s iv Masther Frank
didn't ate thim all."

"I did not touch them, Tim," said Frank, eagerly.

"Then the day's our own, sor. You come down and docthor 'em, and I'll
go and prepare the syle for the sade."

"What are you going to do?" said Mr Braine, quickly.

"Only shmoke me poipe in the gyarden, sor, and soother and blarney them
over a bit. It'll kim aisier, thin, to go in and fetch a bit and sup
from the panthry, and not be so suddint like. They're such desayving
thayves of the world, they suspect everybody."

Tim went down, and the doctor busied himself at a medicine-chest for a
few minutes before following him.

"Now, Greig, help me," said the Resident, turning down the lamps a
little. "Frank, keep out of sight in case we are watched. You know
where the doctor keeps his ammunition."

"Yes, father," was the reply, and the pair busied themselves in
examining revolvers and guns, placing ammunition ready for flight, and
finally arming the ladies, and thrusting an ornamental kris from the
walls into their belts.

Then weapons were placed ready for the doctor and his man, their
arrangements being about complete as the former returned looking pale
and anxious.

"Ah," he said, on seeing the preparations, "that's right. It's hard to
leave all our treasures and collections."

"Yes; but we must think only of ourselves."

"Of our wives and children," said Greig, quietly.

"Yes. But, tell me, what have you done?"

"Put a strong opiate in every cake."

"But those who take it--does it mean risk to their lives?"

"No. The worst that can happen may be a day or two's illness after.
That is not what I fear," said the doctor, significantly.

"What then?"

"The rajah's punishment of the poor wretches."

"Hah!" ejaculated Mr Braine, "but we must be selfish here for others'
sake."

A few more preparations were made by Frank's suggestion, every scrap of
food from below being placed in a couple of baskets; the two women who
assisted Tim in the house having gone for the night some time before.

"Now," said the doctor, "what next? Matches and a lantern."

These were placed ready; a few comforting words said to the ladies--who
were now calm, firm, and helpful, looking strangely Malayan in their
garb, for they had trenched upon a store which, they had saved up as
mementoes of their sojourn in the jungle--and then all sat down to
listen and wait, the strange forest sounds coming faintly to their ears,
mingled wi