which I did not hear, since incidently I discovered that
Orme was acquainted with many of Maqueda's private affairs whereof he
could only have learned from her lips.

Thus when I ventured to remark that perhaps it was not altogether
wise for a young man in his position to become so intimate with the
hereditary ruler of an exclusive tribe like the Abati, he replied
cheerfully that this did not in the least matter, as, of course,
according to their ancient laws, she could only marry with one of her
own family, a fact which made all complications impossible. I inquired
which of her cousins, of whom I knew she had several, was the happy man.
He replied:

"None of them. As a matter of fact, I believe that she is officially
affianced to that fat uncle of hers, the fellow who blows his own
trumpet so much, but I needn't add that this is only a form to which she
submits in order to keep the others off."

"Ah!" I said. "I wonder if Prince Joshua thinks it only a form?"

"Don't know what he thinks, and don't care," he replied, yawning; "I
only know that things stand as I say, and that the porpoise-man has as
much chance of becoming the husband of Maqueda as you have of marrying
the Empress of China. And now, to drop this matrimonial conversation and
come to something more important, have you heard anything about Higgs
and your son?"

"You are more in the way of learning state secrets than I am, Orme," I
answered sarcastically, being rather irritated at the course of events
and his foolishness. "What have you heard?"

"This, old fellow. I can't say how she knows it, but Maqueda says that
they are both in good health and well treated. Only our friend Barung
sticks to his word and proposes to sacrifice poor old Higgs on this day
fortnight. Now, of course, that must be prevented somehow, and prevented
it shall be if it costs me my life. Don't you suppose that I have been
thinking about myself all the time, for it isn't so, only the trouble is
that I can't find any plan of rescue which will hold water."

"Then what's to be done, Orme? I haven't spoken much of the matter
before for fear of upsetting you when you were still weak, but now that
you are all right again we must come to some decision."

"I know, I know," he answered earnestly; "and I tell you this, that
rather than let Higgs die alone there, I will give myself up to Barung,
and, if I can't save him, suffer with him, or for him if I can. Listen:
there is to be a gre