As soon as they entered the house, the Rajah called his two sons, handsome, dark-faced lads of twelve and thirteen.
"This is your cousin, boys," he said.

"You must look after him, and see that he has everything he wants, and make his stay as pleasant as you can." Although a little awed by the, to them, tall figure, they evinced neither shyness or awkwardness, but, advancing to Dick, held out their hands one after the other, with grave courtesy.

Their faces both brightened, as he said in their own language: "I hope we shall be great friends, cousins.

I am older and bigger than you are, but everything is new and strange to me, and I shall have to depend upon you to teach me everything." "We did not think that you would be able to talk to us," the elder, whose name was Doast Assud, said, smiling.

"We have been wondering how we should make you understand.