he wants to."

The cot had been lowered to within a few inches of the deck in order
that the chief might watch his daughter as she trotted about and romped
with Ponto, who had now quite taken her into his friendship. The chief's
face expressed alarm when he first saw the great dog; but when he saw
how gentle the animal was, and how, when one of the sailors placed the
child on his back, it walked gravely up and down the deck, wagging its
tail as if pleased with its novel burden, he was satisfied that no harm
could come to her from this formidable looking animal. He had first
spoken a few words sharply to the man in answer to his excuses, and,
indeed, had the helmsman been minding his business instead of looking at
the ship, the collision might have been prevented; but Hassan Jebash was
at the present moment so well contented with the recovery of his child
that he accepted the man's excuses, and the latter went back to his boat
evidently greatly relieved.

In a few days the chief began to show signs of impatience, and through
the interpreter constantly demanded of the doctor when he would be well
enough to leave.

"You ask him, Soh Hay, whether he wishes to be able to lead his tribe
in battle again, or to go through life unable to use a kris or hurl a
spear. In another ten days, if he remains quiet, he will be able to go,
and in a couple of months will be as strong and active as ever, if he
will but keep quiet until the bones have knit. Surely a chief is not
like an impatient child, ready to risk everything for the sake of
avoiding a little trouble."

The chief, on this being translated to him, scowled angrily.

"Tell him it is of no use his scowling at me, Soh Hay. I am not
doctoring him for my own amusement, but for his good, and because he is
the father of that little child."

The chief, when this was translated to him, lay without speaking for two
or three minutes, and then said quietly, "Tell the doctor I am sorry; he
is right, and I have been foolish. I will stay till he says I may go."

CHAPTER II.

Four or five days later the chief was allowed to get up and to walk
quietly up and down the deck, and a week afterwards the doctor said,
"You can go now, chief, if you desire it; but you must be content
to keep quiet for another couple of months, and not make any great
exertions or move quickly. How long will it take you to go up the river
to your home?"

"Six days' easy paddling."

"Well, that is in