Page:Ran away from the Dutch; or, Borneo from south to north (IA cu31924023893609).pdf/44

 tenth part of what you have been saying, you may be sure that you two would be under arrest before sunrise. Our Colonel is not to be trifled with."

"Oho! not quite so fast, please. Who are you? A listener can never be trusted," said Schlickeisen in a menacing though subdued voice.

"Don't fear. I wont betray you. It matters little who I am. But look how the corporal is pricking up his ears."

And indeed there came an imperative voice, "Silence there in that corner. I shan't speak any more. Those who wont hear must feel."

Wienersdorf and Schlickeisen held their breath and everything remained quiet for a while. Suddenly their mysterious visitor bent over them and whispered almost inaudibly:

"Come to the hut of Johannes to-morrow morning after breakfast."

The figure vanished under the beds and was soon lost in the darkness.

The two Swiss kept quiet for a long time. When they perceived that the corporal had dropped off to sleep, Wienersdorf whispered to his companion the enquiry:

"Who was that?"

"Perhaps Johannes himself."

"He had a brown skin and the upper part of his body was naked."

"Can we trust him?"

"Who knows? We may as well look in to-morrow morning and hear what he has to say."