"
"Tell him we are very glad to have brought his little girl out of
the water," Harry said, "and that if we ever go up the river, we
will pay him a visit."
The chief was now laid in a cot which was swung from the stanchions of
the awning, while the little girl was carried away by the doctor,
who laid her in a berth, gave her a cup of tea, which she drank
obediently to his orders, but evidently regarded as being extremely
nasty, and she was then told through the interpreter to go to
sleep until her sarong was dried. A couple of hours later she was
on deck again in her native garb and ornaments. The interpreter
pointed out to her the two midshipmen who had rescued her, and
she at once went up to them, and, slipping her hands into theirs,
began to prattle freely; they were unable to understand what she
said, but they took her round the ship, showing her the guns, and
introduced her to Ponto, the captain's great Newfoundland, who
submitted gravely to be patted by her; to Jacko, the monkey, who
was by no means disposed to be friendly, but chattered and showed
his teeth; and to Julius Caesar, the negro cook, who grinned from
ear to ear, and presented her with some cakes from a batch which
he had just made for the captain's table.
The rest of the Malays had already left the ship; two native boats
had been hailed, and in these the two parties of Malays had taken
their places, and, with their boats towing behind, had been rowed
away, the captain giving strict instructions that they were to be
landed on opposite sides of the river.
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