Kitabı oku: «Jungle and Stream: or, The Adventures of Two Boys in Siam», sayfa 12
"Well," said Phra philosophically, "we are very nearly home now, and we shall see. But I wish we hadn't brought the tiger back."
"I don't," said Harry. "It really was an accident."
Very little more was said till they came in sight of the palace, where something important was evidently going on, for they caught sight of the glint of spears and a body of men. A minute later they saw a couple of elephants, and directly after they made out that Mr. Kenyon and Doctor Cameron were there.
Then there was quite a scene of excitement, for some of those present had seen them coming, and when the next moment some one caught sight of the tiger, there was a tremendous shout.
"Hal," whispered Phra, "my father found that we had gone out on an elephant, with guns, and he has sent word to Mr. Kenyon and the doctor, and ordered them to get ready."
"That's it," cried Harry excitedly, "and they were coming in search of us."
"The King will be dreadfully angry," said Phra, "and say I disobeyed his orders."
"And my father will be quite awful," said Harry solemnly. Then changing his tone and speaking with an assumption of lightness which he did not feel, "I don't care; it really was an accident, and we're in for it, and it can't be helped; but here, I say, Sul, you ugly old double-tailed deceiver, do you know you've got us into an awful mess? Sul, I say, do you hear!"
And the elephant said, —
Phoomk!
CHAPTER XIV
A YOUNG SAVAGE
The great elephant approached the group in the courtyard with slow and majestic step, as if proud of the load he bore, and of now being surrounded by a little crowd of spearmen, cheering and shouting loudly.
As they drew near, the two elephants that had been prepared, as was rightly surmised, to go in search of the wanderers, challenged their big companion loudly, Sul sounding his trumpet in reply, but without allowing the excitement around to increase his advance in the slightest degree.
"The young rascals!" said the doctor to Mr. Kenyon. "It's a magnificent tiger, apparently."
"Yes, but Harry ought not to have done this," said Mr. Kenyon. "I am disappointed in him."
"Are you going to give him a talking to now? Rather awkward while he is being made a hero of by the people."
"I am going to wait till I get him home."
"Well, I'm glad to see them safe back again," said the doctor. "I felt certain that they must have met with some mishap. But it is hard that we should be disappointed, and that they should have all the luck."
"Hush!" whispered Mr. Kenyon, for the great elephant had knelt down before the King, ladders had been placed by the attendants on either side, the boys had descended, and helped by some of the men, Sree had slid the tiger off, to be half borne, half dragged, to the King's feet.
But Phra's father did not even glance at it. He gave Harry an angry glance as he approached with his companion, and then fixed his eyes sternly upon his son, who bent down before him.
"You know, sir," he said, in their own tongue, "that it is the duty of my people to obey my commands."
"Yes, father."
"How can we expect them to do so when my own son sets my orders at defiance? I told you I wished you not to go in chase of tigers, did I not?"
"Yes, father."
"Who is to blame for this, you or your companion?"
"Neither of us, sir," broke in Harry, in his blunt, English, outspoken way. "We only went deer-shooting, sir; but the tiger charged us, and of course we were obliged to shoot. Old Sul was most to blame."
The King looked more stern that ever, all but his eyes, which refused to keep his other features in countenance.
"What have you to say, sir?" said the King, turning again to his son.
"The same as Harry Kenyon, father," replied the boy. "The elephant rushed at the tiger, which had struck down a deer we shot."
"Where is the deer you shot?" said the King.
Phra turned to Harry, for the deer had been quite forgotten, and Harry turned to the old hunter, who was kneeling by the tiger.
"Here, Sree," he cried, "what became of that deer we shot?"
The man made a gesture with his hands, and shook his head.
"We forgot all about it, sir," said Harry, laughing frankly. "We had so much to do with killing the tiger and getting it on old Sul's back that we never remembered it any more, did we, Phra?"
"No," said the latter gravely.
"It was all an accident, sir, indeed," said Harry, who was speaking in English. "We were obliged to shoot, sir, really. I'm sure you would have done the same if you had been there."
"That is enough," said the King quietly. "I am glad to hear it was so. It is a painful thing, Harry Kenyon, to feel that one's own son is not to be trusted. Your father felt the same."
"Oh, but he doesn't now, sir. Do you, father?"
"No, Hal; I am quite satisfied."
"A very fine tiger," said the King, going close up to the dead beast; "a splendid specimen. Let it be carefully skinned, and the skin properly dressed."
Sree bowed his lowest, so that his forehead would have touched the ground had not the tiger been there. As it was, he thumped his head against the animal's ribs.
"Who fired the first shot?" said the King, smiling.
The boys looked at one another.
"Both fired together, father," replied Phra.
"Then you will give way to your friend, my son," said the King. "Harry
Kenyon, it is yours."
Harry was about to protest in his blunt way, but his father was at his elbow.
"Silence!" he said softly. "Now your thanks."
Harry obeyed, and the King turned to where the little party of English people were standing.
"I am glad it has turned out so well, Kenyon," he said gravely, and with great dignity, as the eyes of all his people were upon him; "but it is disappointing for you and the doctor to see these two boys have such good fortune. You shall have another trial, and we must do away with our objections now. I think the boys deserve to be admitted to the ranks of tiger-hunters."
"Oh!" ejaculated Harry, and the King turned to him.
"You make a bad courtier, Harry," he said, with a very faint smile upon his lip. "I feel that there is no one in my country less afraid of me than you are."
He saluted them, and making a sign to his son to follow, passed into the palace, Phra giving his friends a quick nod of the head and a smile, and then he was hidden from sight by the King's attendants.
"Then we may go back home now, I suppose," said Mr. Kenyon.
"Yes," replied the doctor, "and the sooner the better. As soon as the sun goes in we seem to be in the shade. All is bright and warm while the King is near, but when he goes every one seems to scowl."
Mr. Kenyon gave his friend a meaning look as if saying, "No more now," and laid his hand upon Harry's shoulder.
"You have had quite an exciting time, then, Hal?" he said quietly, as they walked away.
"Oh, wonderfully, father," cried the boy.
"Enjoyed yourself?"
"Well, I don't know that it was enjoying oneself, but I liked killing such a dangerous, mischievous beast."
"And all the time the King and I were fidgeting ourselves and beginning to think, as it grew so late, that some terrible accident had happened to you."
"It isn't so late as you and Doctor Cameron were that time."
"Getting on to be, sir."
"Don't you think that poor Phra and I were just as anxious about you and the doctor, father?" said the boy mischievously.
"No, indeed I don't," said Mr. Kenyon, laughing. "You are both too thoughtless. And look here, young gentleman, you forget yourself horribly. I never heard anything like it. You must not speak to the King in that free and easy way, just as if he were your equal, before all his people."
"Free and easy?" said Harry, staring. "I thought I was speaking very nicely, father."
The doctor laughed heartily, and Harry's cheeks turned hot with annoyance.
"Why, what did I say that was wrong?"
"It was not the words but the way, my boy," said Mr. Kenyon gravely. "Of course one does not look upon the Prince of a barbaric country like this as one would upon a European monarch; but in the presence of his followers we must not forget that he is a king."
"I did," said Harry frankly; "I felt as if I were speaking to Phra's father and your friend."
"Humph!" ejaculated Mr. Kenyon, as he glanced at the doctor.
"That's right enough, Hal," said the latter; "but we must not presume on the King's kindness to us."
"No, of course not," said Harry thoughtfully. "I'll be more careful, especially as some of the people seem to be jealous of our being so much in favour."
"That's right, Hal; be more careful, for all our sakes."
"Do you think there is any danger, father?" said Harry.
"Danger of what?" said Mr. Kenyon sharply.
"Of the people turning against us and the King."
"Hush! Mind what you are saying, my boy. No; I do not think there is any real danger, and I feel that the best thing for every one is to completely ignore the unpleasant looks we are getting now and then. We are in the right, and I want for our conduct to be such as will gain the respect of the people for our just consideration and honest treatment of them."
"But there is that second king – I say, father, it seems curious for there to be a second king."
"It is the custom of the country, my boy, and in every land there are quaint fashions and I may say parties who are opposed to the ruling power."
"And jealous of the King?"
"Yes, Hal, and of the people he favours."
"That's not pleasant, father," said Hal sharply.
"Not at all," replied Mr. Kenyon. "But I don't think it need trouble us, for we are not arrogant to the people because we are in high favour. I'm sure we do our best, eh, Cameron?"
"That we do," said the doctor heartily. "As for me, I should be a rich man if I charged ordinary fees for what I do."
"Instead of getting disliked," said Mr. Kenyon.
"Oh, but, father," cried Harry, "I know lots of people who almost worship Dr. Cameron for what he has done for them."
"Yes, Hal, and so do I; but unfortunately he offends the native doctors through knowing so much better than they do, and curing patients whom they have condemned to death."
"It's a pity that people will be jealous of those who are more clever."
"It's a natural failing, Hal, my boy," said the doctor, laughing. "But never mind; even those who dislike us are bound to pay us the respect we have earned."
"But you remember what I told you about the people talking in the boat?" said Harry.
"Perfectly."
"You don't think that there will be a revolution, and an attack upon the King and the English people, do you?"
"No, Hal, my boy," said Mr. Kenyon; "I do not, so don't trouble yourself about it. Let's change the conversation. I'm glad you are to have the tiger's skin."
"Yes; I don't think Phra will mind."
"It is a beauty. Was he very hard to kill?"
"Horribly, father;" and with plenty of animation the boy related their adventure.
"We're jealous now, Hal," said the doctor smiling.
"I don't mind that a bit," said the boy. "You must do better, and we two are to come next time you go."
"Well, I suppose so," said Mr. Kenyon gravely. "By the way, Hal, you had the chest of bats and balls. How did you get on? You tried football in the field?"
"Oh, it's a horribly hot, stupid game," said Harry.
"Stupid?" cried the doctor warmly.
"Yes; it's all one or the other. If Phra gets the ball, one does nothing but run after him; and if I get the ball, he has to run after me. And oh! wasn't it hot!"
"When did you play?" said the doctor.
"Oh, in the afternoon."
"You are quite right, my lad," said the doctor drily. "A game at football between two boys with the thermometer standing at over a hundred in the shade, must be a very stupid game indeed."
"Did you ever play it?" said Harry. "I think I've heard you say you did."
"Did I ever play it?" said the doctor scornfully. "I should think I did, and with a couple of good teams. But the thermometer was not at a hundred in the shade, but thirty-five or forty."
"I wish you would play with us next time, Doctor," said Harry eagerly.
"Thank you, my lad, but I would rather be excused."
"Will you show us how to play cricket, then?"
"Yes, but you must get up your two sides. Have you read up anything about it in any book of games and sports?"
"Oh yes, and it says you have eleven and an umpire on each side; but that's nonsense, of course."
"Kenyon," said the doctor with mock solemnity, "do you call this bringing up an English boy properly? It sounds to me quite dreadful. He talks like a young barbarian – as if he had never had any education at all. What did you say, sir?" he continued, turning to Harry.
"What about?"
"There being eleven on a side, and that being nonsense, of course."
"I said so," said Harry, who felt half amused, half annoyed.
"Well, sir, I see that I shall have to take pity on you and young Phra, and try to make up for your neglected education. We shall have to make a cricket club, and petition the King for a cricket ground; but I have my doubts about the game proving popular: the work will be too hard."
"But you will help us, Doctor?"
"Yes, my boy, and I shall prescribe an occasional game for your father. A little exercise will do him good."
"A game of cricket?" said Mr. Kenyon, starting out of a fit of musing. "Why, I haven't had a bat in my hand for twenty years! But I don't know – well, yes – I might. I used to be a very tidy bowler, Cameron, and perhaps my hand may be cunning still at delivering twists. But under this tropical sun? Phew! I'm rather doubtful."
"Never mind the doubts," said the doctor.
"Here, hullo, my boy! where are you going?" cried Mr. Kenyon.
"Only to try and see Phra."
"What! to-night? Nonsense! I daresay he is with his father now, and the news will keep."
Harry looked disappointed, but he said no more, and directly after they had to say good-night to the doctor.
CHAPTER XV
FOR THE JUNGLE, HO!
In due time the skin of the tiger, beautifully dressed, and with the hole made by Sul's tusk so carefully drawn together that the fur concealed the damage, was brought to the bungalow by Sree, who was eager to go upon a fresh expedition; but another week passed away before matters shaped themselves for this to be made.
Matters had gone on as usual, and the insubordinate words used by the occupants of the boat were half forgotten in the excitement of religious fetes and illuminations with lanthorns along the river, kite-flying, and discharges of fireworks, in the making of some of which the people, who had learned the art of the Chinese, were adepts.
These fêtes were wonderfully attractive to the two lads, who joined in the processions for the sake of seeing all they could, the royal boat in which they were rowed being one mass of coloured lanthorns swinging from bamboo frameworks, and the effect with the lights reflected in the glassy water was beautiful in the extreme.
"I should enjoy it all so much more, though," Harry said, "if the people would be contented with the bells and the music. They spoil it all with so much gong."
But the Siamese do not shine in music – at least to English taste.
Phra came down to the bungalow some time or other every day, and as often as not Harry returned with him to the palace; but he rarely saw the King, who appeared to pass a great deal of his time in study.
Not a day passed without the cricket implements being examined in Phra's room. The bats were handled, the balls taken out of their boxes, and sometimes a little throwing from one to the other, and catching was practised.
At another time the pads which had come with the rest of the things were solemnly tried on, and the room promenaded.
"They seem rather stupid things," said Phra. "I think they'd be best for the football."
"So as to save one's legs from kicks?" said Harry. "Yes, they wouldn't be bad for that, but I suppose they're all right."
"We look rather ridiculous in them, though, Hal."
"Yes, I expect we shall be laughed at; but I don't care. The worst thing about them is that they're so jolly hot. Now let's try on the gloves."
These were carefully put on, the boys' countenances being particularly solemn as the long indiarubber guarded fingers were examined.
Then a thought occurred to Harry, and he struck an attitude.
"What do you say to a fight?" he cried. "We can't hurt one another with our legs guarded and our hands in these gloves. Hit me, and I'll hit you."
"No," said Phra shortly; "I don't like fighting in play. It always hurts, and then I get cross, and want to hit as hard as I can. I say, though, we shall be hot in these leggings and gloves."
"Look here," cried Harry; "we haven't seen these before."
"What are they?"
"Gloves, of course, all stuffed and soft. Here, let's look at the book and see what it says about them."
The book of games was examined, but they found no mention of the wicket-keeper's gloves, but plenty of other information which was puzzling.
"It's all very well to call this thing a book of games," said Harry at last, "but there doesn't seem to be much fun in it. It's as puzzling as old Euclid with his circles and straight lines and angles. Here, let's put all the things away. I can't understand. We'll make the doctor show us; that's the easiest way."
And so it was time after time, nothing more being done, for it was decided that there should be no genuine commencement till the doctor was ready, and though he was reminded pretty well every day he always replied that he was not ready yet.
"But there is no occasion to waste time," he said one day. "You boys have the book, so you cannot do better than well study it up, rules and all. Then you will thoroughly know how to play cricket; all you will want is practice."
"We shall have to study up the book, Phra," said Harry, after parting from the doctor, "and I know it's going to be a hard job. But never mind; when you've got to take physic, it's best to swallow it down at once. Come along."
Phra nodded, set his teeth hard, and they went up to the palace through the hot sunshine, to enter its cool precincts and find Phra's room refreshing in its semi-darkness after the glare without, where Harry said it was hot enough to frizzle up the leaves into tea.
The book was brought, cricket turned to, and they sat down side by side with the book on the table.
"Let's begin at the beginning, and go steadily through it," proposed
Phra.
"No, no; we'll just skim it first."
"Very well. What's this – popping grease? Why do they pop grease?"
"'Tisn't! It's popping crease. 'The popping crease must be four feet from the wicket, and exactly parallel with it.' Bother! I shan't read any more of that. Parallel! Why, it's geometry. Look at something else."
"'The wickets must be pitched,'" read Phra.
"What for? To keep off the wet, I suppose. No! It means pitched into the ground, to make them stand up."
"But I say, what a lot there is to learn here, Hal. See what names they call the players by. Here's wicket-keeper."
"That's the one who attends to the gate, I suppose."
"Short slip."
"What's he got to do?"
"I don't know. – Point."
"Oh, he's the man who keeps the stumps sharp."
"No; he must be a good catcher," cried Phra, and he went on, "'Mid wicket – cover point – leg – long stop – long slip – long field off – long field on – changes of position – fielding.'"
"Bother! Never mind about that," said Harry. "Look here; let's read that bit, 'How to defend your wicket!' That ought to be interesting. 'The bifold task of the batsman.'"
Bang went the book, as Harry shut it up.
"What did you do that for?" cried Phra, staring.
"Because it makes me feel so hot and stupid. I want to learn how to play, and that's all puzzles and problems, and what do I care when I go to play a game about parallels and bifolds? It's too hot here to learn cricket from books. I say, what shall we do?"
"Let's go to sleep," said Phra.
"Bah! It's too lazy."
"I don't think so," said Phra. "Every one goes to sleep here in the middle of the day."
"No, they don't. I never do."
"Oh! I've seen you more than once when it has been very hot."
"Well, it was an accident, then. It seems so stupid to go to sleep when it's light. Here, come along out again, and let's try and find old Sree."
"Who's to find him? Why, he may be miles away in the jungle."
"But I want him to arrange about going up a long way in a boat. Let's go up that little river again, and see how far we can get. Look here, I know what we'll do. We'll start as soon as it's light, and take plenty to eat with us, and have the next size larger boat out, with four men to paddle and four to rest, and then we can go right on."
"You'd have Sree?"
"Of course. He knows the way everywhere. He'd take us right up the little rivers that branch off – I mean, where no one goes. There's no knowing what we may find up there."
"No. Sree says there are plenty of wonders; I've often longed to go."
"Then we'll go now. We ought to have done so before. I should like to go for a week," said Harry.
"I don't think our people would like us to go for so long."
"Oh, I don't know. Let's try. I tell you what; let's have a bigger boat, so that we can sleep on board, and a man to cook for us. Then we can live comfortably for a few days. Why, we should get a wonderful lot of things for the museum."
"It would be very nice," said Phra thoughtfully.
"Nice? It would be grand. Here, I shall go home and speak to my father at once."
"Then I'll ask mine."
"He'll say yes, because he'll think he can trust us. I say, Phra, I wish we had thought of this before."
The boys separated, and Harry did not feel the heat as he hurried home to lay his plans before his father.
"For a week?" said Mr. Kenyon, with a look of doubt. "That's a long time, Hal."
"Not for getting a good lot of things, father. You know, whenever we've been up the river before, directly we have begun it has been time to come back."
"Yes," said Mr Kenyon thoughtfully, "and if you were up the jungle river at daybreak you would have far better chances for getting scarce birds, and it would be a most interesting experience for you."
"Then you'll let me go, father?" cried the boy excitedly.
"I must talk the matter over with the King first."
"If he feels that you do not object, father, he is sure to say yes."
Mr. Kenyon was silent and thoughtful, looking so serious that Harry began to lose heart.
"What are you thinking, father?" he said at last.
"That it's a long time since I had a change."
"Yes, father?"
"That I have nothing particular to do."
"Father!"
"And that the doctor has been saying that he would like to make an expedition up the country."
"Then you think – "
"Yes, Hal, I do think that I should like for the doctor and me to join in your trip. It would only necessitate a larger boat."
"Oh," cried Harry excitedly, "that would be splendid."
"Better than you two alone?" said Mr. Kenyon quietly.
"A hundred times better, father. But think of that!"
"Think of what?" said Mr. Kenyon.
"Doctor Cameron putting us off day after day because he had not time to teach us cricket, when he can find time to go up the country."
Mr. Kenyon smiled.
"My dear boy," he said, "I do not wonder at his putting you off. Cricket is not a very attractive game at this time of year, in a country like this."
"Never mind the cricket," cried Harry. "Look here, father, will you go?"
"I am very much tempted to say yes."
"Say it then, father. I say, you'd take Mike, wouldn't you?"
"Certainly; he would be very useful."
"Here, I must go and tell Phra."
"There is no need; here he comes."
For the lad was crossing the garden, and as Harry met him with his face lit up with excitement, Phra's countenance was dark and dejected.
"It's all over, Hal," he said. "My father says it is out of the question for us to go alone."
"He said that?" cried Harry.
"Yes, and that if your father and Doctor Cameron were going too it would be different."
"They are going too, lad," cried Harry, slapping him on the shoulder.
"They – your father and Mr. Cameron?"
"Yes; isn't it splendid?"
"Here, I must go back at once," cried Phra, and, regardless of the heat, he set off at a trot.
Harry returned to the museum, where his father was seated.
"Where's Phra?" said the latter.
"Gone back to tell the King."
"To tell him what?"
"He said that it was out of the question for us two boys to go upon such an expedition alone."
"I expected as much."
"But if you and the doctor had been going, it would have been different."
"Indeed?"
"Yes, father. Poor old chap! he did look disappointed, till I told him that you two were going, and he has gone to tell the King."
"Tut – tut – tut!" muttered Mr. Kenyon. "What a rash, harem-scarem fellow you are! You shouldn't have taken all I said for granted, sir. Even if I fully make up my mind, we don't know that Doctor Cameron would be able to leave."
"But you said, father – "
"I said – you said – look here, sir, you are far too hasty. The doctor only said he thought he should go."
"That's enough, father," said Harry, laughing. "As soon as he hears that there is going to be such an expedition, do you think he will not manage to go with it?"
"Well, I must say I should be surprised if he did not come."
"So should I, father. I say, it will be capital. The King is sure to say yes now, and we can have the pick of his boats, and which men we like. I say, I wonder whether we can get a man who will find old Sree, because we ought to start to-morrow morning."
"Stuff! Rubbish!" cried Mr. Kenyon, laughing. "If we get off in a week, we shall do well. But I think I will go. I should be very glad of a change. So you may go and see the doctor and chat the matter over with him – not telling him that we are going, but that we are thinking of such a trip. You can then hear what he says about it."
"Go now, father?"
"If you like."
Harry did like, and was off at once, to find Mrs. Cameron under the tree, as he had seen her on that terrible day, but with the doctor seated back in another long cane-seated chair, fast asleep.
"Doctor not well?" said Harry, after the customary salute.
"Not at all well, Harry," said Mrs. Cameron, with a sigh. "He has been working too hard lately over his native patients, and he is quite done up. He must have a change."
"That's what I've come about," said Harry excitedly, and he told her what was proposed.
"I should not like losing him for a week, but I think it would do him a great deal of good."
"Quite set me up, dear," said the doctor, opening his eyes.
"Did you hear what I was saying, Doctor?" cried Harry wonderingly.
"Pretty well every word, my boy. It will be the very thing for me, for I am completely fagged. A long ride day after day up the river will be rest and refreshment. But I can't take you, my dear."
"I shall not mind, Duncan," said his wife. "Nothing could be better.
Yes, you must go."
He sat up, and then sank back again, closing his eyes.
"It is of no use to fight against it, Mary," he said sadly. "I am doctor enough to thoroughly grasp all my symptoms. I really am overdone, and there is nothing for it but to try change – such a change as this. I wish it did not look like going for a thorough holiday and leaving you behind. It does not seem right."
"You will make me unhappy if you talk like this," cried Mrs. Cameron. "How can you think I should be so selfish as to mind your doing what is for your health?"
"It will do him good, Mrs. Cameron," said Harry, who was not enjoying the scene.
"Of course," she cried. "You may go back and tell Mr. Kenyon that the doctor will be delighted to make one of the party, for he wants a change badly."
"Look here, Harry; I don't think I ought to go," said the doctor.
"He ought, Harry, and he shall," cried his wife. "You take that message."
"Harry, lad, this is a horrible piece of tyranny. I am not very well, and my oppressor treats me like this. But there, it is of no use to protest, so I give in. I'll come."
Full of excitement, the boy hurried back to the bungalow to announce the result of his visit, his father hearing him silently to the end, and then looking so serious that Harry asked anxiously what it meant.
"This is very disappointing, my boy," said Mr. Kenyon. "After you had gone I began to be in hopes that the doctor would not go, and now he says he will."
"Yes, that he will, father."
"Then I suppose we shall have to go. I don't know, though: there is another chance, the King may refuse to sanction the journey, and of course you would not care to go without Phra."
"Well, no," said Harry, in a hesitating way; "it would not seem fair to go without him. Ah, here he is. – Well, what does he say?"
"That he thinks it will be a very interesting trip, and that he wishes he could leave all the cares and worries of his affairs and come with us. – My father says, Mr. Kenyon, that you are to choose whichever boat will be best for the journey, and select as many men as you think necessary, and store the boat with everything you want."
"Then this means going," said Mr. Kenyon.
"Of course, father. Shall we start to-morrow?"
"Can we be ready?"
"Can we be ready?" cried Harry scornfully. "What do you say, Phra?"
"Oh yes, we can be ready, only what about Sree?"
"I forgot old Sree!" cried Harry. "We must have him, and he's somewhere up the jungle."
"Yes," said his father, "we must have him with us; so I take it that we may make all our preparations, but do not start till Sree returns."
