"After we had lived in this place for two years, we moved several hours'
journey inland, among a tribe somewhat civilized, who received us more
kindly. There we built a small house with three rooms,--a living-room, a
bedroom, and a small reception-room,--and life for us became a little more
easy and cheerful.
"When we had been in this new place for some months, a man came to me from
the district where we had been, and whom I had known there. I was sitting
on the bench in front of our house, and he sat down beside me, and for a
while talked of this, that, and the other. Finally he began, 'Now _tuan_
[teacher], I have yet one request.'
"'And what is that?'
"'I should like to have a look at your watchmen close at hand.'
"'What watchmen do you mean? I do not have any.'
"'I mean the watchmen whom you station around your house at night, to
protect you.'
"'But I have no watchmen,' I said again; 'I have only a little herdsboy and
a little cook, and they would make poor watchmen.'
"Then the man looked at me incredulously, as if he wished to say, 'O, do
not try to make me believe otherwise, for I know better!'
"Then he asked, 'May I look through your house, to see if they are hid
there?'
"'Yes, certainly,' I said, laughing; 'look through it; you will not find
anybody.
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