t source of undying interest, "mamma," and partly
because she entered into the fun and enjoyed the romance of the thing,
while, poor child, her hopeful spirit never for a moment doubted that in
some form or other the romance would become a reality through Robin, on
whom she had bestowed her highest affections--next, of course, to mamma.

On landing at Sarawak, Sam Shipton went direct to the Government offices
to report the capture of the pirate vessel and to make inquiries as to
Letta's parents, leaving Robin and the others to watch the vessel.

"Isn't it strange," said John Johnson to Robin, as they leaned over the
side and looked down into the clear water, "that a Englishman should
become a Rajah, and get possession o' this here country?"

"I can give you only a slight reply to that question," replied Robin,
"but Sam will enlighten you more than I can; he seems to be acquainted
with the Rajah's strange career. All I know is, that he is said to
govern the country well."

"Coorious," said Johnson; "_I_ shouldn't like to settle down in sitch a
nest o' pirates. Hows'ever, every man to his taste, as Jack said when
the shark swallowed his sou'-wester. D'ee think it's likely, sir, that
we'll find out who the parents o' poor Miss Letta is?"

Robin shook his head. "I'm not very hopeful. We have so little
information to go upon--just one word,--Sarawak! Nevertheless, I don't
despair, and I'll certainly not be beat without trying hard. But here
comes Sam; he looks pleased. I think--I hope, he has good news for us."

"I've got something, but not much," replied Sam to the eager inquiries
with which he was assailed. "The gentleman whom I saw knew nothing
about a little girl having been kidnapped from this region within the
last two or three years, but an old clerk or secretary, who heard us
talking about it, came up scratching his nose with the feather of his
quill, and humbly said that he had heard something about a girl
disappearing at a fire somewhere, though he couldn't recollect the name
of the place, as he was ill at the time, besides being new to the
country, but he thought there was a Malay, a drunken old fellow, living
some five miles inland, who used to talk about something of the sort,
and who had, he fancied, been in the service of the people whose house
had been burned. But, altogether, he was very hazy on the subject."

"Then we must go and ferret out this old man instantly," said Robin,
buttoning up h