dressed differently?"

"He is the white officer's servant," the interpreter said.

"Well, he can go with his master, then."

The four troopers were led off in one direction, and Harry and the
others in another. It was a hut roughly constructed of bamboos,
thatched with broad leaves, while the entrance had no door. The
interpreter did not carry arms; those of Harry and Abdool had been
removed.

"Things have turned out badly, Abdool," Harry said.

"Very badly, sahib. I do not like the look of that rajah."

"Nor do I, Abdool. I am convinced that he means mischief, and we
must get away as soon as we can.

"Have you got your knife with you? So have I. We must make a way
out of the back of this hut."

A group of half a dozen Malays had taken their seats on the ground,
at a distance of some fifteen yards from the entrance; but had
posted no sentries. Behind it, as they were taken in, Harry noticed
that there was a patch of grain, and beyond that rose the forest.

"These knives are no good against bamboo, sahib."

"No, I know that; but we might cut these rattans which bind them
together. In the first place, dig down with your knife, and see if
the bamboos are sound underneath. They may have rotted there.

"You and I will stand at the entrance," he went on to the
interpreter, "then they cannot see in."

"Bamboos are quite sound, sahib."

"Then we must try another way. First cut the rattans--but not in a
line with the entrance, a few feet on one side."

The wood was extremely tough, and it was half an hour before Abdool
could cut through them, and free three or four of the bamboo poles.
While he was doing this, Harry and the interpreter stood talking
together, apparently watching the movements of the Malays.

"We are going to try and escape," Harry said. "Will you go with us,
or remain here? They will certainly kill us, if they overtake us;
there is just a chance that they will not kill us, if we stay."

"They will kill us," the man said, confidently. "It may not be
today, because the rajah will be looking over his presents, and
will be in a good temper; but tomorrow they will come in and kris
us. Assuredly I will go with you."

When Abdool announced that he had cut through the rattans, Harry
joined him, telling the interpreter to wait at the entrance till he
called him.

"What next, master?" Abdool asked.

"The next thing will be to pull up the bamboos. If you have cut all
their lashings, this ought not