ng upon which I can
act. If I could be doing something, I could bear it better."

"I can propose nothing," said Mr Braine, sadly. "We are so surrounded
by difficulties, so hedged in by danger, that we cannot stir. You must
remember that any premature action on our part might hasten the
catastrophe we want to avert."

"But he would not dare--"

"Murray!" replied Mr Braine, with energy, as they stood there in the
intense darkness, the speaker conscious that several of the rajah's
spearmen were close at hand, "he would dare anything in his blind belief
that he is too powerful for the English government to attack him."

"Then he must be taught."

"And I," continued Mr Braine, as if not hearing the interruption, "have
been for years doing what seems now to recoil on my unhappy head,
strengthening his belief in himself by training his people for him, and
turning savages into decent, well-drilled soldiers, who have made him
the dread of the country for hundreds of miles round."

"Come on and tell Doctor Barnes," said Murray at last, and they hurried
back, almost brushing against two sentries standing among the trees, men
who followed them silently, and then paused as they entered the gates,
where they were joined by three more, looking shadowy and strange by the
fireflies' light.

As they reached the foot of the steps, the doctor stepped forward, and
then said that he would descend.

"She is asleep at last," he whispered. "Thank you for coming. You need
not be so anxious now. Go back, and I promise you both that I will send
Driscol on if there is the slightest need of your help. There is not
likely to be anything but a quiet insistence on his part, and this must
be met firmly."

"There is likely to be something more than quiet insistence, Doctor
Barnes," said Murray, sternly. "We have come to bring bad news. Those
two lads have been spirited away."

"What!" cried the doctor, excitedly. "No, no; surely not. They were
favourites with the rajah. Some accident or some prank. They are only
boys; perhaps my man Driscol has--No, no, no. He is here in the house.
But think again; had they any idea of trying some kind of night fishing,
or shooting? Yes, of course. I heard Frank tell my child that he was
going to sit up and watch with a Malay--of course--in the jungle, to try
and trap or shoot a specimen or two of the argus pheasant for you, Mr
Murray.--That is it, depend upon it, Braine."

"No," said the Re