to escort them as far as the doctor's house, and here
they salaamed and retired.

"Come in, Braine--come in, Mr Murray," said