“With all my heart,” responded La Cueille. “I like wishing good-luck, because it is usually accompanied by a dram.” Johannes took from one of the baskets two square bottles. He poured out a stiff dose for each of them. Then raising on high his cocoanut drinking-cup, said: “Men and brothers, this morning we have crossed the Batang Loepar mountains. That range marks the frontier between Dutch territory and Sarawak. We are over that frontier now and stand in the domains of Rajah Sir James Brooke. Brothers, I drink to Rajah Sir James Brooke, who established upon the most inhospitable coast of Borneo the colony which will now receive us after a long and weary pilgrimage. Hip! hip! hurrah!” “Hip! hip! hurrah!” the Europeans cheered. “Lēēēh lèlèlèlèle ouiiiiit,” yelled the Poenans. The travellers now cast their eyes over the country into which they were descending. However wild the upper slopes of the Batang Loepar must have been, here below them lay a carpet of the loveliest verdure, in the midst of which a silver ribbon was seen winding its course from south to north. Harimaoung Boekit explained to his friends that the stream they saw was the soengei Oendoep. He also pointed out to them a spot on the horizon standing out beautifully white against the green background. Wienersdorf took his glasses and looked. “Those are white men’s buildings,” he exclaimed in a voice trembling with emotion. “Thank Heaven!” said Schlickeisen. “Benie soit la très Sainte Vierge de Jupille,” added La Cueille, devoutly uncovering his head. “Yes!” Wienersdorf continued, still looking through the glass. “They are dwellings efficiently lime-washed. There is also a fortification. It appears to be a square-bastioned redoubt. I can distinguish a flag on the flag-staff—a field of gold with a cross dividing the field into four equal squares. The perpendicular bar of the cross is red and black; the horizontal one is half red and half black.” “That is probably the Sarawak flag,” said Johannes. “That place is called Simangang,” Harimaoung explained. The travellers now quickly descended to the plain and before evening set in they arrived at the Sarawak fort. The garrison were turned out; but as soon as the party approached within hailing distance, Schlickeisen, who spoke English fluently, advanced alone, leaving the others behind. He shouted out his request for an interview with the authorities and was accordingly carried into the presence of the Assistant President and Military Commandant. When that official learned from him, that among the approaching travellers there were four soldiers who had deserted from the Dutch army his lips curled into a smile. It tickled Mr. Spencer’s fancy that those stupid Dutchmen had been tricked. After inspecting the visitors he graciously gave his permission for the Europeans to enter the fort, but Harimaoung Boekit and his Poenans, he ordered, must remain outside.