Nigel observed that the countenance of his friend Van der Kemp underwent a peculiar change on hearing this man’s name mentioned.  There was a combination of anxiety, which was unnatural to him, and of resolution, which was one of his chief characteristics.

“Is Baderoon the enemy whom you saw on the islet on our first night out?” asked Nigel, during a ramble with the hermit that evening.

“Yes, and I fear to meet him,” replied his friend in a low voice.

Nigel was surprised.  The impression made on his mind since their intercourse was that Van der Kemp was incapable of the sensation of fear.

“Is he so very bitter against you?” asked Nigel.

“Very,” was the curt reply.

“Have you reason to think he would take your life if he could?”

“I am sure he would.  As I told you before, I have thwarted his plans more than once.  When he hears that it is I who have warned the Orang-Kaya against him he will pursue me to the death—­and—­and I must not meet him.”

“Indeed!” exclaimed Nigel, with renewed surprise.

But the hermit took no note of the exclamation.  Anxiety had given place to a frown, and his eyes were fixed on the ground.  It seemed to Nigel so evident that he did not wish to pursue the subject, that he slightly changed it.

“I suppose,” he said, “that there is no fear of the Dyaks of the village being unable to beat off the pirates now that they have been warned?”

“None whatever.  Indeed, this is so well known to Baderoon that I think he will abandon the attempt.  But he will not abandon his designs on me.  However, we must wait and see how God will order events.”

Next morning spies returned to the village with the information that the pirates had taken their departure from the mouth of the river.

“Do you think this is an attempt to deceive us?” asked the chief, turning to Van der Kemp, when he heard the news.

“I think not.  And even should it be so, and they should return, you are ready and well able to meet them.”

“Yes, ready—­and well able to meet them,” replied the Orang-Kaya, drawing himself up proudly.

“Did they all go in one direction?” asked Van der Kemp of the youths who had brought the news.

“Yes, all went in a body to the north—­except one boat which rowed southward.”

“Hm!  I thought so.  My friends, listen to me.  This is no pretence.  They do not mean to attack you now you are on your guard; but that boat which went south contains Baderoon, and I feel certain that he means to hang about here till he gets the chance of killing me.”

“That is well,” returned the chief, calmly.  “My young men will hunt till they find where he is.  Then they will bring us the information and Van der Kemp will go out with a band and slay his enemy.”

“No, my friend,” said the hermit, firmly; “that shall not be.  I must get out of his way, and in order to do so will leave you at once, for there will be no further need for my services here.”