for blood you are developing, Hal!" said the doctor, as Mr. Kenyon still sat back in his chair, looking pained, while his son carefully avoided gazing in his direction. "I should have thought you had killed enough for one day."
"Well, Phra?" cried Harry, as his companion came straight in.
"Well?" said the boy, with a mocking smile.
"What did your father say?"
Phra was silent for a few moments, and then he spoke quietly.
"That I was too much of a boy yet to think of going after tigers," said the lad slowly, and then he started and frowned. For the doctor had thrown himself back in one of the cane chairs, which gave vent to a peculiar squeaking noise, while its occupier rocked himself to and fro, literally roaring with laughter.
"I am very sorry if I have said some ridiculous thing, sir," said Phra gravely. "I speak English as well as I can."
"Ridiculous thing!" cried the doctor, springing up and seizing the young Siamese by the shoulders; "why, it was splendid. Look at him," he cried, half-choking with laughter, "look at Hal! Oh, dear me, how you have made my sides ache!"
"But I don't understand," said Phra.
"Then you soon shall," cried the doctor. "My lord there has been in a tantrum because – because – oh, dear me, I shall be able to speak directly."
Phra looked in a puzzled way from the laughing doctor to his friend, who sat frowning and biting his lips.
"Because," continued the doctor, "Mr. Kenyon here has told him that he should not like him to go to the tiger hunt."
"Mr. Kenyon told him so?" cried Phra quickly.
"Yes, because he is too young."
"Oh, I am so glad," cried Phra, showing his white teeth.
Harry started as if he had received a blow.
"What!" he cried fiercely.
"I say I am so glad, because that is just what my father said to me."
"And very wisely too, Phra, my boy," said Mr. Kenyon, rising. "You lads had better wait a bit longer before you indulge in a sport which is very risky even to one mounted upon an elephant, especially if the elephant is timid. I have known several bad accidents occur through the poor creature becoming unmanageable from a wounded beast's charge."
"It's disappointing, sir," said Phra; "but I suppose father's right."
"Of course he is, and I'm glad to see you take it so wisely."
The speaker laid his hand on the doctor's arm, and they went out into the verandah.
"Ah, Kenyon, you spoil that boy with indulgence."
"Think so?"
"Yes; I don't like to hear a lad like that speak as he did to you. It was that made me fire up. But there, I'm sorry if I've done wrong."
"You have not done wrong," said Mr. Kenyon, "and I am rather glad you spoke as you did. But you do not understand Hal so well as I do."
"Naturally I do not."
"He is a queer boy, with a good many things about him that I don't like; but he has some oddities that I do like. I dare say he will display one of them before you go."
"He will have to be quick about it, then," said the doctor, smiling, "for I have not much longer to stay."
"Plenty of time for him to show the stuff he is made of. I'm sorry to disappoint the boys, though."
"And ourselves too, for I should have liked the jaunt, and the more of those savage beasts we can destroy the better. What do you say to going over to the palace and asking the old gentleman to let us have the use of the elephants and beaters?"
"No," said Mr. Kenyon, "I could not do that under the circumstances.
It would be too hard upon the boys. Yes, Michael?"
"There is a man from – one of the gentlemen from the King to see you, sir," said the man.
"Indeed? I will come. Come too, Cameron; I daresay it will interest you."
The messenger had come to ask Mr. Kenyon if he would take charge of a little expedition to be made against a tiger that had been destroying life in the neighbourhood, and to say that as matters were so serious the King would be greatly obliged if he would go.
"I don't like to say No, and I don't want to say Yes," said Mr.
Kenyon.
"I do not see how you can refuse."
"Neither do I," said Mr. Kenyon thoughtfully, and he sent a note back, promising to undertake the task.
Hardly had the messenger departed before Harry came hurriedly into the room, but started on seeing the doctor there.
"I thought you had gone, sir," he said. "I made sure I heard the door swing to."
"No, I have not gone, Hal," said the doctor, smiling good-humouredly; "but I'll soon be off, if you want to speak to your father alone."
"I did, sir; but it doesn't matter your being here."
"What is it, Hal?" said Mr. Kenyon gravely.
"Wanted to tell you I feel horribly ashamed of myself, father," said
Harry quickly.
"Indeed?"
"Yes, it seems so queer that such a chap as Phra should behave like a gentleman over a bit of disappointment, while I – I – well, I behaved like a disagreeable boy."
"But very naturally, Hal," said the doctor. "Better than acting like a make-believe man."
"Thank you, Hal," said Mr. Kenyon quietly, holding out his hand. "Has
Phra gone?"
"No, father."
"Tell him that his father has sent requesting me to take charge of an expedition against the tiger, and that I am sorry I cannot ask you two lads to go with me."
"All right, father; he won't mind. I don't now."
Harry nodded at the doctor, and went out of the room, while his father waited till his steps had ceased, and a door had swung to.
"Odd boy, isn't he, Cameron?" said Mr. Kenyon then.
"Very odd chap," replied the doctor. "But I like boys to be odd like that."
CHAPTER VIII
A PROWL BY WATER
It was disappointing and hard for two boys to bear, situated as they had been – singled out by the old hunter as the first receivers of the news; but they had determined to be heroic over it, and after a fashion they were.
"Don't let's seem to mind it the least bit in the world, Phra," Harry said.
"What shall we do? go up the river?"
"Go
