Among Malay Pirates | Page 4

a cup of tea, which she drank obediently to
his orders, but evidently regarded as being extremely nasty, and she
was then told through the interpreter to go to sleep until her sarong was
dried. A couple of hours later she was on deck again in her native garb
and ornaments. The interpreter pointed out to her the two midshipmen
who had rescued her, and she at once went up to them, and, slipping her
hands into theirs, began to prattle freely; they were unable to
understand what she said, but they took her round the ship, showing her
the guns, and introduced her to Ponto, the captain's great
Newfoundland, who submitted gravely to be patted by her; to Jacko,
the monkey, who was by no means disposed to be friendly, but
chattered and showed his teeth; and to Julius Caesar, the negro cook,
who grinned from ear to ear, and presented her with some cakes from a
batch which he had just made for the captain's table.
The rest of the Malays had already left the ship; two native boats had
been hailed, and in these the two parties of Malays had taken their
places, and, with their boats towing behind, had been rowed away, the
captain giving strict instructions that they were to be landed on
opposite sides of the river. The little maid speedily became a general
pet on board the Serpent, and was soon the proud possessor of several
models of ships, two patchwork quilts, several carved tobacco boxes,
and other specimens of sailors' handiwork. Small as she was, she had
evidently a strong idea of her own importance, and received these
presents and attentions with a pretty air of dignity which at once earned
for her the title of the Princess.

On the second day after the accident, the chief's boat came off from the
shore, the damage having been speedily and neatly repaired. Little Bahi
stood on the top of the accommodation ladder as they approached, and
addressed them with great asperity, using much gesticulation with her
arms.
"What is she saying, Soh Hay?" Dick Balderson asked.
"She is telling them that they are bad men to let the boat be run down;
that she is very angry with them, and they will all be punished."
'The men looked very crestfallen under their little mistress' reproaches,
and held up their hands in a deprecating manner; while the helmsman
stood up and, after salaaming deeply, entered upon a long explanation,
which ended in his asking if he might come on board to see his chief.
Permission was at once granted by the captain, upon the request being
interpreted to him. When he mounted the steps, Bahi led him to the side
of her father's cot. The doctor, however, interposed.
"Tell him he must not talk," he said to the interpreter; "the chief is ill
and must not be allowed to excite himself. But he can say a few words,
if he wants to."
The cot had been lowered to within a few inches of the deck in order
that the chief might watch his daughter as she trotted about and romped
with Ponto, who had now quite taken her into his friendship. The
chief's face expressed alarm when he first saw the great dog; but when
he saw how gentle the animal was, and how, when one of the sailors
placed the child on his back, it walked gravely up and down the deck,
wagging its tail as if pleased with its novel burden, he was satisfied that
no harm could come to her from this formidable looking animal. He
had first spoken a few words sharply to the man in answer to his
excuses, and, indeed, had the helmsman been minding his business
instead of looking at the ship, the collision might have been prevented;
but Hassan Jebash was at the present moment so well contented with
the recovery of his child that he accepted the man's excuses, and the
latter went back to his boat evidently greatly relieved.

In a few days the chief began to show signs of impatience, and through
the interpreter constantly demanded of the doctor when he would be
well enough to leave.
"You ask him, Soh Hay, whether he wishes to be able to lead his tribe
in battle again, or to go through life unable to use a kris or hurl a spear.
In another ten days, if he remains quiet, he will be able to go, and in a
couple of months will be as strong and active as ever, if he will but
keep quiet until the bones have knit. Surely a chief is not like an
impatient child, ready to risk everything for the sake of avoiding a little
trouble."
The chief, on this being translated