All these were important communications not to be neglected. When evening had set in and most of the male inhabitants of the kotta were seated together, dissecting the skulls of the slaughtered prisoners of war, Johannes presented the spared Doessonner with a mandauw, gave him a basketful of provisions, conducted him outside the fortification, pointed toward the east, pressed his hand cordially and set him free. The Doessonner did not need to be told twice that he was at liberty, but taking the hand of his benefactor he placed it on his own head and bent his neck before him in silent reverence. Then without hesitation he made his way towards the thick wood, in which he soon disappeared like a ghost. Johannes now re-entered the fortification and immediately summoned Amai Kotong, Harimaoung Boekit and the son of Amai Mawong to inform them of what he had heard and to consider what was now to be done. His reports awakened the utmost alarm, for the route taken by the Doessonese was exactly that which Harimaoung Boekit intended to follow himself. They found that they must alter their plans entirely. “The course we have to follow is quite clear to me,” said Harimaoung Boekit. “Going forward we shall either meet with the chief army of our enemies or with one of its flanks. Now we are much too weak to think of meeting them in the field.” “Is there no way out of the difficulty?” Johannes asked. “Yes; to get ahead of the Doessonese,” was Harimaoung’s reply. “Would that be possible?” “Yes; with a great deal of speed and exertion. You see,” continued the Poenan, pointing towards the west, “soengei Miri lies over there, but we’ll have to go in that direction,” indicating the south-west. “We will follow soengei Sirat until it reaches soengei Mantarat, then sail up the latter as far as the kotta of that name. We will then disembark, drag the rangkans over land into soengei Minjangan, where we will set them afloat and sail down the stream into the Kahajan.” “Beautifully planned,” cried Johannes. “But first of all what is the distance between soengei Mantarat and soengei Minjangan?” “When a person bathes in the former, his hair will not have dried when he reaches the latter.” “Yes, yes,” said Johannes smiling. “I know that calculation of time. Your long hair tied in a firm knot and protected by a head-dress in the bargain does not dry very rapidly. Let us assume that it would take five or six hours. What is the character of the country we should have to traverse?” “It is very rugged and steep, but not difficult. I have frequently travelled the entire distance. Once arrived at Boekit Riwoet we gradually descend.” “But shall we arrive at Oepon Batoe before Tomonggong Soerapatti?” “That is not quite certain; perhaps we shall if we make haste.” “Suppose we find Oepon Batoe already besieged?” “Naughe,” I don’t care, was the easy reply of the Poenan. “I will call together the tribes of the Upper Kahajan and then we will see who cries king.”