The Malay boatmen saw that there was danger. They had not recognised Helen at first; but now that they knew her they coupled the meeting in their own minds with the troubles at the station, and from time to time they cast uneasy glances at the doctor's revolver as it lay upon the seat, and from that began watchfully to scan such portions of the shore as might be deemed dangerous from affording opportunities for an ambush from which spears would come whizzing with unerring aim. In the ardour of his pursuit after the favourite myth of his imagination the doctor had not noticed the distance he had ascended this narrow, winding stream; but now that he was all anxiety to reach the great river, it seemed as if it would never end. The sun poured down his ardent rays, and but for the awning of boughs that the Malays had cut and spread over her head, the heat to the rescued girl would have been unbearable. Everything, however, that could alleviate her position was done, and more than once she gave the doctor a grateful look, as in a weary, broken-spirited way, she faltered her thanks. "_Not_ much like the Helen Perowne of the past," he muttered, as he resumed his seat, after supplying his patient with water, and once more scanning the sides of the river for danger. There was nothing to be seen, though, for they had descended now to where rocks had given place to jungle, and the banks were one impenetrable mass of creeper-enlaced trees, the monotony being hardly enlivened now by the sight of a bird. "Look!--look!" whispered Helen, suddenly. "That is where they took me from the boat!" and she pointed to an opening in the jungle, the doctor recognising the spot which he had noticed as they came up the river, and here was where the prahu had turned. "There is a house inland from here, then?" said the doctor. Helen shuddered. "Yes," she said, faintly; "my prison. I cannot bear to talk about it now." The doctor nodded: and feeling that this was the critical part of the journey, he bade the Malays eat and drink as they paddled on, so as to gain strength for any energetic push they might have to make. For his own part he was decided enough as to the course he would pursue, meaning to trust to flight if possible, but if pursued he vowed to himself that he would fire upon his pursuers. "And I am an Englishman!" he said to himself, proudly. "They dare not fire upon me!" "Double pay if you get us safely back to the station," he said, "and in quicker time." The boatmen nodded and smiled, toiled harder with their paddles, and they were half-way back to the great river at least, when plainly heard upon the still afternoon air, came the loud beat of the many oars of a great prahu. VOLUME THREE, CHAPTER FOURTEEN. PREPARING FOR A START. "Now look here, boy," said Chumbley. "I grant the possibility of the Inche Maida having assisted in carrying off Helen, but we do not know that she did. What we do know is--" "That she confessed--"