the while. "You do not know. Our lives may be at
stake. Help me, pray. The ladies. Have you a specimen of anything you
found?"

Murray glanced at Amy, who gave him an imploring look, and, drawing a
deep breath, he felt ready to diplomatise, give up self, and smother his
indignation for the sake of those before him.

The rajah's eyes were fixed upon him keenly, and he met them without
flinching, but he mastered the anger at his heart, and thrusting his
hand into his jacket pocket, drew out a couple of fragments of quartz.
These he passed over to Mr Braine.

"The best I could do," he said. "I searched well, but this is the only
metal I could find."

Mr Braine took them to the rajah, whose eyes glittered with cupidity as
he saw the specimens; but as soon as he took them in his hands he
returned them with a gesture of impatience, saying something quickly to
Mr Braine, who bowed, looked troubled, but smiled directly, and said
aloud:

"The rajah bids me say that your last discovery of tin was ample, Mr
Murray, and he begs that you will start again to-morrow, making
arrangements to be away three or four days, so that you may have time to
penetrate right into the hills."

"But hang it all!" began Murray; and then he stopped, for he saw a
frightened look in the faces of the ladies, and he altered his tone.

"I'll see to-morrow morning," he said.

"That will not do," said Mr Braine, quickly; and Murray was conscious
that the Tumongong's eyes were fixed upon them, and that he was
evidently comprehending every word they said. "My dear fellow, I must
ask you to give way, or at all events seem to give way. Pray, be
careful. That chief understands what we say, and I cannot be sure
whether he is an enemy or friend."

This last was in a whisper.

"But really, Mr Braine, this is getting beyond bearing."

"No. Try to bear it for all our sakes--at all events now, and we'll
talk it over later on. May I answer that you will go?"

"Yes," said Murray, bowing his head, as he uttered the monosyllable
unwillingly.

Mr Braine turned to the rajah and spoke to him, his words evidently
calming the great man's wrath, for he nodded and turned smilingly to
address a few words to Mrs Barnes, and then to Mrs Braine, to which,
with a little hesitation, they replied in the Malay tongue.

After that he turned smilingly to Amy, and evidently paid her some
compliment, for she started a little and coloured, her eyes being
directed