"I have seen him, not a long time ago," she said at last. "The talk is
true; he is dead. What do you want from me, Tuan? I must go."

Just then the report of the gun fired on board the steam launch was
heard, interrupting Reshid's reply. Leaving the girl he ran to the
house, and met in the courtyard Abdulla coming towards the gate.

"The Orang Blanda are come," said Reshid, "and now we shall have our
reward."

Abdulla shook his head doubtfully. "The white men's rewards are long in
coming," he said. "White men are quick in anger and slow in gratitude.
We shall see."

He stood at the gate stroking his grey beard and listening to the distant
cries of greeting at the other end of the settlement. As Taminah was
turning to go he called her back.

"Listen, girl," he said: "there will be many white men in Almayer's
house. You shall be there selling your cakes to the men of the sea. What
you see and what you hear you may tell me. Come here before the sun sets
and I will give you a blue handkerchief with red spots. Now go, and
forget not to return."

He gave her a push with the end of his long staff as she was going away
and made her stumble.

"This slave is very slow," he remarked to his nephew, looking after the
girl with great disfavour.