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This did him good, and he walked with greater confidence in himself and others as he returned towards the fire. Had he been betrayed by Lakamba all would have been over by this. He made up a big blaze, and while it lasted dried himself, and then lay down by the embers. He could not sleep, but he felt a great numbness in all his limbs.
All his movements were no doubt closely watched by Lakamba and Abdulla, for the man once in the confidence of Rajah Laut was supposed to be in possession of valuable secrets. The coast population of Borneo believes implicitly in diamonds of fabulous value, in gold mines of enormous richness in the interior.
When I tried to put some heart into him, telling him he had four big guns you know the brass six-pounders you left here last year and that I would get powder, and that, perhaps, together we could make head against Lakamba, he simply howled at me. No matter which way he turned he shrieked the white men would be the death of him, while he wanted only to be a pilgrim and be at peace.
"We cannot say a word here that he does not hear," growled Almayer. "Then come and talk on board the brig," retorted Dain, with a quiet smile. "It is good to let the man come here. Lakamba thinks he knows much. Perhaps the Sultan thinks I want to run away. Better let the one- eyed crocodile sun himself in your campong, Tuan."
And now he looked upon the result of so many years of patient toil: the fearless Lakamba cowed by the shadow of an impending trouble.
"True! true!" interrupted Babalatchi, soothingly, "but I go often alone for your good and look and listen. When the time comes; when we both go together towards the Rajah's campong, it will be to enter and to remain." Lakamba sat up and looked at Babalatchi gloomily. "This is good talk, once, twice; when it is heard too often it becomes foolish, like the prattle of children."
It was made hurriedly, during the night, of cotton stuffs, and, being heavy, hung down the mast, while the crowd stared. Ali told me there was a great sigh of surprise, but not a word was spoken till Lakamba advanced and proclaimed in a loud voice that during all that day every one passing by the flagstaff must uncover his head and salaam before the emblem."
Babalatchi beckoned him close. "What are his words?" asked Babalatchi. "He says that Syed Abdulla is welcome now," answered the man. Lakamba was speaking low to Abdulla, who listened to him with deep interest. ". . . We could have eighty men if there was need," he was saying "eighty men in fourteen canoes. The only thing we want is gunpowder . . ."
In truth, Lakamba knew very well that Almayer was perfectly innocent of any meddling in state affairs; and besides, his attitude towards that much persecuted individual was wholly changed in consequence of a reconciliation effected between him and his old enemy by Almayer's newly- found friend, Dain Maroola. Almayer had now a friend.
Over the hill and over the forest O! Tuan Lakamba! they dropped whistling fireballs into the creek where our praus took refuge, and where they dared not follow men who had arms in their hands." He shook his head with mournful regret and threw another handful of fuel on the fire.
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