ientific man."

"You are perfectly right; but I must speak plainly. This man has
perfect confidence in his own power, and he rules here like the Czar of
Russia. My dear sir, be guided by me. You have no alternative. You
cannot leave here, and he will have no hesitation whatever in
imprisoning you if you refuse. Come, accept his proposal with a good
grace, for your own and your nephew's sake--I may add for the sake of
the follow country-folk you have met here to-day."

"But my good sir," said Murray angrily, "this idea of forcing me makes
me the more indignant and obstinate."

"Yes; but forget all that in the cause of science."

Murray smiled.

"You are a clever diplomat, Mr Braine," he said. "Well I give way,
for, as you say, there is no alternative."

"That's right," said Mr Braine eagerly, "and I hope you will not regret
it. There, the rajah is growing impatient. He must not think you have
spoken like this. I shall tell him that you have been stipulating for
abundance of help."

"I do stipulate for that."

"And freedom to pursue your investigations in every direction."

"Yes; I stipulate for that too."

For some time past the rajah had been frowning, and loosening his sabre
in its scabbard and clapping it down again, while Ned noticed that, as
if anticipating an unpleasant reminder of their master's anger, the
people right and left squatted and stood like statues, gazing straight
before them. But when Mr Braine left the two strangers, and went back
to the fierce-looking chief and made a long communication, which he had
dressed up so as to gloss over the long consultation and Murray's
defiant manner, the rajah's face lit up, and showed his satisfaction,
the courtiers and attendants relaxed, and began to chew their betel.
Ned even thought he heard a faint sigh of relief rise from the group, as
Mr Braine bowed and returned to where the newcomers were standing.

"You have acted very wisely, Mr Murray," he said. "Come now, his
highness wishes to speak to you."

Murray could hardly crush down the feeling of resentment which troubled
him, but he walked up with Ned quietly enough, and stood waiting and
trying to attach a meaning to the words which the rajah said, feeling
how valuable some knowledge of the language would be, and hardly hearing
Mr Braine's interpretation.

"His highness bids me say that he will be most happy to meet your wishes
with respect to accommodation, and freedom to explore."