aw that?"

"Yes," cried Ned, with a passionate cry, as his blood, which had seemed
chilled and to flow sluggishly through his veins, now throbbed in his
temples. "I could not stop them. I did not know. They have just
murdered a man. He fell into the river, and--and--oh, it is too
horrible!"

"It was not a murder. It was an execution by the rajah's command," said
Mr Braine, coldly. "You ought not to have come."

"I didn't know, sir. I could not tell. I thought--I don't know--I
never imagined--"

"I beg your pardon, my lad," said Mr Braine, kindly. "I thought you
were attracted by a morbid desire to witness the horrible."

"Oh no!" said Ned with a shudder. "I should have been too great a
coward if I had known. But has this man the right to do such things?"

"The rajah!" said Mr Braine, shrugging his shoulders; "he is king here
in his own country. He has his tiny army and navy, and he has conquered
the three petty chiefs nearest to his domain."

"But the English--the Queen," said Ned. "It seems terrible that a man
like this should have such power. Will not government interfere?"

"No. How could it? But there, come with me, and try to forget what you
have been seeing."

"But one moment, sir. Couldn't you have interfered to save the man's
life? Did you know he was to be mur--"

"Executed, my boy. Yes, and I appealed to the rajah for mercy; but he
gave me so terrible an account of the man's life that I was silenced at
once. Come, you have plenty of time before breakfast. I want you to
see my home."

Ned shivered a little as he gave a glance round at the scene, which
looked so beautiful, that it seemed impossible that so great a horror
could have taken place there. Then he followed the Resident, and awoke
to the fact that they were alone.

"Where are the men who were following me," he said, and Mr Braine
smiled.

"Gone back to their quarters, I suppose," he said. "They consider you
are in my charge now."

Ned gave him a curious look, which his companion interpreted directly.

"Very well," he said, laughing; "think so if you like. I suppose I am
your guard. Ah, here are your two friends," for the Tumongong and the
other officer came up hurriedly, and made a communication to the last
speaker.

"I must put you off, Murray," he said, turning quickly to the boy. "The
rajah is taken ill. You can wander about the place a bit; I daresay I
shall be back soon."

He went off with the two