was mauled
badly in a tiger-hunt, but he is coming round nicely now."

Ned pricked up his ears at the words tiger-hunt, and feeling more
satisfied now with his new quarters, he followed the doctor into his
garden, and then up the broad steps to the shady verandah, where a
pleasant evening was spent, the dinner capitally served, Tim Driscol,
now very neatly attired in white, waiting at table, and giving the scene
quite a flavour of home. Then there were cigars and excellent coffee
for the gentlemen, and a delightful long chat with the ladies beneath
the shaded lamp which hung from one of the bamboo rafters, the doctor's
daughter readily answering Ned's questions about their life and the
natural history of the place. Of the former, he learned that the doctor
had been persuaded while at Malacca to accept the post through the
Tumongong, who was there on some kind of embassy. The terms had been
tempting, and it had been arranged that he was to take his wife and
daughter with him, all hesitation vanishing when the Malay chief
introduced him to Mr Braine, who accepted his post directly he found
that he would have the society of an Englishman, and in the end he too
had brought his family. Their reception had been most cordial, and they
had only to ask for any addition to their comfort to have it instantly
granted by the rajah. He would give them everything, in fact, but
liberty.

"Then you are quite prisoners too?" said Ned, who had listened to all
this with the greatest of interest.

"I suppose so. Both papa and Mr Braine were furious at first, and said
that they would never forgive the Tumongong for having tricked them, but
he said it was the rajah's orders, and that he dared not have come back
without a doctor, and an officer who could drill the men. And really he
was so kind, and has always been such a good friend when the rajah has
been in one of his mad fits, that we have all ended by liking him."

"But to be prisoners like this!" said Ned.

"Oh, we seldom think about it now. Papa says we shall never be so well
off again, and the rajah, who nearly kills himself with indulgence, has
such bad health that he can hardly bear to see the doctor out of his
sight, and consequently papa has immense influence over him."

"But I could never settle down to being a prisoner," cried Ned.

"Till you grow used to it. Oh, don't mind; it is a whim of the rajah's,
and you will soon have leave to go. We never shall. There,