woman gave
herself till twelve before starting for the officers' quarters and the
Residency to give the alarm.

As she reached the gate she became aware of lights in the distance,
evidently going in the direction of the river lower down. Voices, too,
floated on the night air, and her spirits rose, for she was conscious of
a merry laugh. It could not mean trouble, and she stopped short,
watching the lights that seemed now to have stopped by the river's bank,
trying to fit them in somehow with a solution of her trouble. Still all
was mental darkness, when she was conscious of a shout or two which made
her start, but only to realise directly afterwards as she heard replies,
followed by the splash of oars, that some one must be departing in a
boat.

Then came the murmur of talking as the little party appeared to be not
coming towards her but striking off diagonally in the direction of the
officers' quarters and the Residency.

A loud cry escaped her. It was answered, and the next minute hurrying
feet were approaching her, and a voice exclaimed:

"Anything the matter?"

"Yes, yes!" panted the agitated woman.

"Who is it? Mrs Morley?"

"Yes. Help, Captain Down--I--I--" and, trembling and half-breathless,
she clung to the speaker as he caught her hands in his.

"The Resident's boat?" she panted.

"No, no--Rajah Hamet's. We have been to see him off."

"Oh, you don't understand! The Resident's boat--Mr Maine--"

"Ah! What of him?"

"Went up the river with my niece."

"Yes, yes--what of them?"

"Not come back!"

"Oh! Well, well, don't be alarmed.--Why, you are trembling like a
leaf."

"Yes. I can't help it. It is foolish perhaps. I am terribly alarmed."

"Oh, come, come! I will walk back with you to the bungalow.--You go on,
Durham; and you might tell the Resident that I am seeing Mrs Morley
home."

"Yes; all right!" came out of the darkness. "Shall I say that the
boat's not come back?"

"Oh yes. You might mention it."

"Yes--yes, pray tell him," added Mrs Morley, as the young officer
addressed was continuing his route.

"Let's see," said the Captain; "the Doctor's gone off to see to the
Rajah, hasn't he?"

"Yes."

"Ah, I see; and you are nervous from being left alone."

"No, no, Captain Down. I am afraid that something has happened to the
boat."

"Yes, of course; ladies always are," said the Captain cheerily, "when
they are sitting up waiting. Now, now, be cool. There are s