none," said the doctor. "This is the house of one of the minor
chiefs, and he has been sent elsewhere."

"But really--I would rather--oh, we can make shift in a humbler place
than this."

"It is the rajah's orders that you should come here, and we are all
bound to obey him."

"Oh, very well. Then we will obey," said Murray. "Look, Ned, here are
our traps already. But one moment, Doctor Braine, are our men to stay
here too?"

The doctor turned to the chief, who said quietly: "The man who is their
servant is to stay. The others will have a house to themselves."

The next hour was spent in arranging their boxes and arms, Hamet
assisting and calmly taking to his new quarters, as if nothing in nature
could surprise him, and when all was done, Ned looked round eagerly.

"Come, uncle," he said; "it isn't such a bad place after all."

"No; far better than I expected, but it wants one thing."

"What's that, uncle?"

"Liberty to do what we like, boy. If we had that, we could congratulate
ourselves."

"Well, try and think that you really have it," said the doctor. "There
now, what do you say to coming up to my place to rest till dinner-time?
Braine has promised to come."

Murray hesitated, but the doctor would take no denial, and leaving Hamet
in charge of the place, they descended to find that the Tumongong, who
had left them for a time, was again back, in company with the other
officer.

These made a communication to the doctor, who nodded, and the two
officers then bowed gravely, and went away.

"Message for you," said the doctor. "You are requested--"

"Ordered," said Murray, drily.

"Well, ordered, not to leave the village without asking permission, so
that you may have an escort; but you are quite at liberty to go anywhere
you please about the place."

"Ah, well," said Murray, "I am not going to complain any more to-day. I
have made myself a nuisance enough. Hallo, Ned, here comes your saucy
young Malay friend."

Ned looked sharply round, the doctor having stepped forward hurriedly to
speak to one of the Malays seated on the steps of his house, and there,
sure enough, was the gaily-dressed lad they had seen that morning,
followed by his companion of the boat carrying a basket and the rod the
first had used.

They saw them pass on, to be hidden directly by the trees, and they were
still watching the place when the doctor returned.

"Sorry to have left you," he said. "One of my patients--he