Trapped by Malays: A Tale of Bayonet and Kris

Trapped by Malays: A Tale of Bayonet and Kris

Oh, bother! The utterer of these two impatient words threw down a sheet of notepaper from which he had been reading, carefully smoothed out the folds to make it flat, and then, balancing it upon one finger as he sat back in a cane chair with his heels upon the table, gave the paper a flip with his nail and sent it skimming out of the window of his military quarters at Campong Dang, the station on the Ruah River, far up the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. What does the old chap want now? Another wigging, I suppose. What have I been doing to make him write a note like that?Note? he continued, after a pause. I ought to have said despatch. Hang his formality! Here, what did he say? How did he begin? And he reached out his hand towards the table as if for the note. Theres a fool! Now, why did I send it skimming out of the window like that? Its too hot to get up and go out to the front to find it, and its no use to shout, Qui-hi, for everybody will be asleep. Now, what did he say? My memory feels all soaked. Now, what was it? Major John Knowle requests the presence of Mr Archibald MaineMr Archibald MaineArchibald! What were the old people dreaming about? I dont know. It always sets me thinking of old Morleybald, with the top of his head as shiny as a billiard-ball. Good old chap, though, even if he does bully onerequests the presence of Mr Archibald Maine at his quarters atat seven oclock this evening punctually. No. Whats oclock? I think it was six. Couldnt be seven, because thats dinner-time, and he wouldnt ask me then. It must be six. Here, I must get that note again, but I feel so pumped out and languid that I am blessed if I am going to get up and go hunting for that piece of paper. Phee-ew! Its hotter than ever. I should just like to go down to the river-side, take off all my clothes under the trees, and sit there right up to my chin, with the beautiful, clear, cool water gurgling round my neck. Lovely! Yestill there came floating along a couple of those knobs that look like big marblesonly all the time they are what old Morley calls ocular prominences over the beastly leering eyes of one of those crocodiles on the lookout for grub. Ugh! The beasts! Now, what could crocodiles be made for?Oh, heres somebody coming. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 21494
Author: Fenn, George Manville
Release Date: May 16, 2007
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Illustrator: Spurrier, Steven, 1878-1961