Frightened at the voice, which seemed familiar to him, he looked attentively and became alarmed on recognizing the well-known, smiling face of Harimaoung Boekit, the Poenan chief, the tiger of the mountains. What was he doing there? Was the Colonel right after all in supposing an insurrection to be on foot in the upper country? The Tomonggong was so terribly frightened that he quite forgot to answer the question and remained fixed like a statue. Suddenly two rifle shots aimed with remarkable precision carried away the flag from one, and the walking-stick from the other hand. Johannes and Schlickeisen had given a sample of their marksmanship, with the sole intention of frightening and not harming the old man. They succeeded admirably, for he stood still looking down at the pieces of his shattered cane which, being a present of the Dutch Government, he valued more than all his other possessions. But when he heard the voice of Harimaoung Boekit again saying: “Father, get away quickly,” he took to his heels, his flight being accelerated by a few blank discharges from the Europeans. “That has set the puppets going!” the Colonel said, on hearing the shots. He had scarcely uttered these words when the Tomonggong himself appeared, terribly frightened and out of breath from running so fast. The old Chief sank upon the trunk of a tree, and was for some moments quite unable to utter a single word. At last, after having taken a draught of brandy from the flask offered to him by the Colonel, “The Poenan chief is there.” Fear and horror were visible on the face of the Tomonggong of Kwala Hiang on hearing these words, though the Colonel was at a loss to account for his perturbation. Presently Nikodemus calmed down a little and related his experience, concluding with the opinion that their position had now become very alarming indeed. “In what way, Tomonggong?” “The Poenans are daring men, and I can only express my surprise that the night has passed so quietly. They are unequalled in the execution of night attacks.” “Oh, Tomonggong! It won’t be so bad as all that,” the Colonel remarked. “I am not at all alarmed.” “But I am, sir!” was the solemn reply. “I attribute our escape from some great calamity partly to the clear moonlight and partly to some festivities celebrated last night inside the kotta. Did we not hear the boom of their guns at nine, and the yells of the priestesses all night long?” “It is true, Tomonggong, that your countrymen are unequalled in keeping up festivities. Being once together they will undoubtedly make a second night of it. I therefore believe that we have an admirable opportunity now to risk a well-directed assault on the kotta.” The old Tomonggong shook his head sadly. “Impossible, sir; to-morrow will be full moon, the night will be like day; we should only cause unnecessary bloodshed.” “We won’t act rashly, Tomonggong. We will only keep our men ready for any emergency.”