n get your things onboard again, and go."

"But we ought to know too," said Ned, "in case of there being trouble.
We might want to go in a hurry."

"Yes; that's right," grumbled Frank. "Well, you are shabby. I haven't
had a companion for years now; and as soon as I've got one, you want to
take him away."

"But you used to do without one before I came."

"Yes; but then I hadn't had one. I say, never mind about all that.
Settle down here till we all go. Perhaps we shall some day."

"Hamet show the young master where the boat is?"

"Yes," said Ned eagerly; and he forgot his weariness in the desire to
know that which had been concealed from him.

"Why, I thought you were too tired to stir," cried Frank.

"I wanted you to go down to the river to a boat, and you were gruff and
wouldn't come."

"Hamet did not say down by the river."

"Where do you suppose it is, then?" cried Frank, laughing; "up in a
tree?"

"Yes; down the river. Hamet knows."

"Let's go and see where it is, Frank," said Ned eagerly.

"What for? I'm too tired now."

"Suppose you and your father wanted to go too."

"We should have a naga and plenty of the rajah's men."

"No, you would not. He would not let you go."

"No more he would," said Frank, thoughtfully. "All right then, if you
really mean to go, I'll come. I can guess where it is, though, and it
will not be a very nice walk."

"Not far. Soon go," said Hamet. "Then the master know if he want
boat."

"Are the men in it?" said Ned.

"No. All on board big prahu."

"Let's go and see, Frank."

"Very well, but you mean `feel.' Why not wait till morning?"

"No can go then," said Hamet, quickly.

"Very good reason," said Frank, as thoughtful now as his companion.
"Yes, we might as well know. My father has often said he wished we had
a boat of our own that we could use if we wanted to go away in a hurry,
because the rajah had gone in a mad fit."

"Young masters come?"

"Yes. Go on and we'll follow," said Frank; "but look out for the
crocs."

Hamet gave them a keen look, held up his hand, and threw himself down,
crawled to the doorway, and out on to the veranda.

"Looking out for squalls," said Frank, laughingly.

In a minute Hamet was back.

"Can't see men. All dark. No one. No speak. Keep close to Hamet."

"Yes; we'll follow," said Ned, and after lowering the lamp a little by
putting the wick back amongst the oil, they crept out on to the veranda,
wher