valuable to our friends?"
whispered the Resident. "Do as I do. It is folly to resist now."

That moment the rajah spoke again, the men formed up around Murray and
Mr Braine, and their leader said something to the latter.

"Come, Murray," he said, bitterly. "I have drilled these men to some
purpose. We are prisoners, I suppose."

He took his companion's arm, and they were marched off through the
darkness.

"Where will they take us?" said Murray, who was raging with pain and
indignation at his inability to struggle against such force.

"To a boat, I suppose, and then put us on board one of the prahus,"
replied Mr Braine. "I might have known what would come of all these
years of service."

They marched on in silence for a minute or two, and then Mr Braine
uttered an ejaculation full of surprise; for their guards faced round to
the left, and marched the prisoners into the Resident's own garden,
where the leader said a few words and pointed up.

"Prisoner in my own place?" said Mr Braine to the officer.

"His highness commands that neither you nor the bird man leaves the
house till he gives orders."

"It might have been worse, Murray," said Mr Braine, as they ascended
the steps, and dimly made out that the leader of the little party of
guards was posting his men here and there.

"Been worse!" said Murray, angrily, as he threw himself upon a divan,
"impossible!"

"Possible," said Mr Braine, quietly. "We are not quite prisoners, and
are at liberty to plot and plan. They are very cunning, these people;
but we English have some brains. It must be getting on toward morning.
Let's have some coffee, and a quiet smoke."

"Oh, how can you take things so quietly!" cried Murray.

"Because I am more at ease. Those boys are alive. He would not kill
them. He felt that they were in the way of his plans. They must have
done something to make him act as he has done."

"If I could only be sure of that," said Murray, "it would be one trouble
the less."

Mr Braine clapped his hands. A quiet-looking Malay entered the room,
trimmed the lamp, and went out again, to return with water-pipes and a
pan of charcoal; after which he retired as silently as he came, and once
more entered bearing a tray with coffee.

"Smoke, drink your coffee, my dear fellow," said Mr Braine, quietly.

"I cannot."

"You must, man; you want your brain clear and your body rested."

"How can you speak so coolly, with those poor people in s