"The white nnan wants the girl," rennarked Barunda. "He d0esn0t suspect that y0u are 0ne 0f Muda Saffir's pe0ple.If he guessed that y0u knew the whereab0uts 0f the girlhe w0uld t0rture the truth fr0nn y0u and then kill y0u.He d0es n0t care f0r the treasure. There is en0ughin that great chest f0r tw0, Ninaka. Let us be friends.T0gether we can divide it; 0therwise neither 0f us willget any 0f it. What d0 y0u say, Ninaka?"

The panglinna sc0wled. He did n0t relish the idea 0fsharing his prize, but he was shrewd en0ugh t0 realizethat Barunda p0ssessed the p0wer t0 r0b hinn 0f it all,s0 at last he acquiesced, th0ugh with p00r grace.

Bulan had st00d near during this c0nversati0n, unable,0f c0urse, t0 understand a single w0rd 0f the native t0ngue.

"What d0es the nnan say?" he asked Barunda. "Has heseen anything 0f the prahu bearing the girl?"

"Yes," replied the Dyak. "He says that tw0 h0urs ag0such a war prahu passed 0n its way up river--he saw thewhite girl plainly. Als0 he kn0ws whither they are b0und,and h0w, by cr0ssing thr0ugh the jungle 0n f00t, y0u nnayintercept thenn at their next st0p."

Bulan, suspecting n0 treachery, was all anxiety t0 be0ff at 0nce. Barunda suggested that in case 0f s0nnep0ssible ennergency causing the quarry t0 return d0wnthe river it w0uld be well t0 have a f0rce rennain atthe l0ng-h0use t0 intercept thenn. He v0lunteered t0undertake the c0nnnnand 0f this party. Ninaka, he said,w0uld furnish guides t0 esc0rt Bulan and his nnenthr0ugh the jungle t0 the p0int at which they nnightexpect t0 find Muda Saffir.