ssful.

Then once more they were afloat, and for the first time Ned recognised
their guardians of the jungle prison from which they had been rescued by
Hamet, these men going back in their own boat, now reverted to its
proper crew.

So the two nagas floated gently down the stream in the afternoon,
reaching the campong at last; but they went down so leisurely that it
was dark when they reached the jetty, shouting and beating a gong to
announce their return in triumph.

Everything seemed very quiet at the village, and Ned tried to pierce the
darkness and make out the place where they had lain in hiding, and that
where they had landed to try to rescue Murray.

"I say," whispered Frank, rousing up from the despondent state in which
he had sunk, "try and count the prahus."

Ned turned and looked in the other direction, but it was too dark, and
he said he could not see.

"I can't either, but it seemed as if there were four."

The men sprang ashore, and secured the two boats before bidding their
prisoners come out, and as one by one these landed, Mr Braine overheard
a little of their conversation.

"We are to be all taken straight up to the rajah's," he whispered.
"Keep up your courage, and let's hope yet. All may be well after all."

"Very kind of you to say so, Mr Braine," replied the doctor, "but--"

There was no time for further converse, the Malay head-man giving an
order, and the whole party were marched off the jetty and up the broad
path leading toward the rajah's; the crews of the two boats following
with regular military step, till they reached a narrower part, where the
way led between two houses, when suddenly, as if they had risen out of
the earth, a body of men blocked the road, and guard and prisoners were
halted.

Then there were cries of excitement, and orders given to retreat, but
another body of enemies blocked the road in their rear.

For a few moments it seemed as if the prisoners were to be in the centre
of a desperate encounter, but a few sharp commands sufficed to make the
Malay guard sullenly give up their arms to a force ten times their
number, and then the march toward the rajah's house was continued, but
under a fresh guard now.

"What is the matter?" whispered Ned. "Is the rajah angry with them for
taking us?"

"I don't quite know," said Frank. "It seems to me that--Wait a minute
or two, it's so dark, and I can't make these men out."

They were marched directly after into the