were in the boats, to
keep their mouths shut. I have no reason to believe that the interpreter
is not faithful to our interests, but it is just as well not to trust
anyone. Moreover, it may be that some of these Malays who come on board
with fruit may have been for a time at Singapore or Penang, and picked
up a little English, and a chance word might let them know that we have
discovered the prahus."

"I wonder why our friend Hassan has not turned up," Dick Balderson said
to his chum one day, after they had been lying for a month opposite the
town.

"I expect something has occurred to keep him," Harry said. "I am quite
convinced that he would have come if he could. He may be in trouble
himself with some of his neighbors, or he may have tried to exert
himself too soon and done himself damage. I am quite convinced that
he meant what he said. At any rate, till this business here comes to a
head, we are not likely to be able to go up and pay a visit to him."

"No, I am quite sure that the captain would not let us go now, and
indeed, I would not ask him, even if I were sure he would, for we may
get to blows with the rajah any day; he cannot put off giving a final
answer much longer. I wonder the captain stood his shilly shallying so
long as he has."

It was but two evenings after this that, as the two midshipmen were
leaning against the bulwarks, watching the reflection of the stars in
the sluggish stream, a native sampan stole silently out from the shadow
of the shore and dropped down alongside the Serpent. So noiseless was
the movement that the two men on the lookout in the bow did not notice
it, and the midshipmen thought it was a shadow of some dark object
floating down stream, when it came alongside and a man stood up.

"Hello!" Harry said, "you must not come alongside like this: what do you
want?"

"Dick, Harry, Doctor; come from Hassan."

"Oh, that is it; all right, come on board," and, leaning over, he
stretched out his hand to the native, who seized it, and in a moment
stood by his side on the deck, holding the head rope of his sampan in
his mouth.

"Davis," Harry said to the sailor who was standing two paces away, "just
go down to the wardroom, and tell the doctor, with my compliments,
that I shall be obliged if he will come on deck at once. Say that it is
something particular."

A minute later the doctor appeared. "I was just in the middle of a
rubber, Dick, and if you have not an uncommonly good reas