And here, as a matter of course, the subject of the approaching tiger-hunt was discussed, Dullah, by means of his companion, becoming quite animated about the matter, and enlarging as to the number and beauty of the tigers that would be shot. Both Tom Long and the middy were having a fruit feast one day, when Ali, who had been off to the steamer, and then came on to the island, made his appearance in search of his two friends, Dullah quietly disappearing into the back of his hut, to attend to some of the sailors who had come in, while his companion waited upon the young officers. Of course the tiger-hunt was the principal subject of discussion, and Ali promised to arrange to have one of the largest of the sultan's elephants fitted with a roomy howdah, so that they three could be together. "I can manage that," he said, "through my father, and we'll have a grand day." "But shall we get any tigers?" asked Bob. "No fear of that," was the reply. "I'll contrive that we shall be in the best part of the hunt." "That will be close to the sultan, of course?" Ali's dark eyes were raised inquiringly to the speaker's face, but seeing that this was not meant sarcastically, he said drily,--"No; I shall arrange to be as far away from the sultan's elephant as I can." Bob looked at him keenly. "What, isn't he fond of tigers?" he said sharply. "My father is the sultan's officer, and greatly in his confidence," said the young man quietly. "I don't think the sultan is very fond of hunting, though." Just at this moment, unseen, of course, by the three young men, Dullah was whispering to a rough-looking, half-naked Malay, into whose hands he placed a little roll of paper, which the man secured in the fold of his sarong, dropped into a sampan, and then hastily paddled to the mainland, where he plunged into the wood and disappeared. Meanwhile the three friends sat chatting, and Ali expressed his sorrow about the adventure the two young Englishmen had had with the slave girls. "Where are they now?" he quietly asked. "Oh, Miss Linton and her cousin have quite adopted them," said Bob. "But surely you don't think we did wrong." "Speaking as the son of the Tumongong, I say yes," replied Ali; "but as one who has imbibed English notions and ideas, I am bound to say that what you did only makes me feel more thoroughly how it is time we had a complete revolution in Parang." "I say," said Bob, "you'll get stuck-up for high treason, young fellow, if you talk about revolution." "No fear," said Ali, laughing quietly. "My ideas are pretty well-known; but I am too insignificant a fellow for what I say to be noticed. Now if it was my father--" "Yes--if it was your father," said Bob, "I suppose they would kris him?"