they have no doubt been
krised. Now he sends me."

"Tell him that no messenger has arrived until now," the captain said,
when this was interpreted to him.

The man nodded. "All krised. I travel at night, hide in trees all day,
float down at night in shadow of bushes, and have got through safe.
Chief Hassan says not been able to come down. Other chiefs very angry
because English warship come. Send message to Hassan to join them. When
he say no, they threaten to kill him and destroy tribe when warship go
away. Two of Rajah Sehi's prahus go up and down river; stop all boats.
Sehi send message to all chiefs; say that English war boat here. English
come take his country, and after they done that take the countries of
the others; make themselves kings of the river. He ask them to join him
in killing English, every man, then he would have no more quarrel with
them, no trouble trade any more; be good friends with all neighbors.
Some chiefs say one thing, some another. Some more afraid of rajah than
of English; some think better have English here than rajah.

"Hassan says must take great care. Sehi very treacherous; attack when
they do not expect it. He thinks his prahus can easily take English
ship; but Hassan says Sehi wants the other chiefs to aid, so that if
the English send up more ships, then, can all join him in fighting them.
Hassan says he will do what he can. He has eight war canoes, but no good
against prahus--they run at canoes, and cut them in half; but will
come to help if English attack. He does not know where prahus are. Begs
Captain to attack these first; it is they that make Sehi master of the
river. If they destroyed, other chiefs not afraid of Sehi, and he might
get some of them to join against him. Hassan said tell Harry, and Dick,
and Doctor he does not forget their kindness, and will do what he can to
watch over them. Such is Hassan's message."

"Ask him when he is going back to his chief," the captain said.

"He go now," the interpreter said, after asking the question. "He get as
far as he can before morning. He sure many eyes watch ship night and
day to see that no message comes, or any word of what rajah is doing. He
float down stream in sampan some distance, then paddle to opposite bank,
then keep in shadow of bushes up the river, and hide away till night
comes again."

"Very well, then, tell him that he is to thank his master for sending
us warning; that we had already found out that what he tol