The Rajah of Dah | Page 8

it.
"There, get under the roof and change your things," said his uncle.
"We'll wring these out, and they'll soon dry in the sun."
"Yes; but who pulled me out?" cried Ned; and on being told, he held
out his hand to Hamet, who took it respectfully, and bent over it for a
moment.
"Thank you," said Ned; and then, "was it the sun made me turn like that?
I say, uncle, it would have been awkward if that old crocodile had
caught sight of me."
"This is a bad beginning, Ned," said Murray gravely. "That hideous
reptile did see you, and was within an ace of getting hold."
"Ugh!" ejaculated Ned, changing colour.
"No crocodiles much higher up," said Hamet.

"Then the sooner we are higher up the better," muttered Murray as the
boat glided on; and Ned was very quiet as he changed his wet things.
"I say, uncle," he said at last, "I'm very sorry. I did mean to be careful,
and not do anything to worry you. I couldn't help that, could I?"
"No, it was an accident, and will be a lesson to you to be careful. You
see how soon anything goes wrong."
About this time the tide, which had helped them well on their upward
journey, began to grow slack, then to pause; and the men rapidly rowed
across to the edge of the mangroves, where the boat was made fast in
the shade, and Hamet signified that they would rest now for some hours
till the tide turned, and the sun was beginning to get low.
Food was produced, but Ned did not want much dinner, and sat with
rather a disgusted look upon his countenance, gazing between the
leaves at the surface of the river, watching for the muddy-looking
prominences above the eyes of the crocodiles; and thinking how he
should like to spend the next few days gliding about in a boat, sending
bullets into the brains of the treacherous-looking brutes as they slowly
swam about in the tidal stream.
The sound of heavy breathing made him turn his head at last to see that
the Malays were all fast asleep, and that his uncle had followed their
example; and as Ned looked, he could see the great drops of
perspiration standing upon his forehead.
Perhaps it was the effect of seeing others asleep--perhaps the heat--at
any rate, the result was that a drowsy sensation stole over the boy; and
the dark leaves which touched the palm thatching of the roof, the
metallic dazzling glare from the surface of the river, and the rippling
sound of the water all passed away, as Ned dropped into a dreamless
sleep, which lasted till he was touched by his uncle.
"Wake up, Ned. Going on."
"Have I been asleep?"

"Look for yourself."
The Malays were forcing the boat out into the stream once more, which,
instead of glancing like molten silver with a glare which was painful to
the eyes, now seemed to be of a deep glowing orange, the reflection of
the wondrous sky rapidly changing in its refulgent hues from gold to
orange, to a deep-red and purple, as the sun sank rapidly behind the
great dark belt of trees on their left.
"The tide is just upon the turn again. Can't you feel that it is much
cooler?"
"No, not yet," replied Ned. "I turned hot when we first got to Singapore,
and I've never been cool since."
"Not when you plunged into the river?"
Ned gave him a sharp look.
"I don't remember anything about that," he replied; "but I say, uncle,
you might let me have a shot at one of the crocs now."
Murray laughed, but made no reply, and they sat in silence watching
the wonderful sunset, as the men, well refreshed, sent the boat along at
a pretty good rate, the tide soon afterwards lending its help. This was
kept on till long after dark, and the crew did not cease rowing till they
came abreast of another tiny village. Here they fastened the boat to a
post in company with a couple more, after exchanging a few words
with some dusky-looking figures on the strip of shore, beyond which a
group of huts could be just made out, backed by trees, which looked of
an intense black, while above them was the purple sky spangled with
stars which seemed double the size of those at home.
This time Ned was quite ready for his share of the evening meal, which
was eaten in silence as the travellers sat watching a patch of bushes
which grew where the mangroves ceased.
"Why, it's just like a little display of fireworks," Ned whispered. "As if

the people there were letting them off because we had come."
"Yes; it is very