will bring your daughter with you. She has won all our hearts, and
we shall miss her sadly."

"I will bring her if I can do so safely," the chief said gravely;
"but I am no friends with Sehi; he stops my trade as it comes down
the river, and takes payment for all goods that pass down. It is
because he knows that many of us are angered that he wishes to put
himself under your protection. I think that you do not do well to
aid so bad a fellow."

"We did not know that he was a bad fellow, chief. The best plan
will be for you and the other chiefs who are aggrieved to send down
complaints against him, or to come down yourselves when we are up
there and talk it over with our Captain, who will doubtless impress
upon Sehi the necessity for abstaining from such practices, and
that he cannot expect aid from us if he embroils himself with his
neighbors by interfering with their trade. Is he strong?"

"He has many war prahus, which sometimes come down to the sea and
return with plunder, either collected from the cultivators near
the coast or from trading ships captured and burnt."

"I will mention what you tell me to the Captain, and it will prepare
him to listen to any complaint that may be made to him. But you must
remember that he is only acting under the orders of the Governor
of the Straits Settlements, and must refer all important matters
to him."

"I will come when you are there," Hassan said gravely. "If nothing
is done, there will be war."