ongong, Muntri, Lakasamana, and the rest of
them--was haughtily partaking of an excellent breakfast, with a string
of followers behind the chairs of him and his suite--pipe-bearers,
betel-box carriers, and other attendants; while a picked guard of his
finest men in a uniform of yellow satin, all armed with the lim-bing or
throwing-spear and kris, were drawn up in the veranda, carefully
watching over their lord in the mess-room, and as carefully watched over
themselves by a guard of quiet-looking linesmen with fixed bayonets.

It fell to Archie's lot to be near the clump of trees beneath which the
half-dozen splendid elephants that brought in the Rajah were being fed
and groomed.

They had come in covered with mud from their journey along the narrow
forest path formed of a line of deep mud-holes made by the elephants
themselves, every one of the huge animals invariably planting his feet
in the track of the one which had preceded him. Their trappings during
the journey had been carefully rolled-up, and now hung with the howdahs
from horizontal branches of the sheltering trees.

As soon as it was light the great beasts had been marched down by their
attendants to the landing-place for a swim, and brought out again back
to the shelter to be carefully groomed, and now stood partaking
contentedly of their morning meal, prior to being decked with their gay
howdah-cloths and other trappings.

One of the first men that Archie encountered was Peter Pegg, who was
standing watching the mahouts, who in turn were overlooking the
attendants whose duty it was to groom the Rajah's stud.

"How is it you are not on duty?" he said.

"Am, sir," said the lad. "The Sergeant put me here to keep a heye on
these helephant chaps and see as they don't get quarrelling with t'other
Rajah's men."

"Why, they have not come yet, have they--Rajah Hamet, I mean, and his
people?"

"Oh yes, sir; and they are out yonder--helephants and all. Joe Smithers
is doing the same job with them."

"Did you see the Rajah?"

"No, sir," replied the lad; "only 'eerd he was there. I am to be
relieved to go to breakfast in a hour's time."

Archie nodded and went on. The hour passed, and Peter, who had no
further orders, forgot all about breakfast in the deep interest he took
in the proceedings of those who had the elephants in charge; while as he
waited for the bugle-call which would summon him to the ranks, he stood
watching the finishing touches being