H. Bedford-Jones

“ Robinson spoke Hollandish like a native. He took us into the house, which was simply but neatly furnished, and assigned us his spare room with apologies that he had not one for each of us. Then he vanished to see about dinner.
"It must be done before we dine," I told von Traube firmly. "Otherwise not at all."
He assented with a nod and a sneer. "Very well, Mynheer Van Loon. When we are seated at the table, you understand? Then I shall tell him about the war, and do the rest. You will attend to the servants. I wonder where he keeps his diamonds?" ”

“ I was strolling along the white sand, smoking and watching the stars and the phosphorescent curlings of the waves, when far ahead I made out a strange black blotch against the sand. A few red sparks showed that men were there, smoking. ”

“ Even then, I imagine, he suspected us.
"You passed the town of Titigading on the way, didn't you?" he inquired. "Well, I'm training animals for the local sultan. That's the truth, too—training them!"
I must have smiled at this, for he shrugged and gave me a sour look.
"It's true, all the same, Van Loon! If you'd come a few days sooner, I'd have shown you something—a pet rhino that I raised from birth, and trained to do no end of things! They say a rhino can't be trained, but—"
"A rhinoceros!" I exclaimed, giving him a sharp look as a sudden fear bit into me. ”

“ I sawed part way through the horn, then struck something soft and glittering. Think of it! That horn was a brown shell, a real horn; inside, it was solid virgin gold—and the horn was upon a rhinoceros!
Well, I investigated. I found that this horn-shell filled with gold had been set on a peg of the real horn, and cunningly pegged in place with ivory pegs. Thus it was evident that the animal had been a tame beast somewhere up-country. ”

“ Then my little New Yorker rapped with his empty pipe on a stone.
"The brethren," he began, "will come to order."
Cigarettes were doused promptly. The big Kansan beside me chuckled, and spoke in a soft whisper like a boy afraid of the teacher.
"This here," he confided in my ear, "is a lodge of refreshment, mostly! Ain't a man of us who's regular, I reckon. But we get around here Sunday nights an' chin, see? You'd be surprised to hear some of the things that's said, too."
"I made those jewels myself," said Ben Ali in Dutch, speaking at my other ear with obvious pride. ”

“ There's enough in the stones to make us both well off."
"That's very handsome," I said thoughtfully. "But my friend, do you realize what would have happened if I had not found that horn carved with the square and compasses?"
Robinson laughed in his thin, ominous fashion.
"Yes, I do," he said. "You fellows would have done me in; then, my dear Van Loon, the estimable Herr Doktor von Traube would have done you in!"
"Not at all," I said, laughing. "You see, I was figuring to do him in! But let's clear out of this, and I'll take you over to Malacca Town in my boat, eh? ”

“ That put another aspect on von Traube's proposal.
Not that I have too fine a conscience, but I dislike killing a man without reason. Well, here was a reason, and a good one! I could kill the Englishman legally, and I could take his unlawful diamonds legally. Also there would be a reward at Batavia for having done it. It was obvious that he had been settled in the country for a long while, and had encouraged the natives to bring him down the blue clay in their boats, from the hills. Therefore he must have a fine stock of diamonds on hand. ”

“ Anyway, I've the horn in my boat, with the gold intact. We'll get it tomorrow or have one of the boys bring it up tonight if you prefer. Meantime, allow me to tell you that Germany and England are at war, and you and von Traube will have to keep off the subject."
Five minutes later von Traube joined us, smiling.
"There is war in the world, Mynheer Robinson," he said, "but there need be none here, I think?" ”