When Siu reached the light he sat down on a mat. Presently he heard a woman’s voice in the room say: “Sit down, Siu; I will bring out the _pinang_[3] and _sireh_[4] to you.” Siu was very pleased to hear a human voice. Soon a young and remarkably beautiful girl came out of the room with the chewing ingredients, which she placed before him. “Here you are at last, Siu,” she said; “I expected you would come earlier. How is it you are so late?” Siu explained that he had stopped at the well to have a bath, as he was hot and tired. “You must be very hungry,” said the girl; “wait a moment while I prepare some food. After you have eaten, we can have our talk together.” When Siu was left to himself, he wondered what it all meant. Here was a long Dyak house, built for more than a hundred families to live in, and yet it seemed quite deserted. The only person in it appeared to be the beautiful girl who was cooking his food for him. Again, he was surprised that she knew his name and expected him that day. “Come in, Siu,” said the voice from the room; “your food is ready.” Siu was very hungry, and went in at once, and sat down to eat his dinner. When they had done eating, she cleared away the plates and put things back into their places and tidied the room. Then she spread out a new mat for him, and brought out the _pinang_ and _sireh_, and bade him be seated, as she wished to have a chat with him. Siu had many questions to ask, and as soon as they were both seated, he began:— “Why are you all alone in this house? This is a long house, and many families must live in it. Where are the others? Why is everything so silent now? I am sure I heard voices before I entered the house; but now I hear no sound.” “Do not let us talk about this house or the people in it for the present. I would much rather talk of other matters. Tell me of your own people, and what news you bring from your country.” “There is no news to give you,” Siu replied. “We have been rather badly off for food, as our potatoes and yams did not turn out so well this year as we hoped.” “Tell me what made you come in this direction, and how it was you found out this house.” “While I was hunting in the jungle to-day I lost my way. After wandering about a long time, I found a path which I followed and came to this house. It was kind of you to take me in and give me food. If I had not found this house, I would have been lost in the jungle. To-morrow morning you must show me the way to my country, and also I must beg of you some food for my journey back. My mother is sure to be anxious about me. She is left all alone now that I am away. My father died a long time ago, and I am her only son.” “Do not go away as soon as to-morrow morning. Stay here a few days at any rate.”