H. Bedford-Jones

“ He turned to the squatting Tan Tock. “Your master, the Sultan, wrote for this white woman to come. Why?”
“For what except to enter into his harem, tuan?”
A cry broke from Miss Bretton. “Not true—it’s not true! I—”
“Quiet, please!” Stone hushed her imperatively; it was unpleasant work, but it had to be done. “Tan Tock, answer this question truly, and I will give you a revolver with which to fight; you are too brave a man to be slain for serving your master faithfully. Is a Christian mission to be established at Kuala Gajah? Is there to be a mosque of Christians built there?” ”

“ I shall play raja clear up to the hilt, and save you if possible. There’ll be a hot brush with Benbow and Mickelson, and men will die of the heat, but the real work comes about to-morrow noon, when the Sultan will probably arrive in his private barge. What I shall do then, I don’t know; but I shall do my best not to fail. Failure means death for me, and for you—and I’m not ready to die. Are you?”
“No,” she said, hesitant, compelled by the fire of his words.
“Good!” Stone sprang up and held out his hand. “The up-stairs room is yours—don’t leave it until I call you, no matter what happens. ”

“ On the other hand, take the Raja of Hell Island, and he isn’t a bad sort in his way; one of the good kind of rulers, in fact! If you’ll trust to him, he’ll see you through, by hook or crook.”
The gray eyes widened. “Who is this raja? I never heard of him! ”

“ Tan Tock joined him, squatted down on the floor, and waited respectfully while Stone lighted his pipe. Then the yellow man began to speak, choosing his words carefully.
“Tuan, my grandfather was very brave and was not afraid of the devils who dwell upon this island, as men say. Also he was a large man, as large in his body as Lim Perak, the steelwright, who makes a kris of great worth. ”

“ Tan Tock paused and cocked his head to one side, as though listening. Stone also listened, but could hear nothing save the waves rippling on the shore in the darkness outside. Then the steward continued his tale.
“Presently my grandfather became drunk, and he wakened to find himself in his canoe, floating on the water, and that is all the story. But, tuan, it seems to me that we might turn this tale to our advantage, you and I. I fear the devils, but you are an infidel and do not ”