bullet mold.

"Take these," he said, "in token of the service you have rendered.
When I see your chief, you shall be well recompensed for the risk
that you have run in bearing me his message."

The Malay looked longingly at the pistols, and then said, "I came
by order of my chief, and not for reward."

"Quite so. I understand that, and am not offering you a reward
for that service, but for the information that you have given me,
which may be of value if I have trouble with the rajah here."

The man bowed and took the pistols offered. "I will use them against
your enemies," he said warmly; "but all of us know the creek, for
it is that which renders it so difficult for us to fight against
Sehi. He is master of the water, and we cannot attack him without
first crossing that creek. We should have to carry canoes with us,
to do it, for the creek is too full of alligators for anyone to
swim across, and our small canoes would have no chance of passing
the creek when his war boats were there."

The captain nodded when this was translated to him.

"Sehi's place, in fact, stands upon an island formed by the two
branches of the river and this creek. As soon as he became master
of the river, he could hardly be assailed, while at any time he
could sally out and fall upon his enemies. Ask the man if he will
take any refreshment before he goes."