blanket over him. Nigel followed his example, wondering at what
he had heard, and in a few minutes their steady regular breathing told
that they were both asleep. Then Baderoon advanced and counted the
bamboo planks from the side towards the centre of the house. When
looking between the heads of the people he had counted the same planks
above. Standing under one he looked up, listened intently for a few
seconds, and drew his kriss. The place was almost pitch dark, yet the
blade caught a faint gleam from without, which it reflected on the
pirate's face as he thrust the long keen weapon swiftly, yet
deliberately, between the bamboos.

A shriek, that filled those who heard it with a thrill of horror, rang
out on the silent night. At the same moment a gush of warm blood poured
over the murderer's face before he could leap aside. Instant uproar and
confusion burst out in the neighbourhood, and spread like wildfire until
the whole town was aroused. When a light was procured and the people
crowded into the hut where the strangers lay, Van der Kemp was found on
his knees holding the hand of poor Babu, who was at his last gasp. A
faint smile, that yet seemed to have something of gladness in it,
flitted across his pale face as he raised himself, grasped the hermit's
hand and pressed it to his lips. Then the fearful drain of blood took
effect and he fell back--dead.

One great convulsive sob burst from the hermit as he leaped up, drew his
knife, and, with a fierce glare in his blue eyes, rushed out of the
room.

Vengeance would indeed have been wreaked on Baderoon at that moment if
the hermit had caught him, but, as might have been expected, the
murderer was nowhere to be found. He was hid in the impenetrable jungle,
which it was useless to enter in the darkness of night. When daybreak
enabled the townspeople to undertake an organised search, no trace of
him could be discovered.

Flight, personal safety, formed no part of the pirate's plan. The guilty
man had reached that state of depravity which, especially among the
natives of that region, borders close on insanity. While the inhabitants
of the village were hunting far a-field for him, Baderoon lay concealed
among some lumber in rear of a hut awaiting his opportunity. It was not
very long of coming.

Towards afternoon the various searching parties began to return, and all
assembled in the market-place, where the chief man, with the hermit and
his party, were assembled dis