 began to
intrigue. The quarrel of Patalolo with the Sultan of Koti was of his fomenting,
but failed to produce the result he expected because the Sultan could not back
him up effectively at such a great distance. Disappointed in that scheme, he
promptly organized an outbreak of the Bugis settlers, and besieged the old Rajah
in his stockade with much noisy valour and a fair chance of success; but Lingard
then appeared on the scene with the armed brig, and the old seaman's hairy
forefinger, shaken menacingly in his face, quelled his martial ardour. No man
cared to encounter the Rajah Laut, and Lakamba, with momentary resignation,
subsided into a half- half-trader, and nursed in his fortified house his wrath
and his ambition, keeping it for use on a more propitious occasion. Still
faithful to his character of a prince-pretender, he would not recognize the
constituted authorities, answering sulkily the Rajah's messenger, who claimed
the tribute for the cultivated fields, that the Rajah had better come and take
it himself. By Lingard's advice he was left alone, notwithstanding his
rebellious mood; and for many days he lived undisturbed amongst his wives and
retainers, cherishing that persistent and causeless hope of better times, the
possession of which seems to be the universal privilege of exiled greatness.
    But the passing days brought no change. The hope grew faint and the hot
ambition burnt itself out, leaving only a feeble and expiring spark amongst a
heap of dull and tepid ashes of indolent acquiescence with the decrees of Fate,
till Babalatchi fanned it again into a bright flame. Babalatchi had blundered
upon the river while in search of a safe refuge for his disreputable head. He
was a vagabond of the seas, a true Orang-Laut, living by rapine and plunder of
coasts and ships in his prosperous days; earning his living by honest and
irksome toil when the days of adversity were upon him. So, although at times
leading the Sulu rovers, he had also served as Serang of country ships, and in
that wise had visited the distant seas, beheld the glories of Bombay, the might
of the Mascati Sultan; had even struggled in a pious throng for the privilege of
touching with his lips the Sacred Stone of the Holy City. He gathered experience
and wisdom in many lands, and after attaching himself to Omar el Badavi, he
affected great piety (as became a pilgrim), although unable to read the inspired
words of the Prophet. He was brave and bloodthirsty without any affection, and
he hated the white men who interfered with the manly pursuits of throat-
