122 



THE WOODLANDS ORCHIDS 



against temptation when they fell in with an European ship 

 that seemed to be in difficulties. Doubtless Captam Baker 

 kept all his wits about him on a perilous voyage beyond the 

 track of commerce then. But he reached the Bay of Brunei 

 safely, ascended the river in a well-armed boat, and visited 

 the coalfields at Kiangi. A few Chinamen were working 

 there. Baker had shrewdness enough to see that immense 

 capital would be required, that the Sultan would give endless 

 trouble, and that the coal, when won, might prove to be 

 dubious in quality. We may hope, therefore, that his 

 owners kept out of the ' rush ' which followed, and were duly 



grateful. 



His business was finished. Messrs. Eraser and Cum- 

 ming, indeed, had asked him to collect a few of the ' air- 

 plants ' which began to make such a stir in England, but 

 that would not detain him. They grew so thick on every 

 tree that a boatload could be gathered in dropping down the 

 river. He had instructions to choose those upon the highest 

 branches, where, as was thought, the best species are found ; 

 but it made no difl^erence, for a sailor could walk up those 

 trees hung with creepers as easily as up the shrouds! So 

 Captain Baker looked out for a place to land among the 

 mangroves, expecting to fulfil his commission in an hour at 

 most. A place was found presently, the boat turned to 

 shore, and he directed a couple of sailors to climb. They 

 were more than willing, under a promise of grog. I may 

 venture to drop the abstract form of narrative here, and put 

 the breath of life into it. 



Baker had engaged a Malay as interpreter for the voyage ; 

 by good luck he was a native of Brunei. This man stared 

 and laughed a little to himself on hearing the order. As 

 the sailors began to mount, he said : 



' Tuan Cap'n ! Say 'm fellows looky sharp on snakes. 



The men paused suddenly, looking down, but Baker 



