"Like to go?" said Murray.

"I don't like to leave you so busy, uncle, and seem to neglect preparing
the specimens."

"But that would be getting another specimen," said Frank, merrily. "Mr
Murray may have it when it's caught, mayn't he, father?"

"You go along with you, sir," cried Murray, with mock sternness. "You
are spoiling my boy here. Be off with you, and mind and don't get into
any danger. Here, you Ned, go and wash your fingers well first. Don't
neglect that after using the paste."

Five minutes after, the two lads were off toward the bank of the river
near where the rajah's stockade was situated--a strongly-palisaded place
commanding the river, and within which four of the light brass guns
known as lelahs were mounted. Mere popguns in the eyes of a naval
officer, but big enough, to awe people who traded up and down the river
in boats, and whose one or two pound balls or handfuls of rough shot and
rugged scraps of iron and nails were awkward enemies for the slight
timbers of a good-sized prahu.

"There will not be any danger for the boys, eh?" said Murray, looking up
at where Mr Braine stood thoughtfully smoking his cigar.

"Oh no; they will have quite a little party of active men with them,
ready to despatch the brute with their spears if they are lucky enough
to catch him; but that is very doubtful."

He relapsed into silence, and Murray went on busily with his work, for
he had had a successful shooting trip on the previous afternoon, and was
trying to make up for it before his specimens decayed, as they did
rapidly in that hot climate. He was so intent upon his task as he sat
at the rough bamboo work-table he had rigged up, that for a time he
forgot the presence of his silent visitor, till, looking up suddenly he
saw that Mr Braine was gazing thoughtfully before him in a rapt and
dreamy way.

"Anything the matter?" he said.

Mr Braine started, looked at his cigar, which was out, and proceeded to
relight it.

"No--yes," he said slowly; "I was thinking."

"What about? No, no. I beg pardon. Like my impudence to ask you."

"No. It is quite right," said Mr Braine, slowly, and with his brow
knit. "You are one of us now, and in a little knot of English people
situated as we are, there ought to be full confidence and
good-fellowship so that we could help each other in distress."

"Yes, of course," said Murray, laying down his work. "But, my dear
fellow, don't be so mysterious. You are