friendly wave of the hand, followed by that of a couple of
pocket handkerchiefs, as the boat swung out into the stream and began
rapidly to ascend, for the doctor and his ladies had just strolled down
to the bamboo jetty, but too late to see the party off.

"I say, don't do that," cried Frank, quickly, as Ned hung one arm over
the side of the boat, and let the cool water run through his fingers.

"Of course not. I forgot Hamet did tell me."

"There's a chap at the next place with only one arm. He was hanging
over the side of a boat holding his line with his hand, and a croc
snapped it right off."

"Is that a traveller's tale, squire?" said Murray, drily.

"No, it isn't," said the boy, frowning. "You don't believe it? Ask him
there if a croc didn't nearly seize him this morning."

"What!" cried Murray.

"Yes, uncle," said Ned. "It was so, and Frank Braine snatched me away
just in time."

"Oh, get out! I only pushed you out of his way. They are nasty
beggars."

He turned to the Malay guard and said a few words, to which a chorus
which sounded like assent came at once.

"They say you have to be very careful, for the crocs kill a good many
people every year."

"Then we will be very careful," said Murray; "and I beg your pardon for
doubting you."

"Oh, that don't matter."

"And let me thank you for helping Ned here this morning."

"That's nothing," cried Frank, hastily. "Hi! Abdul!" he shouted to one
of the rowers; and he hurried from beneath, the mat awning overhead,
amongst the crew to the man in the bows, evidently to avoid listening to
further thanks, and sat down to go on talking to the Malay, whose heavy
stolid face lit up as he listened.

"So you had quite an adventure?" said Murray.

"Yes, uncle," replied Ned; and he then went on to tell of the horrible
scene he had witnessed.

Murray listened with his brows knit, and then after sitting thoughtful
and silent for some minutes: "Mr Braine and the doctor have not
exaggerated the situation, Ned," he said. "Well, my lad, we must make
the best of it. I daresay we can spend a month here advantageously, but
we must be careful not to upset the rajah, for, though he can be a
capital friend, and send us out collecting in this royal way, it is
evident that he can prove a very dangerous enemy. You see he is a man
who has the power of life and death in his hands, and does not hesitate
about using it. We are beyond help from the settlement, and