One Maid's Mischief Part 102

"Then why did you not bring it sooner?"

"I came down the river by night in my little boat, master, and reached the town here; but found that I could not get near the Resident."

"Why not?" said Mr Harley, sharply. "I am always to be seen."

"You were watched, master; and I was watched."

"Watched! Who watched me?"

"Murad's men. They were everywhere."

"Murad's men? Watching?"

"Yes, master, it is true. They lay about in boats or idled, chewing their betel on the sh.o.r.e and landing-stage. They would seem to you like common people who had nothing to do, but they were all watching carefully the while."

"And would they have stopped you?"

"Yes, master; they did."

"Then you have kept this message all the time in spite of this?"

"Yes, master."

"Without trying to deliver it?"

"No; I tried. I could not get to you or any I could trust unseen; but I know that you Englishmen are all friends, and that if I told one he would tell you, so I thought of the doctor."

"And told him?" said the Resident. "No; I could not approach an Englishman at all. I waited my chance: two days had gone, and then, after much thinking, I made my plan."

"Yes, be quick," said the Resident, impatiently. "I pretended to be hurt."

"Yes; and went to the doctor," said Hilton. "Did you tell him?"

"If my masters will let me tell my story," said the man, with dignity, "it will be best."

Mr Harley made a sign to his companions to be silent, and the man went on:

"I looked about for a house where I fancied I should not be watched, and went to a lady, saying I was badly hurt, and asking that she would fetch the doctor to me."

"Why did you not tell her your message?"

"She talked too much--I was afraid," said the man, quietly. "But she took compa.s.sion on me and went to fetch the doctor. 'Now,' I said, 'my task is done.' But my enemies were too watchful, and soon after my messenger to the doctor had gone, six men entered the house; I was seized, gagged, and carried off to a boat, and rowed away. They questioned me, but I was dumb; and then they kept me prisoner till two days back, when I escaped and came down here."

"Then why were you not kept back from approaching me this time?" said the Resident, sternly.

"I know not, master, only that those who watched are gone. The place was full of Murad's men before. Now they are not."

"He is right," said Hilton. "Murad has taken the alarm. He knows by his spies that the game is up."

"Could you take us to this place?" said the Resident.

"I could; but I wish to live," said the Malay. "I have a wife."

"You mean that Murad's people would slay you if you led us there?"

The Malay bowed.

"You may trust to the English power," said the Resident, sternly. "If what you say be correct, Murad's reign is at an end, and you may depend upon us for protection. Will you lead us to the place where this lady is shut up?"

"If the English chief will promise me protection."

"You shall be protected," said the Resident, quietly; "and you shall be well rewarded."

The Malay bowed again.

"What do you think?" said the Resident, turning to Hilton, and speaking in French, to make sure that the Malay did not understand.

"I think the man is right, and I would take him for guide; but all the same, we know what these people are: it may only be a treacherous, misleading plan."

"We must be well on the alert as to that," replied the Resident. "I think the man is honest."

"So do I," said Chumbley, "for there is no temptation for him to have been otherwise."

"Stay with those two men," said the Resident, addressing the Malay; "we are going with an armed expedition directly, and you shall be our guide."

The man was led away, and the Resident watched him intently as he went out.

"Yes, I think the Malay is honest," he said quickly. "Are you fellows ready?"

"Yes; we only wait your orders," replied Hilton. "I am fidgeting to be off."

"There is much to be done first. Let us go now and see Perowne, I promised to communicate with him before we left. You have not seen him yet?"

"No."

They walked down to the landing-place, where the Resident's large boat was being well manned, and ammunition and rations for three or four days were being stored. There a small boat was waiting, and they were paddled across, to walk up to Mr Perowne's, both Hilton and Chumbley starting, as they saluted the merchant, to see what a change his late troubles had wrought upon his personal appearance.

He shook hands with the officers in a quiet, grave way, and then stood looking in a vacant manner out of the window and across the lawn towards the river.

"We must not start without Bolter," said the Resident, sharply, as if the idea had just crossed his mind. "Any news of him?"

"No," said Hilton; "we have heard nothing; but are you sure that he has not returned?"

"He would not have returned without reporting himself," replied the Resident, who, like Mr Perowne, seemed to have grown older and more hollow of cheek.

"I am quite ready to start," said Mr Perowne, in an absent manner.

"They tell me, Mr Hilton, you were seized that same night, and carried up the river. Are you sure that my Helen was not taken to the same place?"

"I am certain, Mr Perowne," said Hilton, gravely. "The best answer to that is the presence of Mr Chumbley and myself. We should not have come away and left an English lady in such a situation."