The Rajah of Dah | Page 5

more delicious each time we
raise the cup."
Ned's chin was now upon his thumbs, his elbows on the table once
more, and his eyes sparkled with intense delight as he gazed on the
animated countenance of the man before him; for that face was lit up,

the broad forehead looked noble, and his voice was now deep and low,
and now rang out loudly, as if he were some great teacher declaiming
to his pupil on the subject nearest to his heart. Till it suddenly dawned
upon him that, instead of quenching, he was increasing the thirst of the
boy gazing excitedly in his eyes, and he stopped short in the lamest
way, just as he was rising up to the highest pitch of his eloquence.
"Yes, uncle, yes!" cried Ned. "Go on--go on."
"Eh? No; that's all, my boy; that's all."
"But that isn't all!" cried Ned excitedly, rising now. "That's only the
beginning of what I want to learn. I want to road in those books, uncle.
I want to drink from that glorious fountain whose draughts are sweeter
every time. I want to--I want to--I want to--Oh uncle, oh uncle, go on!
do take me with you, there's a dear old chap."
The boy stretched out his hand, which was slowly taken and pressed as
Johnstone Murray said in a subdued tone: "God grant that I may be
doing rightly for you, Ned. You've beaten me finely with my own
weapons, my boy."
"And you'll take me?"
"Yes, Ned, I give in. You shall be my companion now."
"Hurrah!"
Ned sprang on to his chair, then on to the table, and waved his hand
above his head. A month later he was on his way in one of the French
boats to Singapore, from whence, after making a few final preparations,
they went up in a small trading-steamer to the little settlement of
Dindong, on the Salan River. Here they made a fortnight's stay to
engage a boat and men, and learn a little more of the land they were to
explore, and at last the morning came when they parted from the
hospitable merchant to whom Murray had had introductions; and the
bamboo wharf had faded quite from sight, when Ned Murray again
cried excitedly:

"Hurrah! Off at last!"
CHAPTER THREE.
UP THE RIVER.
It was early morning yet, and the mists hung low, but the torrid sun
rapidly dissipated each opalescent gauzy vapour, and before long the
sky was of that vivid blue which reflected in the surface of the river
changed its muddy hue, and gave it a beauty it really did not possess.
Nothing can be more dull and monotonous than the fringe of
mangroves which line the tidal waters of river and creek in the tropics,
and after sitting watching the dingy foliage and interlacing roots for
some time, in the hope of seeing some living creature, Ned Murray
began to scan the river in search of something more attractive; but for a
time there was the glistening water reaching on and on before them,
now fairly straight, now winding and winding, so that at times they
were completely shut in by the mangroves, and the Malays appeared to
be rowing in a lake.
"Not much of scenery this, Ned," said Murray, after a long silence.
"That's what I was thinking, uncle. But I say, is it going to be all like
this?"
"I should hope not. Oh no! these trees only grow where they can feel
the sea-water, I believe. As we get higher up, where the river begins to
be fresh, we shall see a change."
"But it's all so still. No fish, no birds, and no chance of seeing the
animals for those trees."
"Patience, my lad, patience."
"But hadn't we better get out the guns and cartridges, or the
fishing-tackle?"
"Nothing to shoot as yet, nothing to catch, I should say; but we'll have

out a gun soon. Any fish to be caught here with a line, Hamet?"
The nearest of the Malay boatmen smiled, ceased rowing, and said in
fairly good English, but with a peculiar accent: "Few; not many.
Shrimps when the water is low."
"Oh! but we can't fish for shrimps without a net," said Ned,
contemptuously; "and that's stupid sport. I did fish with a net once
down in Devonshire, but I did not want to do it again. Why, I should
have thought a river like this would have been full of something."
"Hah!" said the Malay, pointing, and Ned followed the direction
indicated by the man's long brown finger.
"Eh? what?" said the boy, staring across the water. "What is it--a bird?
where?"
"Don't you see. There, fifty yards away, on the surface of the water?"
"No; I can't see anything. Yes, I can;