there be strife? said he. Let Tuan Dain, whom he loved only less than
his master, go trustfully into hiding. There were many places for that.
Bulangi's house away in the clearing was best.

Bulangi was a safe man. In the network of crooked channels no white man
could find his way. White men were strong, but very foolish. It was
undesirable to fight them, but deception was easy. They were like silly
women--they did not know the use of reason, and he was a match for any of
them--went on Babalatchi, with all the confidence of deficient
experience. Probably the Dutch would seek Almayer. Maybe they would
take away their countryman if they were suspicious of him. That would be
good. After the Dutch went away Lakamba and Dain would get the treasure
without any trouble, and there would be one person less to share it. Did
he not speak wisdom? Will Tuan Dain go to Bulangi's house till the
danger is over, go at once?

Dain accepted this suggestion of going into hiding with a certain sense
of conferring a favour upon Lakamba and the anxious statesman, but he met
the proposal of going at once with a decided no, looking Babalatchi
meaningly in the eye. The statesman sighed as a man accepting the
inevitable would do, and pointed silently towards the other bank of the
river. Dain bent his head slowly.

"Yes, I am going there," he said.

"Before the day comes?" asked Babalatchi.

"I am going there now," answered Dain, decisively. "The Orang Blanda
will not be here before to-morrow night, perhaps, and I must tell Almayer
of our arrangements."