e silent.

He waited for a quarter of an hour, by which time he was joined by
that portion of his followers which had pursued the Malays. Many of
them carried human heads in their hands and, by the number of
these, Harry saw that very few of his native escort could have
escaped. The chief ordered his men to pick up the packages that had
been thrown down by the bearers, and then turned off into the
forest.

After a quarter of an hour's walk, they arrived at the spot where a
still-smoking fire showed that the band had halted. No pause was
made, however, and the party kept on their way and, in two hours'
time, reached the foot of a high range of mountains that had been
visible from the coast. The climb was a severe one but, in another
hour, they came out upon a flat plateau. Here, in a small village,
a considerable body of men were gathered; who hailed the arrival of
their comrades, with their ghastly triumphs of victory, with loud
shouts.

The chief of the band led his captives to a hut, somewhat superior
in appearance to the others, in front of which stood a man whose
bright attire and ornaments showed him to be a chief of importance.

"Who is this white man," he asked, "and these soldiers who are with
him?"

The officer repeated the description that he had received from the
interpreter, whom he pointed out.

"Why was this white man going to Johore?" he asked.

"He was sent by the white lord of India, my lord."

"Ask him why he was sent?"

"I was sent to Johore to ask the rajah if he would grant a trading
station to the English."

"We want no English on our coast," the chief said. "There are the
Dutch, at Malacca--some day we will turn them out.

"So he was bringing presents to Johore, was he?"

"Yes, my lord; these are the parcels," and he beckoned up the men
who carried them.

These approached, and humbly laid them at the rajah's feet.

"I have to report, my lord, that there were twenty of Johore's men
with him. These we killed."

"Did the white man and his soldiers aid them?"

"No, my lord. They stood quiet, and offered no resistance,
therefore I brought them to you."

"You did well. You are sure that none of the Johore men escaped, to
carry off the news that we were here?"

"Quite certain. We have the heads of twenty men, and their
officer."

"Good! I will examine these things. Put the white man and this
Malay into a hut, and the four soldiers into another.

"Who is this other man, who is