sident, despondently. "He would not have gone to-night
after such a weary day, and he would not have gone without telling me
his plans. He told me everything, even to his trifling fishing trips on
the river. There is something more--an accident, or he has been carried
off."

"What! by the crocodiles?" said Murray, suddenly.

"No, no; I don't fear that. Come, man, we must be up and at work now."

"What are you going to do?" asked Murray, eagerly, for he was quivering
with the intense desire he felt to be in action.

"I am going to the Tumongong. He has always been my friend."

"The man who was watching and listening to-night!"

"It could not have been the chief. He is too much of a gentleman at
heart. Your servant was mistaken. Come on, Murray. We will come and
tell you when we have been. He must know what has been done."

"He will not betray his master's secrets," said Murray, bitterly. "It
is more than his life is worth."

"I shall not ask him to do that," said Mr Braine, slowly; "but I think
he will set our hearts at rest as to the safety of our boys. Will you
come?"

"Yes," said Murray, thoughtfully, "I will come. No: I cannot think of
anything else having happened to them. It must be the rajah's doing.
Come on then, and let us know their fate."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

PRISONERS.

Everything looked dark as the Resident and Murray reached the
Tumongong's handsome residence--handsome, though merely erected of
bamboo and palm--but as they approached the steps, sounds were heard
within, and very shortly after being summoned, the rajah's officer
appeared fully dressed.

"Can I speak to you without being overheard?" said Mr Braine in
English.

The Malay replied in his own tongue that he was prepared to hear
anything the Resident had to say.

"But will what I say be overheard, I asked you?" cried Mr Braine,
impatiently, still speaking in English, so that Murray might hear his
words, knowing as he did that the Malay perfectly understood everything.

"I am quite ready to hear you," replied the Tumongong.

"And will what I say be carried to the rajah? Look here, Tumongong. I
have always been on good terms with you since I came here, though I do
consider you acted unfairly by me in not warning me in Malacca as to
what my position would be."

"I am the servant of his highness," replied the officer, "and I have my
duty to do toward him. When I have done that, I am your friend."

"Then tell