“You are right, Tomonggong, perfectly right, and I thank you for your advice. Nevertheless, I should have liked to commence the search to-night, for the sooner those poor fellows fall into my hands the less they will have to suffer. They will have to pay dearly enough for this excursion; it may perhaps cost them their lives.” “Yes, sir. Hatallah only knows how dearly,” said the Chief with solemnity. “Well,” said the Colonel, “till to-morrow then. I shall expect news very early. But stay, I had better come to you and thus save time. I will be with you before daybreak, Tomonggong. I will now give orders for your departure.” Thus saying, he left the room. The doctor, left alone with the chief, rushed toward him and seized his hands. “They will have a start of six hours,” he said with emotion. “It is not much,” suggested the Dayak. “Sufficient, let us hope. Oh, how can I thank you!” The Colonel re-entered at that moment and their confidence was interrupted. After the Tomonggong had taken his leave, the two friends remained together to empty the bottle which had been opened. “An awkward business,” observed the Colonel, “devilishly awkward for those poor fellows, but scarcely less so for me. Besides the dangers which may attend my pursuit after them, I shall have to weather the reprimands from headquarters. You know our authorities always turn these matters against us. Whenever the Dutch government has a difficulty the first impulse of all in power is to look out for a scapegoat.” “But our Commander-in-Chief is not the man to do that.” “Oh, I am not afraid of him. The bother will come from higher sources. From Batavia will go the report to the war office of the Hague, that through the negligence of a colonel four European soldiers have escaped—in war time. They will be careful to add, ‘Colonel severely reprimanded.’ Then the Hague authorities will be satisfied because none of them can be held responsible.” “Not responsible,” said the doctor, passionately, “not responsible. Why then the whole blame rests with the Hague for——” “Tut, tut; no politics, I beg,” said the Colonel. “Even if you are right, you are wrong; that is my experience in life. Come, it is late; let us retire, for day will begin early for us to-morrow.” They shook hands and the doctor left the room to seek his couch, but the Colonel, before retiring for the night, went the rounds once more to assure himself that all was safe.