were upon us, and we should have hard work to beat back four or
five hundred of them if they all came swarming on deck together.
However, we can wait, and the first time the rajah shows any signs
of treachery we can pounce upon his fleet. He will not dream that
we have discovered their hiding place, and will therefore let them
hide there without movement. However, we must try to find the ether
end of the entrance to the creek.

"Please impress upon Mr. Morrison and young Parkhurst that it is
of the highest importance no words shall be spoken about it; and
it might be advisable, also, to give notice to the men who 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."