Middy and Ensign, by George Manville Fenn. 

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This was the first Manville Fenn book I ever encountered, and I loved itat first sight. So much so that I had put nearly fifty of his books onthe website within a couple of years, although, writing in 2005, twoyears ago I had never heard of Manville Fenn. 

HMS Startler is on patrol up the Parang River in the Malay peninsula. On board are the midshipman, Bob Roberts, and the ensign, Tom Long. Their friendly bickering goes on throughout the book. Various tropicalindispositions trouble them, and also of course the insect life in theair and saurian life in the river is of no help. It is hard to knowwhich of the natives are on their side, and which not, and there is agreat deal of two-facedness. We are introduced to various fruits. Asoldier on their own side is prone to fall asleep when on sentry duty, and the little fort they build to give the womenfolk a little more roomthan aboard ship, is very nearly captured and destroyed. 

There are various trips for fishing and shooting purposes, and we learna great deal about the natural history of the area while theseexpeditions are in progress. 

One of the reasons why some of the natives do not like the BritishProtectorate is that normally any traffic passing up and down the riverdoes so only on payment of a toll to the local chieftains, who in turnare at loggerheads with each other in dispute of the right to exacttolls. 

It's a very exciting book, and you'll probably learn a lot by readingit. 

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MIDDY AND ENSIGN, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

ON BOARD THE "STARTLER". 

The close of a hot day on board Her Majesty's ship "Startler, " whoseengines kept up a regular pulsation as the screw-propeller churned thewater astern into golden and orange foam. The dappled sky and therippled sea were a blaze of colour; crimson, scarlet, burnished copper, orange chrome, dead, and flashing gold, --all were there, on cloud edgeand wave slope, mingled with purples, and greens, and blues, as the sunslowly descended to his rest. 

There had been a general disposition all day long to lie under awnings, and pant "like tired dogs, " so Bob Roberts the midshipman said; but nowofficers and men, in the lightest of garments, were eagerly looking forthe cool evening breeze, and leaning over the bulwarks, gazing at thewondrous sunset sky and gorgeous sea. 

The deck of the clean, smart-looking vessel had a very picturesqueaspect, dotted as it was with groups of officers and men; for inaddition to the crew, the "Startler" carried four companies of HerMajesty's somethingth foot, the escort of the British Resident and hissuite, bound for Campong Allee, the chief town of Rajah Hamet, on theParang River, west coast of the Malay peninsula. 

The Resident was to be the help and adviser of the Mohammedan potentate, who had sought the protection of the British Government; and to fix himin his position, and save him from the assaults of the various inimicalpetty rajahs around, the corvette was to lie for some months in theriver, and the residency was to be turned into a fort, garrisoned by thetroops under Major Sandars. 

Bob Roberts, a fair, good-looking, curly-headed lad of sixteen, wasstanding with his back leaned against the bulwarks, his cap thrust back, and his hands deep in his pockets, staring defiantly across the deck ata lad of about a year or so older, who, as he stood very stiff andupright by the cabin ladder, returned the stare with interest. 

The latter had just buckled on his sword, and, in spite of the heat, buttoned up his undress coatee to the chin, ready for the short spell ofdrill which he knew would take place before the officers dined; andafter giving the finishing-touch to his gloves, he rather ostentatiouslyraised his sword, then hanging to the full length of its slings, andhooked it on to his belt. 

"What a jolly shame it is that we should only carry a beggarly littledirk, " said Bob Roberts to himself, as he tried to look sneeringly atthe young ensign before him; for the latter came across the deck withrather a swaggering stride, and stood before the midshipman. 

"Well, young Jack tar, " he said, with a touch of contempt in his tone. 

"Well, young Pipeclay, " retorted the middy. "I say, how tightly you'velaced your stays to-day. Mind where you go, or you'll get some pitch onyour lovely uniform. My word, how handsome you look!"

"I tell you what it is, Master Bob, or Robert Roberts, " said the youngensign, flushing, "if I did not feel that I was stooping by so doing, Ishould tell you that you were an impudent puppy of a boy, and give you agood caning. "

"No, no! please pray don't do that, Mr Ensign Long, or Tom Long, orLong Tom, or whatever you call yourself, " retorted the middy, assumingan aspect of mock terror. "You frighten me into fits almost; and if youdid try to cane me you'd split that coatee of yours all up the back, orbreak your staylace, or do yourself some mischief, and--"

Just then there was the sound of a bugle, followed by the tramp of feet;and the young officer, scowling fiercely, turned half-right, and as hedid so let his sword down, so that the end of the scabbard might clatteragainst the white deck, as he marched off to where the men wereassembling, while the middy burst into a hearty laugh. 

"You two gents is allus a quarrelling, " growled a wonderfullycopper-faced old sailor, giving his lower jaw a twist. "You puts me inmind of the gamecocks as the Malay niggers we're going amongst keeps, tostrut up and shake out their hackles afore they has a set-to. "

"Well, he is so cocky, Dick, " said the middy, "and struts about, and--"

"That's what I say, sir, " said the old sailor, leaning his arms on thebulwark, "just like a gamecock. "

"And assumes such an air of superiority, " continued the middy. 

"Just like you do, sir, to'rds us common sailors, " said the man, chuckling. 

"Don't you tell lies, Dick, " said the lad sharply. "I always treat thesailors as an officer and a gentleman should. "

"So you do, sir, so you do! and it was only my gammon. But you do wishyou was a swaddy now, and wore a red coat instead of a blue. "

"No I don't, Dick, " said the lad colouring; "but I do think we navalofficers ought to wear swords, the same as those boy-soldiers. "

"So you ought, sir;" said the sailor, winking to himself; "but never youmind about that, sir. If so be as it comes to a brush with the niggers, I'll grind you up a cutlash, with a hedge so sharp as you might shaveyourself with it. Perhaps you'd like me to do it now, sir, if yourrazor is feeling a bit dull?"

"Now, look here, old Dick Dunnage, " said the middy; "that's cheek; and Iwon't have cheek from you, so I tell you. "

"Cheek, sir, " said the old sailor, with assumed innocence. "I didn'tmean to shave only your cheek, sir, but your chin as well. "

"Now that'll do, Dick. I'm not ashamed of having no beard, and I'm notashamed of being a boy, so now then. "

"Course you ain't, sir. There, I didn't mean nothing disrespectful. Itwas only my fun. This here 'bacca as you give me, sir, baint the best Iever had. Lor! how hot them poor fellows do look, buttoned and beltedup as they is, " he continued, as the soldiers fell into line. "It's adeal better to be a sailor, Master Bob. "

"Ever so much, Dick, " said the middy. "How long is it since you wereout here, Dick?"

"How long, sir?" and the sailor thoughtfully, as he sprinkled the seawith a little tobacco juice; "six year. "

"And have you been more than once, Dick?"

"Four times altogether, sir. Let's see: I was at Singapore, and atPenang, and Malacky, and up the country at a place they called Bang, orClang, or something or another. "

"And what sort of a country is it, Dick?" said the boy eagerly. 

"Wonderful country; all palm-trees and jungles, and full of rivers andcreeks, where the long row-boats, as they call prahus, runs up. "

"Those are the pirates' boats, Dick?"

"That's right, sir; and precious awkward things they are to catch, Lordlove you! I've been after 'em in cutter and pinnace, firing our bow gunamong them, and the men pulling like mad to get up alongside; but theygenerally dodged in and out of some of these mangrove creeks till theygive us the slip, and we had to pull back. "

"Shouldn't I like to be in chase of one of the scoundrelly prahus!"cried the lad, with his eyes flashing. 

"That you would, sir, I'll lay, " said the old sailor; "and wouldn't youlay into 'em with that very sharp-edged cutlash I touches up for you!"

"Now look here, Dick, you're chaffing, " said the lad; "now just dropit. "

"All right, sir, " said the man, with a laugh twinkling at the corner ofhis lips. 

"It is a very fine country though, isn't it, Dick?"

"Wonderful, sir. There's gold, and tin, and copper, and preciousstones. "

"Did you ever find any, Dick?"

"Well no, sir; but I've known them as has found gold in the rivers. TheChinees gets most on it. "

"There now you're chaffing again, Dick, " cried the lad. "Chineseindeed! Why we're not going to China. "

"'Course we aint, sir, but the Chinees swarm in the place we're goingto. I ant chaffing now; this here's all true--as true as that the chapsall wears a dagger sort of a thing with a crooked handle, and calls it acrease. "

"Yes, I know they all wear the kris, " said the lad. 

"Yes, sir, and a plaid kilt, just like a Scotchman. "

"What?"

"A plaid kilt, like a Scotchman, sir, and they calls it a say rong; andthe big swell princes has it made of silk, and the common folks ofcotton. "

"Is this gammon, Dick?"

"Not a bit on it, sir. They wears that crease stuck in it; and theycarries spears--limbings they calls 'em--and they can throw 'em awonderful way. "

"They poison the kris, don't they, Dick?"

"No, sir, I don't think they do, " said the sailor. "I asked one man outthere if they didn't; and he pulls his'n out of its sheath, and it wasall dingy like, and as sharp as a razor, and he says in his barbarouslingo, as a man put into English for me, as his knife would kill a manwithout poison. "

"What sort of wild beasts are there, Dick?"

"Tigers, sir. "

"Honour bright, Dick?"

"Honour bright, sir; lots on 'em. They feeds 'em on Chinees. "

"Feed them on Chinese, Dick?"

"Well sir, the tigers help theirselves to the coolies when they're atwork. "

"Anything else, Dick?"

"Lor, bless you! yes, sir; there's elephants. "

"Are you sure?"

"Sure, sir. I've seen 'em, heaps o' times; and rhinosseress, andhippypotimies, and foreign birds, and snakes. "

"Are there snakes, Dick?"

"Are there snakes! He says, are there snakes?" said Dick, apostrophising the sea. "Why the last time as ever I was there, theycaught a boa-constrictor as was--"

"Don't make him too long, Dick, " said the boy laughing. 

"I won't make him too long, " said the sailor solemnly. "Let's see, sir;this here ship's 'bout hundred and fifty foot long. "

"Yes, Dick, but the boa-constrictor was longer than that, " said the lad, laughing. 

"I won't go to deceive you, Mister Roberts, " said Dick, "no more than Idid when I was learning you how to knot and splice. That thereboa-constrictor was quite a hundred foot long. "

"Get out!"

"Well, say fifty, sir. "

"No, nor yet fifty, Dick. "

"Well, sir, not to zaggerate about such things, if that there sarpent asI see with my own eyes--"

"Why you couldn't see it with anybody else's, Dick. "

"No, sir, but I might have seen it wi' a spy glass. This there sarpentas I see it lying down stretched out straight was a good twenty-fivefoot. "

"Perhaps that may have been, Dick, " said Bob Roberts, thoughtfully. 

"Yes, sir, it were all that; and when it was alive it must have beenfifty foot at least. "

"Why, Dick?"

"Cause they stretches out so, sir, just like worms in the garden at homedo. "

"Gammon, Dick. Serpents don't stretch. "

"Don't stretch, sir! Just you wait till you get a thirty-footer twissenand twining round you, and see if they don't stretch. "

"All right, Dick; and when he does, you come and pinch his tail, andmake him open his mouth; and when he does that you pop in a bit of yournasty tobacco, and he'll leave off, and go like a shot. "

The old sailor chuckled, and said something about Mister Bob Robertsbeing a nice boy, while the party in question walked aft to see thecompany of soldiers on deck put through half-an-hour's drill, making apoint of staring hard and derisively at the young ensign, who saw thelad's looks, grew angry, from growing angry became confused, andincurred the captain's anger by giving the wrong order to the men, someof whom went right, knowing what he ought to have said, while otherswent wrong, and got the company hopelessly confused. 

The result was that Ensign Long, of her Majesty's somethingth foot, wasseverely snubbed, just as Mr Linton the resident, and his daughterRachel Linton, were looking on. 

"I wouldn't have cared if they had not been there, " said Ensign Long tohimself; "but if I don't serve that little wretch of a middy out forthis, my name is not Long. "

CHAPTER TWO. 

INTRODUCES MORE FRIENDS; WITH A FEW WORDS ON THE RIVER PARANG. 

The men were dismissed, and gladly got rid of coatee, rifle, and belt, to have a lounge in the cool of the evening; the dinner was ready in thecaptain's cabin, where lights already appeared; and, soon after, thetropic night came on, as if with a bound. The sky was of a purpleblack, studded with its myriads of stars, which were reflected withdazzling lustre from the smooth surface of the sea. But not only werethe bright star shapes there to give splendour to the wave, for as fardown as eye could reach through the clear water it was peopled with tinyphosphorescent atoms, moving slowly here and there, and lighting up thedepths of the sea with a wonderful effulgence that was glorious tobehold. 

Under the vessel's prow the divided waters flowed to right and left likeliquid gold, while, where the propeller revolved beneath the stern, thesea was one lambent blaze of fire ever flashing right away, covered withstarry spots that glistened, and rose, and fell, on the heaving wave. 

As the evening crept on, the various lights of the ship shone out clearand bright, notably that from the binnacle, which was like a halo roundthe face of the sailor at the wheel. There was a faint glow from theskylights too, and a lantern was hung here and there about thequarter-deck, where soon after the officers assembled to chat and smoke, while their men in turn enjoyed their ease. 

The ship rushed swiftly on its way, having passed Penang the previousday; and it was expected that on the next they would be at the mouth ofthe river, a native city upon which was to be the home of all for manymonths, perhaps for years. 

The officers were discussing the character of the rajah, some being ofopinion that he was a bloodthirsty tyrant and upholder of slavery, whomthe British Government were making a great mistake in protecting, whileothers declared that according to their experience the Malays were notthe cruel treacherous race they had been considered, but that they werenoble, proud, and thorough gentlemen by nature, and that if they wereproperly treated the life of an Englishman amongst them was perfectlysafe. 

"Well, gentlemen, " said a little fat man, who seemed to do nothing butperspire and mop his forehead, "they say the proof of the pudding is inthe eating. I know one thing, however, Parang is a glorious country forbotanical specimens. "

"Just the thing for you, doctor, " said Mr Linton, the resident. 

"But it won't be just the thing for you, gentlemen, " said the littleman, "for as sure as my name's Bolter, if you don't strictly follow outmy orders some of you will be losing the number of your mess. "

"Come, that sounds well, " said a quiet-looking man in white jacket andtrousers; "we are going to Parang to help to put down slavery, and weare to be put into a state of slavery by the doctor here. "

"He'll deal gently with you sometimes, " said the grey-haired major incommand of the troops. "Never turn a deaf ear to his discourses onplants, then you will be indulged. "

"What a nice revenge I could have on you, major!" said the doctor, laughing, and rubbing his hands. "Ha, ha, ha! and I could double yourdose. "

"Yes, " laughed the major; "and after all it is the doctor who reallycommands these expeditions. "

"Ah, well, " said the little gentleman, "I'll do the best I can for allof you. But don't be rash, my dear boys. You must avoid night dews, and too much fruit, and over-exertion. "

"There, there, doctor, " said the major, laughing; "you needn't troubleyourself about the last. I'll undertake to say that none of my fellowswill over-exert themselves. "

"Unless, sir, they are called upon to fight, " said a rather importantvoice. 

"Oh, I beg your pardon, I'm sure, Mr Long, " said the major seriously. "Of course we shall not study trouble then. "

The officers smiled, and looked from one to the other, greatly to MrTom Long's annoyance. In fact he felt so much aggrieved at the way inwhich his remark had been received, that he proceeded to light a verylarge cigar before rising to seek another part of the deck. 

"If you smoke that big strong cigar you'll be ill, Mr Long, " said thedoctor quietly. 

"I'd cut it in half, Long, " said Captain Smithers, "and give the otherhalf to young Roberts. "

"I know what I can smoke, sir, " replied the youth haughtily. "Perhapsyou will take one. "

"I! No, thanks. They are too strong for me. " And with what was meantfor a very haughty, injured look, Ensign Long strode slowly away. 

"Thank you, doctor, " said Major Sandars. "It's just as well to snubthat young gentleman sometimes. He's a fine young fellow, and will makea splendid officer; but really there are times when I get wonderingwhether we have changed places, and he is in command. "

"Oh, all boys go through that stage, " said the resident quietly. "Hehas just arrived at the hair-brushing, make-yourself-look-nice age, andfeels at least eight-and-twenty. "

"When he is only eighteen, " said Captain Smithers. 

"He is only seventeen, I believe, " said the major, "and the youngestensign in the service. By the way, Linton, I believe Long has formed adesperate attachment for your daughter. "

"Yes, I had noticed it, " said the resident drily; "and as Ensign Long isseventeen, and my daughter twenty-three, it will be a most suitablematch. But he has a rival, I see. "

Captain Smithers started slightly as the major exclaimed, --

"Who may that be?"

"Our dashing young friend, Mr Bob Roberts. "

There was a bit of a scuffle here as the whole party burst into a roarof laughter. 

"Oh, I beg your pardon, Roberts, " said the resident. "I did not knowyou were there. "

Bob Roberts felt red hot with shame and annoyance, as he made a rush andretreated from the group, by whom his presence had been unperceived. 

"I hope, Linton, " said Captain Horton, in command of the "Startler, ""that my youngster there has not been behaving impertinently to MissLinton. "

"Not at all, " said the resident quietly; "both Mr Long and Mr Robertshave been full of respectful admiration for the young lady, who hassufficient common sense to behave to the silly young gentlemen as theydeserve. It is all connected with the hair-brushing stage, and will, Ihave no doubt, help to make them both grow into fine manly young fellowsby-and-by. "

"Why, I can see through the mill-stone now, " said the doctor, laughing. 

"What mill-stone, doctor?"

"Why, I have been puzzling myself as to why it was those two boys werealways squabbling together. I see now; they're as jealous as can be. Isay, Mr Linton, you ought not to bring such a bone of contention onboard as that daughter of yours, and her cousin. "

"Seriously, my dear doctor, " said the resident, "I do sometimes feelthat I am to blame for bringing those two motherless girls out into thejungle; but Rachel declared that she would not be separated from me; andMiss Sinclair, my sister's child, seems more like one of my own, andshared her cousin's feelings. "

"They are two ladies, Linton, " said the major, "for whom we feel thedeepest respect; and, speaking selfishly, I am only too glad that mywife has a couple of such charming companions. "

"Yes, " said Captain Horton; "and if I had known what I know now, Ishould have let Mrs Horton have her wish, and accompany me. "

"Well, gentlemen, " said the resident, rather sadly, "I don't know, but Ihave a sort of presentiment that it would have been better if we hadbeen without ladies, or soldiers' wives, if you come to that; for Icannot conceal from myself that we are bound upon a very riskyexpedition, one out of which I hope we shall all come safely. "

"Oh, we shall be safe enough, " said the major. 

"Do you think there is really any danger, Mr Linton?" said CaptainSmithers, rather hoarsely. 

"Why, you are not afraid, are you, Smithers? Come, you must not showthe white feather!"

"I am not afraid for myself, Major Sandars, " said the young captain, quietly; "and I hope I shall never show the white feather; but whenthere are women and children in an expedition--"

"Oh, come, come, " said the resident, gaily; "I am afraid I have beencroaking. There may be danger; but when we are surrounded by such bravemen as the officers and crew of the `Startler, ' and her Majesty'ssomethingth foot, I see, after all, nothing whatever to fear. "

"Fear? no!" said Captain Horton. "Why, we could blow the whole place toCape Horn with my guns; and the Malays would never face Sandars' boys, with their bayonets. "

"Did you notice that sentry, Smithers?" asked the little doctor, in alow voice, of his companion, as the conversation now became lessgeneral. 

"Sentry? which one?"

"This one, " said the doctor. "Don't speak aloud, or he'll hear you. "

"Private Gray? No, I did not notice anything. What do you mean?"

"The light of that lantern shines full on his face, and he made amovement that drew my attention, when we were talking of there beingdanger. "

"Indeed?" said the captain. 

"Yes; he was evidently listening to the conversation, and I saw himstart so that he nearly dropped his piece; his face was quite convulsed, and he turned of a sickly pallor. The light was so strong upon him thatI could see his lips whiten. "

"Or was it fancy, doctor?"

"Fancy? No, my lad, that was no fancy; and I hope we have not many morelike him in the regiment. "

"Well, for my part, " said Captain Smithers, quietly, "I have oftenwished that my company was composed of Adam Grays. "

"Adam, eh? To be sure; I remember the fellow now. Well, he's a poordescendant of the first Adam, for if that fellow is not an arrant cowardmy name isn't Bolter. "

"Really, doctor, I think you do the man an injustice. He is a verysuperior, well educated fellow; and it has often puzzled me how hebecame a private soldier. "

"Scamp!" said the doctor, shortly. "Some runaway or another. The ranksof the army are made a receptacle for blackguards!"

"Hang it, doctor!" cried the young captain, warmly, "I cannot sit hereand listen to such heresy. I confess that we do get some scoundrelsinto the army; but as a rule our privates are a thoroughly trustworthyset of fellows, ready to go through fire and water for their officers;and I only wish the country would make better provision for them whentheir best days are past. "

"Ah, that's right enough, " said the doctor; "they are all what you say, and they do deserve better treatment of their country. I mean, ha, ha, ha! to make teetotallers of them this trip. I'm not going to have themen poisoned with that red hot country arrack, I can tell them. "

"It is terrible stuff, I believe. "

"Terrible? It's liquid poison, sir! and I don't know that I sha'n't tryand set up a private brewery of my own, so as to supply the poor fellowswith a decent glass of beer. "

"Poor fellows! eh, doctor? Why, you said just now they were a set ofscoundrels. "

"Well, well, well; I didn't mean all. But look at that fellow Sim--there's a pretty rascal for you! He's always on the sick-list, and it'snearly always sham. "

"I'm afraid he is a bit of a black sheep, " said Captain Smithers. 

"Inky black, Smithers, inky black. I shall poison that fellow some day. But I say, my dear boy, the brewery. "

"What about it?"

"What about it? Why, it would be splendid. I mean to say it is a grandidea. I'll get the major to let me do it. "

"My dear doctor, " said Captain Smithers, laughing, "I'm afraid if youdid brew some beer, and supply it to the men, fancy would go such a longway that they would find medicinal qualities in it, and refuse to drinka drop. "

"Then they would be a set of confoundedly ungrateful scoundrels, " saidthe doctor, angrily, "for I should only use malt and hops. "

"And never serve it as you did the coffee that day, doctor?"

"Well, well, I suppose I must take the credit of that. I did doctor ita little; but it was only with an astringent corrective, to keep thepoor boys from suffering from too much fruit. "

"Poor boys! eh, doctor? Come, come, you don't think my brave lads are aset of scoundrels then?"

"I said before, not all--not all, " replied the doctor. 

"Ah, doctor, " said Captain Smithers, "like a good many more of us, yousay more than you mean sometimes, and I know you have the welfare of themen at heart. "

"Not I, my lad, not I. It's all pure selfishness; I don't care a pinabout the rascals. All I want is to keep them quite well, so that theymay not have to come bothering me, when I want my time to go botanising;that's all. "

"And so we have fewer men on the sick-list than any regiment out here?"

"Tut! tut! Nonsense!"

Just then the ladies came up from the principal cabin, and began to walkslowly up and down the quarter-deck, evidently enjoying the deliciouscoolness of the night air, and the beauty of the sea and sky. 

Captain Smithers sat watching them intently for a time, and then, as hehappened to turn his head, he caught sight of the sentry, Adam Gray, andit struck him that he, too, was attentively watching the group ofladies. So convinced did the young officer become of this, that hecould not refrain from watching him. 

Once or twice he thought it was only fancy, but at last he felt sure;and a strange angry sensation sprang up in his breast as he saw thesentry's countenance change when the ladies passed him. 

"An insolent scoundrel!" he muttered. "How dare he?"

Then, as the ladies took their seats at some distance, he began thinkingover what the doctor had said, and wondering whether this man, in whomhe had heretofore taken a great deal of interest, was such a coward; andin spite of his angry feelings, he could only come to the conclusionthat the doctor was wrong. 

But at the same time what he had heard and seen that evening had notbeen without its effect, and he found himself irritable and vexedagainst this man, while his previous good feelings seemed to becompletely swept away. 

At last he rose impatiently, and strolled towards where the ladies weresitting, and joined in the conversation that was going on round a bucketof water that the doctor had just had dipped from over the side, andwhich he had displayed, full of brilliantly shining points of light, some of which emitted flashes as he stirred the water with his hands, ordipped glasses full of it, to hold up for the fair passengers to see. 

"All peculiar forms of jelly-fish, " he said aloud, as if he weredelivering a lecture, "and all possessing the power of emitting thatbeautiful phosphorescent light. There you see, ladies, if I had a spoonI could skim it off the top of this bucket of water, just like so muchgolden cream, and pour it into a glass. Very wonderful, is it not?"

"Look, look, doctor!" said one of the ladies, pointing to the sea, wherea series of vivid flashes rapidly followed one another. 

"Yes, my dear, I see, " he replied; "that was some fish darting throughthe water, and disturbing the medusae. If you watch you can see thesame thing going on all round. "

So glorious was the aspect of the sea that the conversation graduallyceased, and all on the quarter-deck watched the ever-widening lines ofgolden water that parted at the stem of the corvette and gradually diedaway, or were mingled with the glistening foam churned up by thepropeller. 

For the sea seemed to be one blaze of soft lambent light, that flashedangrily wherever it was disturbed by the steamer, or the startled fish, that dashed away on every side as they swiftly ran on towards the landof swamp and jungle, of nipah and betel palm, where the rivers werebordered by mangroves, the home of the crocodile; a land where thenight's conversation had roused up thoughts of its being perhaps theburial-place of many a one of the brave hearts throbbing within thetimbers of that stout ship--hearts that were to play active parts in theadventurous scenes to come. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

DOCTOR BOLTER CURES ONE PATIENT, AND IS LEFT WITH ANOTHER. 

"Is that Parang, that dim light out yonder, captain?" said the major, pointing to what looked like a cloud touching the water. 

"Oh, no, " was the reply. "That is part of Sumatra. Our destinationlies off the other bow, due east from where we are lying now. "

It was a glorious morning, and the sun at that early hour had not yetattained to its greater power. The ladies were on deck, enjoying themorning air; the soldiers were having morning parade, and looked cleanand smart in their white clothes and puggarees. The sailors were givingthe last touches to brass rails and cabin windows, and were coilingropes into neat rings; and altogether the deck of the "Startler, " withits burnished guns, presented a bright and animated spectacle, every oneseeming to have some business on hand. 

There was a little bit bustle about the steerage ladder, where foursailors were hauling a sick man up on deck; and as soon as they had himlying in the sunshine upon a mattress, the doctor bustled up--BobRoberts, seeing Ensign Long at hand, going up and looking on, after thetwo youths had exchanged a short distant nod. 

"Well, Sim, " said the doctor, briskly, "how are you this morning?"

"Very--very bad, sir, " replied the invalid, a big bony-faced man, wholooked very yellow. 

"Put out your tongue, " said the doctor. 

Private Sim put out such an enormously long tongue that Bob Roberts gavehis trousers a hitch, and made believe to haul it forth by the yard, very much to the ensign's disgust. 

"That'll do, " said the doctor, feeling the patient's pulse, and thendropping the hand, "Now what am I to prescribe for you, Sim, eh? Youfeel a terrible sense of sinking, don't you?"

"Yes, sir; terrible. "

"As if you needed strengthening food?"

"Yes, sir. "

"And some kind of stimulating drink--say wine?"

"Yes, sir, " said the patient, rolling his eyes. "I feel as if a littlewine would do me good. "

"Has the buzzing sensation left your head?"

"Very nearly, sir. "

"And you don't feel so much pressure on your chest?"

"Well, sir, not just now. "

"Less pain too, under your left shoulder?"

The major walked up just now. 

"Yes, sir; it's not quite so painful. "

"But you slept well?"

"Pretty well, sir, for me; I should think I had quite an hour's sleeplast night. "

"A whole hour, eh?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Well, doctor, " said the major, "what do you think of your patient? Ihope you are better, Sim?"

"Thanky kindly, sir, " said Private Sim, screwing up a terrible face. 

"I was thinking which I ought to prescribe, " said the doctor, veryseriously. "Sim's is a peculiar case. There's pressure on the brain, and also congestion of the vascular system of the spinal column. "

"Indeed!" said the major. 

"Yes, sir, " replied the doctor, pursing up his lips, "and I'm hesitatingbetween two courses. "

"Try 'em both, doctor, " said Bob Roberts, laughing with his eyes. 

"Right, youngster, " said the doctor, clapping him on the shoulder, "Iwill. We'll have the moist application first, and the warm dryapplication after. "

Private Sim screwed up his face a little tighter. 

"If I might make so bold, sir, " he said in a whining voice, "I thinkwhat you've given me's done me ever so much good, and all I want now isrest. "

"Rest, my man!" said the doctor. "Nonsense man! You want the mostbrisk and active treatment. Yours is a sluggish system, but we'll soonput you right. Here, my lads, " he continued to the sailors, "bring astout rope, and lash it round his chest. We'll give him four dipsoverboard for the head pressure, and then four dozen on the back toincrease the circulation. "

"Oh, doctor!" groaned the man, looking round for sympathy; but only tosee everyone within hearing on the grin. 

"Don't you be afraid, Sim; I'll soon put you right, " said the doctorkindly. "I'll make a man of you. "

"I don't think I could bear it, doctor. I mean I do really feel better, sir. "

"Let's see if you can stand, Sim, " said the doctor. 

The man rose groaning, and held on by one of the sailors, who, at a wordfrom the doctor, slipped away, and left the invalid standing. 

"You are better, decidedly, Sim. You couldn't have done that two daysago. "

"No, sir. "

"There, now walk across the deck. "

"If I'm able to walk, sir, shall I have to be dipped?"

"Walk away, and go below to your mess, you idle, shamming scoundrel, "cried the doctor. 

Private Sim opened his lips to speak, but the look he received was toomuch for him, and he slowly walked off, trying hard to appear ill-used, till he reached the companion ladder, down which he shuffled to theintense delight of the men. 

There was no land in sight, but the sea was glorious in the brilliantsunshine--so clear and blue that the darting fish could be seen farbelow; and before long, Bob Roberts had borrowed a fishing-line fromDick, the old sailor, baited the hooks, and was trailing it behind thevessel, in the hope of catching enough fish for a dinner for his mess. 

At first his sport was not very good; but after a time he captured alarge glistening fish, evidently, from its silvery skin, belonging tothe mackerel family; and this so excited Ensign Long, who had beenlooking on rather contemptuously, that he borrowed a line of theboatswain, and was also soon at work fishing. 

The lads had such good sport that the officers looked on quite amused, and the ladies under the awning asked from time to time to be shown theglistening captives that had been taken. 

Soon after the doctor joined the party, to discourse learnedly about thevarious fishes, which he classified as he pointed out theirpeculiarities, assuring his fair hearers that far more beautifulspecimens might yet be taken. 

Rachel Linton, a fair, very intelligent looking girl, was muchinterested in the doctor's descriptions, as was also her cousin, MarySinclair, a dark, handsome, but delicate, brunette, of nineteen, full ofquestions, which the doctor took great delight in answering. 

Bob Roberts and the young ensign vied one with the other in hurrying upwith their fish, as they were successful, Ensign Long looking hopelesslydisgusted as he saw the middy catch and carry three fish in successionbeneath the awning, while he could not get a bite. 

Soon, however, his turn came, and with a look of triumph he bore a longsilvery fish with bars of azure blue across its scaly armour, to wherethe ladies were seated, Bob Roberts biting his lips as he heard theexclamations of pleasure uttered by each of the cousins in turn. 

"Never mind, " he muttered, "I shall have a startler directly, see if Idon't, " and he fished away, changing his bait, or replacing it as it waslost in consequence of the rapid motion of the steamer through thewater; but all in vain; not a single fish came to his side, while on theother side Ensign Long was having tremendous luck. 

Wearied out with trying, the lad sat at last holding his line in onehand, but paying no heed to it, for his eyes were directed beneath theawning, where all looked dim as compared with the sun-glare outside; andhere from time to time he saw Long enter with some new prize, which thedoctor took, and held up to the ladies, the more brilliantly colouredbeing consigned to one or the other of a couple of buckets of water, which one of the soldiers in undress uniform, whom the middy recognisedas the sentry of the previous night, kept replenishing with fresh waterdipped from the sea. 

"He isn't a bad-looking chap, " said the young midshipman, as he sat onthe bulwarks in a very insecure position. "I wish I was filling thebuckets and holding up the fish for the ladies to see. "

He glanced once at his trailing line, and saw the bait flash in thewater, then he glanced back at the party beneath the awning. 

"How black Captain Smithers looks, " he said. "That soldier must havesplashed him, or something, for he looks as if he was going to have himtried by court-martial. Here I think I shall drop it. Hang it all! ifthat fellow Long hasn't caught another. What did she say?" he cried, drawing in his breath with a hiss. "`You are ever so much morefortunate than Mr Roberts. ' Oh, I'd give something to have her saythat to me, and--murder! I've got him this time--"

He made a convulsive grasp at a rope, and just saved himself fromfalling overboard, for a vigorous snatch made by a large fish at hisbait had been quite sufficient to disturb his equilibrium, his activityalone saving him from a terrible ducking, if not from being drowned. 

He recovered himself though, and thought no more of his escape in theexcitement of finding that he had hooked a heavyish fish, and which tooka good deal of playing; for just as it seemed exhausted, there was afierce, furious snatch at the line, and the captive appeared to havegrown heavier. 

"He's almost too heavy to lift out, Dick, " he cried to the old sailorwho came up. 

"Ease him then, sir, and take it easy, " said Dick; "tire him quite out, and then haul in quickly. "

Bob Roberts obeyed, and to his intense delight, gradually hauled hisfish to the surface, where he could not make out what it was by itsshape, only that it was a blaze of blue, and gold, and silver, flashingin the sun. 

"Hi, doctor! I've got such a beauty!" he shouted, dragging at the stoutline, till with a rush he hoisted his fish on to the deck. 

"Well, that's a rum 'un, sir, " cried the sailor. "Why it's a young seasarpent. "

"What have you got?" said the doctor eagerly, as the lad hurriedexcitedly beneath the awning with his prize. 

"I don't know, doctor, " said the lad. "But look, Miss Linton--MissSinclair, isn't it curious?"

The lad's cheeks flushed, and his eyes sparkled with delight, as he heldup by the line what seemed to be a good-sized fish, of five or sixpounds' weight, with a very long brilliantly-coloured eel twined tightlyround and round it, in a perfect spiral, several feet in length. 

"Why, you've caught a fish, boy, " said the doctor, examining the prizethrough his glasses, "and it has been seized and constricted by a seasnake. Dear me! bliss my soul! that's very curious. Look here, CaptainSmithers, and ladies. Gray, a fresh bucket of water. Most singularthing!"

"I thought he got precious heavy all at once, doctor, " said the lad, looking from one to the other. "That chap darted at him then. "

"Ye-es, I suppose so, " said the doctor. "Lovely colouring, to be sure!See how tightly it has constricted the fish, ladies. Just like a pieceof woodbine round a stick, only the coils are more close. "

"It is very beautiful, " said Miss Linton, approaching more closely, sothat she could feast her eyes on the vivid colouring of the water-snake, which was about five feet in length, but whose coils seemed to grow moreclose as the fish ceased to flap as it was held up by the middy. 

"I'm glad you like it, Miss Linton, " he said, darting a triumphantglance at where Ensign Long was now fishing in vain. "He didn't catchtwo at once, " the boy muttered to himself. 

"I wouldn't go too close, Miss Linton, " said the doctor, "for some ofthese sea snakes are reputed to be poisonous. Lovely thing, isn't it, Smithers?"

"Very, " said the young captain drily; "but pray take care, Miss Linton. "

"I am not afraid, " said the lady, looking up at him with a quiet air ofconfidence, just as Private Gray bore in a fresh bucket of limpid seawater, and set it down at her feet. 

"Now then, " said the doctor; "hold still, Roberts. "

"All right, sir; but it's jolly heavy, " said the boy. 

"Then give the line a shake, and the snake will fall into the bucket. Or stop; I will. "

But he was too late, for the lad had already given the line a quickshake, with the result that the snake uncoiled like lightning, anddarted at the nearest object, that object being Miss Linton's arm, roundwhich it coiled with the rapidity of the thong of a whip round a stick. 

The resident's daughter was brave and strong minded, but as she felt thecontact of the creature's cold scales upon her bare arm she could notforbear from shrieking aloud; but even as she uttered the cry, the youngsoldier, Gray, had caught the snake round the neck, causing it to loosenits hold, but only to coil round his own bare arm, round which ittwisted, and twice seized the wrist with its little mouth. 

"The snake has bitten me, " said the young man, hoarsely, as he dashedits head rapidly against one of the chairs, and then cast it, broken butwrithing, upon the white deck. 

All this took but a few moments, and then Private Gray stood, gazingwith a strange wild longing look at Miss Linton, as the doctorexclaimed, --

"Quick, Roberts, to my cabin; the ammonia. Ladies, go away, please, quickly. "

He caught the young soldier, and forced him back in one of the chairs ashe spoke, for already a ghastly pallor was overspreading hiscountenance. 

"Is it--is it poisonous, doctor?" whispered Miss Linton, as she darted ahorrified look at Gray. 

"Deadly! my dear young lady, " he replied hastily. "The poor fellow hassaved your life. And only last night, " he thought, "I said he was acoward. "

CHAPTER FOUR. 

DOCTOR BOLTER RUBS HIS HANDS, AND CAPTAIN SMITHERS LOOKS GREEN. 

As soon as Bob Roberts returned with the ammonia, and realised what waswrong, he pulled out his pocket-knife, placed his foot on the reptile'sneck, as it still writhed feebly, and cut off its head. 

He had hardly completed his task though, before he was summoned by thedoctor to assist him. Here, however, he was forestalled by Miss Linton, who, ignoring the request to go, had in the most business-like wayhelped to lower the fainting man upon the deck, and supported his headwhile the stimulant was administered. 

"Pray go away, Miss Linton, " exclaimed Doctor Bolter then; "this is onlya task for a trained nurse. "

"I am a trained nurse, " said Rachel Linton, quietly; and drawing acushion from a chair, she placed it on the deck, lowered the injuredman's head upon it, and then, seeing the doctor's intention, held thepatient's arm while he freely used a lancet about the tiny marks made bythe serpent's teeth, and rubbed in the ammonia. 

Captain Smithers meanwhile had not spoken, but stood watching MissLinton, with a strange look upon his countenance, shuddering, though, once or twice, as he saw the ghastly face of the injured man, and hisfixed half-closed eyes. 

"What can I do next, doctor?" said Miss Linton, in a quiet, eager voice. 

"Nothing at present, my dear young lady, " he said, looking at heradmiringly. "Why, what a brave-hearted girl you are!"

"Brave?" she said. "What, to do this for one who saved me perhaps fromdeath? But tell me, doctor, will he live?"

"I don't know; I hope so; it is impossible to say. It is such a rarething for a man to be bitten by one of these creatures. I never hadsuch a case before, and I ought to have known better; but I did not knowit was a dangerous species of snake. "

He held the soldier's pulse as he spoke, and then frowned, and mixingmore ammonia and water, raised the poor fellow's head, and poured theliquid between his half-clenched teeth. 

"Try and swallow it, Gray, my good fellow. "

The young man opened his eyes as if awakened from sleep, stared abouttill they rested on Miss Linton, when they closed again, and he drankthe stimulant with difficulty. 

"Stand back, please. Captain Smithers, keep every one away, and let ushave all the air we can. "

Thus appealed to, the young officer motioned back those who pressedforward, the news of the accident having spread through the ship, andall who dared ascending to the quarter-deck. 

"How provoking!" exclaimed Major Sandars. "One of my best men too, doctor. Really, Bolter, I must put a stop to your natural historyresearches. "

"Confound it all, major!" cried the little doctor, angrily; "it was anaccident. That young dog caught the snake, and--no--no! it's all right, Roberts. It was my fault; I ought to have foreseen what would happen. "

Ensign Long had begun to congratulate himself on the fact that BobRoberts was about to have a good wigging, but found out that he waswrong, and felt annoyed to see how important a part the lad played inthe proceedings to fight back the effects of the deadly poison. 

"Take my coat off, Roberts, " said the doctor. "Gently, boy, gently. That's right. Now the ammonia; good. Raise his head a little. Poorfellow, we mustn't let him slip through our fingers. That's it, MissLinton. Miss Sinclair, will you get a big fan, and give him all the airyou can?"

He was obeyed to the letter; while Captain Horton and the resident stoodnear, ready to help in any way they could, for the news had caused thedeepest concern through out the ship. 

"Yah!" cried Private Sim, with an ugly snarl; "there's yer nastyfavouritism. See how they're all a-cuddling and messing that there Grayup, orficers and women and all. Might ha' died afore they'd ha' doneanything for me. "

"Why, you caulking, miching lubber, " growled old Dick, "you had tentimes as much trouble 'stowed on you as you deserved. Tell you what, mylads, " he continued, addressing a crowd of soldiers and sailors who hadbeen discussing the event forward, "it's this here sorter thing as makesme saddersfied to be a common sailor. Yer orficers may row and bullyyer sometimes for not being smart enough; but I never knowed a orficeryet as wasn't ready to run the same risks as the men; and when you'redown, Lor' bless my 'art, nothin's too good for you. 'Member theskipper coming and bringing us horindges, Joe Tomson, when we had thefeckshus fever?"

"Ay, ay, mate, " growled a big sun-tanned sailor. 

"Right you are, mate, " said a big sergeant. "It's just so with us. I've knowed our officers run out under fire to bring in wounded men, andget shot down theirselves. You remember Captain Smithers doing that, out in China, Billy Mustard?"

"That I do, " said a fair red-faced private, with a merry look in hiseyes. "He brought me in on his back. I'm waiting to see him down someday, and carry him in. "

"To be sure, " growled old Dick. "Orficers is orficers, and there 'aintone aboard this ship as wouldn't jump overboard to save any man, even ifit was such a grumbling warmint as old Sim here. "

Private Sim snarled, and showed a set of yellow teeth, as he held outthe palm of his left hand to give it a severe punch with his right fist;after which ebullition he seemed to feel much better, and went andleaned over the side. 

"I hope Private Gray will get better, " said Billy Mustard, who was agreat favourite with the men from the fact that he was famous as afiddler, and could rattle off anything from "Money Musk" up to "TheTriumph;" and as to hornpipes, the somethingth said there wasn't a manin the service who could touch him. Billy Mustard had won the hearts ofthe sailors, too, during the voyage, from the way in which he sang "TheDeath of Nelson, " with many another naval ditty, to which the wholeforecastle could rattle out a hearty chorus. "I hope Private Gray willget better, " said Billy. 

"Ah, we all hope that, " said Sergeant Lund. "Not that Adam Gray's afriend of mine. He's too much of a gentleman; and when he's goingthrough his drill, it always seems as if one was putting a young officerthrough his facings. Not that I wish him any harm; but if he's agentleman he ought to have got his commission, and kept out of theranks. "

"Well, sergeant, " said Billy Mustard, "I don't see that it matters muchwhat a man is, so long as he's ready for dooty, and I will say as Graynever sticks himself up, but does his dooty like a man. "

"Yah! he'll turn out no good, " snarled Private Sim, looking round. 

"Well, for my part, " said old Dick, "if I was to go in for being cunnleof a regiment, I should like that there regiment to be all privateSimses, and then I'd have all the officers doctors. "

"And a big hospital for barracks, " said the sergeant, laughing. "Andrations of physic served out every day, " cried Billy Mustard. 

There was a hearty laugh at this; but it was checked directly, as themen recalled that one of their number was lying in grievous peril; whilePrivate Sim glanced round, uttered a snarl like that of a hyena, thenturned back and gave his left hand another punch. 

"Laugh at me, will yer?" he growled, "when I'm so jolly ill. Just letme get hold o' that there fiddle o' yours, Master Billy Mustard, andI'll smash it, see if I don't. "

He seemed to feel better after this threat, and stood leaning over thebulwarks, and spitting down into the sea, while one of the sailors wentaft to learn some tidings concerning Adam Gray. 

Meanwhile, the centre of an anxious knot of observers, the young soldierlay breathing very feebly in spite of the stimulants frequentlyadministered; and Bob Roberts, as he knelt close by on the deck, watchedwith a strange feeling of heart-sickness coming over him. He could notconceal from himself the fact that he had been the cause of all thesuffering; and full of self-reproach, he knelt there, consideringwhether he should ever forget that scene, with the pale face of the fineyoung fellow lying before him. 

Gray seemed to be in no great pain, but to be suffering more from astrange delirium caused by the working of the tiny drops of poisoninjected in his veins. He muttered a few words occasionally, andstarted convulsively from time to time; but when spoken to, he calmeddown, and lay, apparently, waiting for his end. 

"Don't know; can't say, " was all that could be got from the doctor, asthe hours crept on--hours when the heat of the sun was terrible; but noone left the injured man's side. 

The specimens in the buckets were forgotten, and died; the cause of themisfortune grew dry and shrivelled, where it had twined and wriggleditself, half a dozen yards away, the dangerous head being thrownoverboard by Bob Roberts, and swallowed by a fish before it haddescended many feet. 

Both the resident and the captain had tried to persuade the ladies toleave the sick man's side; but they had declined to go, and DoctorBolter had nodded approval. 

"Thank you, my dears, thank you, " he said. "It's very kind of you; andI'm glad enough, I can tell you, to find that you've both got somethingin you besides fine young ladyism. "

"I wish we could do more, " said Rachel Linton, quietly. 

"So do I, my dear, " said the little doctor; "and I wish I could do more, but I have done all I can. Nature must do the rest. "

The long, hot day passed on, and evening was approaching before thedoctor took anything more than a glass of wine and water and a biscuit;and at last, when every one had judged by poor Gray's aspect that allnow was over, and Major Sandars came up and thanked him for his patientendeavours to save the poor fellow's life, the doctor felt his patient'spulse once more, raised the closed eyelids and gazed at the pupils, andthen rose up, dropped into a cane lounging chair, and began softlyrubbing his knees. 

"Now, ladies, " he said firmly, "go below and dine. I order it. Sandars--Horton--if you have any good feeling left in you, you'll sendrelays of Jacks and privates to rub my poor knees. I say, " he said, looking round with a smile, "that was a close shave, wasn't it?"

"Close shave?" said the major, as the ladies drew back, apparently hurtat the doctor's levity; and poor Bob Roberts, kneeling at the injuredman's feet, lowered his head so that those near should not see theunmanly tears gathering in his eyes, though he was somewhat comforted onseeing that Ensign Long was almost as much moved. 

"Yes, " said the doctor; "you might have got all the nobs of theprofession, and I don't believe they could have done better. "

"No, " said Captain Horton rather coldly. "You have worked hard, DoctorBolter. "

"Hard? I should think I have. I tell you what it is, sir, you wouldnot have felt more pleased than I do if you had been made an admiral. "

"But the man is dying fast, Bolter, " said Major Sandars. 

"Dying, sir? why he has been dying fast all day. "

"Then is not this rather unseemly before ladies?" said Captain Horton. 

"Unseemly? Before ladies?" said the doctor in a puzzled way. "Why, can't you see for yourselves? Ha, ha, ha!" he said, laughing softly. "Don't you see the remedies have beaten the poison. There's adelightful sleep he has dropped into. "

"Sleep?" exclaimed Miss Linton. 

"To be sure, my dear. Look what a lovely perspiration is coming out onhis forehead. There, come away, and let him sleep. He'll be nearlywell by to-morrow morning. "

Bob Roberts leaped up from the deck, as if sent by a sling, made a dashat Ensign Long, swung him round, indulged in a kind of war danceindicative of triumph; then looked extremely ashamed of himself, anddashed off into the gun-room to spread the news that the doctor hadsaved Gray's life. 

"That's not a bad sort of boy, " said the doctor, looking after Bob; andthen, as Ensign Long raised his chin in the air, and looked verydignified, "tell you what Sandars, if I were you I'd get Captain Hortonto make a swop. Let's give him Tom Long in exchange for the middy. What do you say?"

Tom Long marched off, looking very much disgusted; and Sergeant Lundhaving been summoned to bring a file to watch by the sick man, the muchrelieved party went down to dinner. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

UP THE PARANG RIVER. 

That evening the anchor was dropped off the mouth of the Parang river;and as the night closed in all eyes were directed to the thickly-woodedcountry on each side of the stream, whose banks were hidden by the densegrowth of mangrove trees, which, now that the tide was up, seemed to begrowing right out of the water, which those on board could see throughtheir glasses to be smoothly flowing amidst the stems. 

Further inland tall columnar nipah palms could be seen fringing thetidal way, and apparently growing amidst the mangroves, with the waterwashing their roots. 

Dense green vegetation, and a broad flowing muddy river--that was allthat greeted the eyes of the eager lookers-on, till darkness set in. Not a trace of town or village, not even a fisherman's hut or a boat. All was vegetation and the flowing river. 

Once Bob Roberts thought he saw a boat coming down the stream, and inthe distance it very strangely resembled some little craft with uprightmast and dark sail; but as it came nearer it proved to be a patch ofroot-matted vegetable soil, washed from the bank, and having in thecentre a small nipah palm, which slowly passed from might, to be castashore upon some mud bank, and again take root. 

But as the darkness fell, the distant glitter as of tiny sparks amidstthe trees took the attention of all. They were too distant to see thephenomenon to perfection; but the faint sparkle was very beautiful asthe myriads of fire-flies, by which it was caused, flitted and changedfrom place to place, which was now dark, now scintillating in a mostpeculiar manner. 

The captain had decided not to attempt the passage of the river tillmorning, all on board being very ignorant of its entrance, though, judging from the configuration of the coast, the most they had to dreadwas being grounded for a time on some bank of mud or sand. This part ofthe coast was so sheltered that there was no surf; and when the anchorwas let go, the corvette swung round easily, to lie almost withoutmotion on the calm still waters of the river's mouth. 

But though no sign of human habitation had been visible, as the nightwore on those on board became fully aware of the fact that the junglehad plenty of denizens, for from time to time strange roarings wereheard, and then splashings in the water, as of wild creatures bathing. Once or twice too, as Bob Roberts and Ensign Long, companions for thetime being, if not friends, leaned over the bulwarks, they fancied theycould hear some great beast swimming towards them. 

"What can it be?" said Bob in an awe-stricken whisper, as the strangesnorting and splashing grew nearer. 

"'Nosserus, " said Dick the sailor, who generally contrived to be prettyclose to the youths, and depended upon them largely for his supplies oftobacco. "It's one on 'em having a wallow, like a big pig, somewhere inthe shallows. "

"That's a tiger, isn't it!" said Tom Long, as a hoarse roar came overthe smooth surface of the water. 

"Shouldn't wonder, young gentlemen, if it were; but I'll say good night, for 'taint my watch, and I think a turn in won't be bad preparation fora hard day to-morrow. "

Everyone expected a busy day upon the morrow; but it was long before thetwo youths could tear themselves away from the side of the vessel, forthere was something so mysterious and weird in the look of the blackwater, in which the stars just glimmered; while right before them alllooked dark and strange, save where there was the distant twinkling ofthe fire-flies, ever changing in position. 

"Hark!" whispered Long; "there's a splash again. That can't be close tothe shore. "

"No, that's not a hundred yards from the ship. I say, Long, " whisperedBob with a shudder, "I shouldn't much like to swim ashore. I'll bebound to say that was a crocodile. "

"I shouldn't wonder, " was the reply; and they still stood trying to makeout the cause of the strange splashing noises, till, utterly tired out, they sought their cots, and were soon fast asleep. 

The getting up of the anchor roused the two lads soon after daybreak, bywhich time steam was up; and with the faint morning mists slowly risinglike silver gauze above the dense belts of trees, the steamer beganslowly to move ahead. 

The tide was flowing, and the mangroves were deep in the water, thoughnot so deep but that their curious network of roots could be seen, likea rugged scaffold planted in the mud to support each stem; while as theyslowly went on, the dense beds of vegetation, in place of being a mileoff on either side, grew to be a half a mile, and soon after but ahundred yards, as the steamer seemed to be going straight into a broadbank ahead. 

As they approached, though, a broad opening became visible, where thecourse of the stream swung round to the right; and after passing apoint, the river rapidly contracted to about a hundred yards in width, and soon after was narrower, but still a smoothly flowing stream by theeternal mangroves. At last some signs of life began to appear, in theshape of an occasional crocodile, which glided off a muddy bank amidstthe mangrove roots, into the water. Here and there, too, the long snoutof one of these hideous reptiles could be seen, prone on the surface ofthe water, just above which appeared the eyes, with their prominences, as the reptile turned its head slowly from side to side, in search ofsome floating object that might prove to be good for food. 

The sight of these beasts was too much for the officers, who were soonarmed with rifles, making shots at the muddy-hued creatures, apparentlywith no other effect than for the long horny head to slowly sink beneaththe water. 

Captain Smithers proved himself to be the best shot, for after splashingthe water with a bullet close to the head of one of the saurians, hisattention was drawn to another, between the steamer and the shore, apparently quite unconscious that the vessel could injure it in theleast. 

Judging from the size of the head, this was apparently the largestcrocodile that had been seen; and taking long and careful aim, CaptainSmithers at last fired, when the monster lashed the water furiously fora few moments with its tail. 

"He's hit, and badly, " said Doctor Bolter. "It's a big one, too. Whata splendid specimen it would make!"

As he spoke, his words as to the size of the creature were verified, forthe crocodile suddenly shot itself half out of the water, showing itshead, shoulders, and a good deal of its horny back, before turning overand diving down, displaying its hind legs and tail before itdisappeared. 

"That was eighteen feet long if it was an inch, " said the doctor, excitedly; "but he has gone to the bottom. "

"Yes, " said Captain Smithers, quietly reloading, "we shall not see itagain. How is your patient, Bolter?"

"Oh, pretty well all right again, thanks. It was a lucky escape for thepoor fellow. "

"Very!" said Captain Smithers, thoughtfully. "What bird is that, doctor?"

"A white eagle, " was the reply, as the doctor followed with his glassesthe flight of a magnificent bird that rose from a stunted tree, flewacross the river, and away over the mangroves on the other side. 

Soon after, as the steamer still made its way onward in mid-stream, theriver being very deep, as shown by the man busy in the chains with thelead, a flame of blue suddenly seemed to dart from a mangrove root, andthen another and another, as some of the gorgeously-coloured kingfishersof the peninsula shot off along the surface up the stream. 

On still, and on, with every one on board eagerly on the look-out fornovelties, but all growing somewhat tired of the unbroken succession ofdull green mangroves. At last, however, after many hours of slow andcautious progress, the mangroves gave place to tall and beautiful palms, showing evidently that the steamer was now beyond the reach of the tide;and this was farther proved by the fact that the stream was now deadagainst them, running pretty swiftly, but, in place of being muddy, delightfully clear. 

Faces that had looked long and solemn as the supposition had grownstronger that the country was nothing better than a mangrove swamp, became more cheery of aspect, especially when, through an opening in thedense clumps of palms with their feathery tops, the blue line of adistant range of hills could be seen. 

Then came, as they rounded a point, the first trace of human habitation, in the shape of a Malay village, which in the distance bore a marvellousresemblance, in its steep gabled roofs thatched with palm-leaves, tosome collection of cottages in far-distant England. But soon it wasseen that every cottage was raised upon posts, that the walls were ofwoven reed or split bamboo, and that the trees that shaded them werecocoa-nut and areca palms. 

Onward still, but more slowly and cautiously, lest the steamer shouldtake the ground. Now and then scattered patches of cultivation wereseen, in the shape of paddy fields; clusters of fruit-trees stood hereand there; native boats were drawn right up on the mud, or secured toposts; and now and then buffaloes could be seen, standing knee-deep inthe water, with dark-skinned children running to and fro, terriblyexcited at the sight of the strange ship. 

Onward still, hour after hour, past village after village, wonderfullysame in appearance, and the river still kept broad and deep enough forthe navigation of the steamer, till night came on, and she was anchoredin mid-stream, with the wild jungle coming close down to the water'sedge on either side. 

At early morn the journey was continued till a broad reach of the riverwas ascended, at the far end of which was a good-sized island, in whichwas a palm-thatched building of some consequence, while, only separatedfrom it by a narrow arm of the river, stood the largest collection ofhouses they had seen, with what was evidently a mosque by the riverside. There was an abundance of boats too, and what strongly resembleda stockade; but what most took up the attention of all on board were acouple of long, low, well-made vessels, each displaying a curiousfigure-head bearing a faint resemblance to some fabulous monster; and inthese armed boats both the soldiers and sailors of the little expeditionwere quite right in believing that they saw nothing more nor less thanthe much-talked-of vessels of the kris-bearing pirates of Malaya, thewell-known, much-dreaded prahus. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

HOW TOM LONG TRIED THE DURIAN. 

A little bustle on deck, the rattling of chains, the splash of ananchor, and Her Majesty's ship "Startler"--well manned, and armed withguns that could send shot and shell crashing through the town on theriver's right bank--swinging to her moorings; for she had reached herdestination--the campong, or village, of Sultan Hamet, the native Malaypotentate, who was under British protection, and who sought our aid torule his land beneficially, after our manners and customs, and who nowprofessed the most ardent friendship for those who were ready to dotheir duty; though the trust they felt in the Malays was not untemperedby suspicion--in some cases, perhaps, with fear. 

It was a very busy time for all, and after the "Startler" had been madewhat Dick the sailor called snug--that is to say, firmly anchored headto stream, for they were now far above the reach of the tide--a strongparty of the blue-jackets were landed upon the pleasantly umbrageousisland, along with the soldiers; for this island was to be the site ofthe residency, and it proved to have four good-sized buildings amidstthe trees, which had been roughly prepared by Sultan Hamet's orders. 

Doctor Bolter was almost the first man to land, and for a long time hewas fussily perspiring about, as he abused the sanitary arrangements ofthe place to every man he met, pausing last of all to stand mopping hisface in front of Bob Roberts and Tom Long. 

"Pretty sort of a wilderness to bring us to, young gentlemen!" heexclaimed. "I don't know what to start at next. The place will be avery hot-bed of fever, and we shall all be swept away. "

"What do you say to this for a neat spot, doctor?" said Bob Roberts. 

"Neat spot? what for?"

"Burying ground. "

"Burying ground? What do you mean, sir?"

"To bury us all decently, doctor, " said Bob, grinning. "And I say, doctor, who's to bury the last man?"

"If you were under my charge, Master Bob Roberts, " said the doctor, panting with the heat, "I should reduce that vital force of yours alittle, sir. "

"Thanky, doctor. But I say, doctor, which is to be the resident'shouse?"

"That, sir; and those three buildings are to be turned into barracks, and fort, and officers' quarters; and how I am to get them all into asanitary state, I don't know. "

But the doctor did manage it somehow in the following days, when, inspite of the heat, every one worked with a will; the resident's housewas improved, and boats were constantly going to and from the"Startler, " whose hold was something like a conjuring trick, as itconstantly turned out household necessaries and furniture. Handyworkmen amidst the soldiers and Jacks were busy, fitting, hammering, andnailing; so that in a very short time the resident's house began to growship-shape. 

At the same time the officers' quarters were being prepared, and thebarracks as well; while plans were made to strengthen the fort, digditch, form glacis, and generally make the place tenable against apossible enemy. 

Plenty of Malays were enlisted to help; but beyond bringing wood, andacting as carriers, they did not prove to be very valuable workers. Butall the same, the preparations went on, various chiefs coming across intheir boats from time to time, watching with no little wonder thechanges that were being effected, talking together a good deal about thestands of arms in the little barracks, and the nine-pounder field-piecesthat were brought ashore from the "Startler's" hold. 

The inexhaustible bottle was nothing to that ship, for no sooner did theadjutant make out a list of requisitions, and send in, than the holdbegan to disgorge, and boat-loads of stores came ashore; till, in amarvellously short time, the white tents, saving one or two large ones, disappeared from where they had been first set up amongst the trees, andwith a celerity that perfectly astounded the Malay visitors, the islandassumed an aspect that seemed to say the English visitors meant to stay. 

Meanwhile, the country people grew less shy, and boats came with fruitand rice for sale, one of the first being visited by Bob Roberts--TomLong, who had evidently meant to be there before him, coming directlyafter. 

The ladies had landed and taken possession of their new abode, whereseveral of the soldiers were busy forming a garden; and it had struckboth the admirers of Miss Linton that an offering or two of fruit andflowers would be very acceptable, after the long confinement on shipboard. 

The sampan, or native boat, that the two lads had come to visit, wasfastened to a rough bamboo landing-stage, that had been one of the firstthings fitted up at the island; and, to their great delight, they couldsee that the boat was stored with various vegetable productions, some ofwhich were sufficiently attractive to make the lads' mouths water, tothe forgetting of the main object of their visit. 

"Hallo, soldier!" said Bob Roberts, as he saw Tom Long come up, lookingvery aggressive. 

"Hallo, sailor boy!" said Tom Long, superciliously; and then they stoodlooking at each other, quite unconsciously like a couple of Malay gamecocks in bamboo cages, on the afterpart of the sampan. These twopugnacious birds were evincing a strong desire for a regular duel; butas the bamboo bars of their cages prevented a near approach, they stoodthere ruffling their plumes, and staring hard in each other's faces. 

"Seems a strange thing that a man can't come down to buy a little fruitand some flowers, without your watching him, " said Bob, at last. 

"I wasn't watching you, boy, " said Tom Long, superciliously. "There, spend your penny, my man, and go about your business. "

"Look here, my stuck-up red herring, " cried Bob, setting his teeth hard, "Captain Horton said that the naval officers were to set an example ofgentlemanly behaviour before the natives, or I'll be blowed, Mr TomLong, if I wouldn't punch your head. "

"Blowed--punch head, " sneered Tom Long; "that's gentlemanly, certainly. "

"Look here, " said Bob, who was stung to the quick by the truth of thisremark; "do you want to fight, Mr Tom Long?"

"Mr T. Long presents his compliments to the middy boy of the`Startler, ' and begs to inform him that when her Majesty's officersfight, it is with some one worthy of their steel. "

"Ha, ha! Haw, haw! Ho, ho, ho!" laughed Bob, cutting a caperexpressive of his great amusement. "Her Majesty's officers--some oneworthy of their steel. Ha, ha, ha, ha! I say, Tom Long, how happy andcontented her Majesty must feel, knowing as she does that the gallantofficer, Ensign Long, is always ready to draw his sword in her defence. Here, you stop! I got here first. "

"Sahib wants my beautiful fruit, " said one of the dark-faced men in thesampan, towards which Tom Long had stepped. 

"Hallo!" said Bob, going up. "You are not a Malay?"

"No, sahib: I Kling, from Madras. Sell fruit--flowers. This Malayaman. "

He pointed to a flat-nosed, high-cheek-boned man with him, who wasdressed in the inevitable plaid sarong of bright colours, and wore anatty little plaited-grass cap upon his head. 

Bob turned, and saw that this man carried a kris stuck in the folds ofhis sarong, which had slipped from the hilt, and he was now busy with alittle brass box and a leaf. This leaf of one of the pepper plants hewas smearing with a little creamy-looking mixed lime from the brass box, on which he placed a fragment of betel-nut, rolled it in the leaf, thrust it into his mouth, which it seemed to distort, and then began toexpectorate a nasty red juice, with which he stained the pure water. 

"Hope you feel better now, " said Bob, who, in his interest in theMalay's proceedings, had forgotten all about the squabble with Tom Long. "Ugh! the dirty brute! Chewing tobacco's bad enough; but as for that--I'd just like to get the armourer's tongs and fetch that out of yourmouth, and then swab it clean. "

"No speak English; Malaya man, " said the Kling laughing. "Chew betel, very good, sahib. Like try?"

"Try! No, " said Bob, with a gesture of disgust. "Here, I say; we'llbuy some fruit directly: let's have a look at your kris. "

The Kling, who seemed to have quite adopted the customs of the peopleamongst whom he was, hesitated for a moment, looking suspiciously at thetwo lads, and then took the weapon he wore from his waist, and held itout. 

Bob took it, and Tom Long closed up, being as much interested as themidshipman. 

"I say, Tom Long, " the latter said, with a laugh, "which of us two willget the first taste of that brown insect's sting?"

"You, Bob, " said Tom Long, coolly. "It would let out a little of yourconfounded impudence. "

"Thanky, " said Bob, as he proceeded to examine the weapon with thegreatest interest, from its wooden sheath, with a clumsy widened portionby the hilt, to the hilt itself, which, to European eyes, stronglyresembled the awkwardly formed hook of an umbrella or walking-stick, andseemed a clumsy handle by which to wield the kris. 

"Pull it out, " said Tom Long, eagerly; and Bob drew it, to show a dullragged-looking two-edged blade, and of a wavy form. It was aboutfifteen inches long, and beginning about three inches wide, rapidlynarrowed down to less than one inch, and finished in a sharp point. 

"It's a miserable-looking little tool, " said Bob. 

"Good as a middy's dirk, " said Tom Long, laughing. 

"I don't know so much about that, " said Bob, making a stab at nothingwith the kris. "I say, old chap, this is poisoned, isn't it?"

"No, sahib, " said the Kling, displaying his white teeth. 

"But the Malay krises are poisoned, " said Bob. "Is his?"

He nodded in the direction of the Malay, who was trying to understandwhat was said. 

"No, sahib, no poison. What for poison kris?"

"Make it kill people, of course, " said Bob, returning the rusty lookingweapon to its scabbard. 

"Kris kill people all same, no poison, " said the Kling, taking back hisdagger. "'Tick kris through man, no want no poison, sahib. "

"He's about right there, middy, " said Tom Long. "Here, let's look atsome fruit. "

This brought Bob Roberts back to the object of his mission; andrealising at once that Tom Long's object was a present, he, by what heconsidered to be a lucky inspiration, turned his attention to theflowers that were in the boat. 

For the Malays are a flower-loving people, and there is nothing the darkbeauties of this race like better than decking their jetty-black hairwith white and yellow sweet-scented blossoms. 

Bob was not long in securing a large bunch of arums, all soft and white, with the great yellow seed vessel within. To this he added a greatbunch of delicately tinted lotus, and then sat down on the edge of theboat to see what Long would purchase. 

Tom Long was hard to please; now he would decide on a bunch of deliciousgolden plantains, and then set them aside in favour of some custardapples. Then he wondered whether the ladies would not prefer somemangoes; but recollecting that they had had plenty of mangoes, and thedelicious mangosteen in India, he decided upon some limes and a coupleof cocoanuts, when the Kling exclaimed, "Why not sahib buy durian?"

"What the dickens is durian?" said Tom. 

"Durian best nice fruit that grow, sahib. "

"Oh, is it?" said Tom. "Then let's have a look. "

The Kling said something to the Malay, who stooped down, and solemnlyproduced what looked like a great spiney nut, about as large as a boy'shead. 

"That durian, sahib, " said the Kling, smiling. 

"Oh, that's durian, is it?" said Tom, taking the great fruit in hishands, and turning it over and over. 

"Nice-looking offering for a lady, " said Bob Roberts, laughing. TomLong looked up sharply, and was about to speak; but he said nothing, only kept turning the great fruit over and over. 

"Taste nice, most nice all fruit, sahib, " said the Kling. 

"Here, let's try one, " said Bob, laying down his flowers; and the Klingsigned to his companion to give him another, which the Malay did withsolemn importance, not a smile appearing on his face, nor a looksuggestive of his being anxious to sell the fruit in the boat. 

The Kling took the great wooden fruit, laid it on the thwart of theboat, and reaching a heavy knife from the side, he inserted it at thehead of a faint line, one of five to be seen running down the woodenshell of the fruit, and following this mark, he was able to open thecurious production, and divide it into portions like an orange. In eachof these quarters, or fifths, were two or three great seeds, as large aschestnuts, and these were set in a quantity of thick buttery cream orcustard. 

"Well, all I can say is that it's precious rum-looking stuff, " said Bob. "Which do you eat, the kernels, or this custardy stuff?"

"No eat seeds, sahib; eat other part, " said the Kling. 

"Come along, soldier, " said Bob; "I'll eat one bit, if you will?"

Tom Long looked too much disgusted to speak, but in a half-offendedmanner he picked up another quarter of the durian, and examined itattentively. 

"Phew!" ejaculated Bob, looking round. "What a horrible smell. Theremust be something floating down the river. "

They both glanced at the flowing silvery waters of the river, butnothing was in sight. 

"It's getting worse, " said Tom Long. "Why, it's perfectly dreadful!"

"It's this precious fruit, " exclaimed Bob suddenly; and raising hisportion to his nose, "Murder!" he cried; "how horrid!" and he pitchedhis piece overboard. 

"Why, it's a bad one, " said Tom Long, sharply: and he followed themiddy's suit. 

The Kling raised his hands in dismay; but leaning over the side, hesecured the two pieces of durian before they were out of reach, andturned to his customers. 

"Good durian--buteful durian, " he exclaimed. "Alway smell so fashion. "

"What!" cried Bob, "do you mean to tell me that stuff's fit to eat?"

The Kling took up the fruit; and smelt it with his eyes half-closed, andthen drawing in a long breath, he sighed gently, as if with regret thathe might not indulge in such delicacies. 

"Bess durian, " he said, in an exaggerated ecstatic manner. "Quite bessripe. "

Bob stooped down and retook a portion of the strange fruit, smelt itcautiously, and then, taking out a knife, prepared to taste it. 

"You are never going to eat any of that disgusting thing, are you, sailor?" cried Tom Long. 

"I'm going to try it, soldier, " said Bob coolly. "Come and have ataste, lad. "

In the most matter-of-fact way, though quite out of bravado on accountof Tom Long's disgusted looks, Bob took a long sniff at the durian. 

"Well, it is a little high, " he said, quietly. "Not unlike badbrick-kiln burning, with a dash of turpentine. "

"Carrion, you mean, " said Tom Long. 

"No, not carrion, " said Bob, picking out a good-sized fragment of thefruit upon his knife; "it's what the captain calls _sui generis_. "

"All burra sahib like durian, " said the Kling, showing his white teeth. 

"Then the burra sahibs have got precious bad taste, " said Tom Long, justas Bob put the first piece of the fruit into his mouth, rolled his eyes, and looked as if he were about to eject it into the stream, but did not;gave it a twist round, tasted it; looked less serious; began tomasticate; and swallowing the piece, proceeded to take a little more. 

"There, it won't do, Bob Roberts, " said Tom Long; "say it's horrible, like a man. You can't deceive me. What does it taste like?"

"Don't know yet, " said Bob trying the second piece. 

"What a jackass you are to torture yourself like that, to try and takeme in, middy!"

Bob helped himself to a little more. 

"Well, what does it taste like?"

"Custard, " said Bob, working away hard, and speaking between every digof his knife; "candles, cream cheese, onion sauce, tipsy cake, badbutter, almonds, sherry and bitters, banana, old shoes, turpentine, honey, peach and beeswax. Here, I say; give us a bit more, old cock. "

Tom Long was astounded, for after finishing the first piece of theevil-smelling dainty, Bob had begun the second, and was toiling at itwith a patient industry that showed thorough appreciation of the mostpeculiar fruit in the world. 

"Tipsy cake, bad butter, old shoes, peach and beeswax, " and the otherincongruities, rang in Long's ear; and to prove that he was notdeceiving him, there was Bob eating away as if his soul were in theendeavour to prove how much he could dispose of at one go. 

It was too much for Tom Long; his curiosity was roused to the highestpoint, and as the Kling was smilingly watching Bob, Tom signed to theMalay to give him a piece. 

The solemn-looking Asiatic picked up another fruit, and while Tom lookedimpatiently on, it was opened, and a piece handed to him, which he took, and with Bob's example before his eyes took a greedy bite--uttered a cryof disgust--and flung the piece in hand at the giver. 

The Malayan character has been aptly described as volcanic. The pent-upfire of his nature slumbers long sometimes, beneath his calm, imperturbable, dignified exterior; but the fire lies smouldering within, and upon occasions it bursts out, carrying destruction before it. 

In this case Tom Long's folly--worse, his insult to the master of thesampan--roused the fiery Malay on the instant to fury, as he realisedthe fact that the youth he looked upon as an infidel and an intruder haddared to offer to him, a son of the faithful, such an offence; then witha cry of rage, he sprang at the ensign, bore him backwards to the bottomof the boat; and as the midshipman started up, it was to see the Malay'sdeadly, flame-shaped kris waving in the air. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

HOW DICK RELATED THE VISIT. 

With a cry of horror Bob Roberts leaped forward, and caught the Malay'swrist in time to avert the blow, the Kling starting forward the nextinstant, and helping to hold the infuriate Asiatic; while Tom Longstruggled up and leaped ashore, where a knot of soldiers and sailorswere gathering. 

"Don't say anything, Tom, " cried Bob. "Here you--tell him he did notmean to offend him, " he continued to the Kling, who repeated the words;and the Malay, who had been ready to turn on the midshipman, seemed tocalm down and sheathed his kris; while the Kling spoke to him again withthe result that the offended man sat himself down in the boat, gazingvindictively at the young ensign ashore. 

"Here, no more durian to-day, thank you, " said Bob, handing the Kling adollar. "And look here, you sir; don't let that fellow get whipping outhis kris on any of our men, or he'll be hung to the yard-arm as sure ashe's alive. "

"He much angry, sahib, " said the Kling, whose swarthy visage had turnedof a dirty clay colour. "Soldier sahib hurt him much. "

"Yes, but if we hadn't stopped him he'd have hurt my friend much more. "

As he spoke Bob nodded shortly to the Kling, and leaped ashore. "Sahibnot take his flowers, " said the latter, and dipping them in the river, and giving them a shake, he left the boat and handed the beautifulblossoms to the young sailor, who directly after joined Tom Long, wholooked, in spite of his sunburnt visage, rather "white about the gills, "to use Bob's expression. 

"That fellow ought to be shot. I shall report this case, " cried theensign angrily. 

"I don't think I should, " said Bob quietly. "You see you did upset thepoor fellow, and they are an awfully touchy lot. "

"It was all your fault for playing me that confounded trick, " cried TomLong, passionately. 

"Trick? I played no trick, " said Bob, indignant to a degree at theaccusation. 

"You did, " cried Tom Long, "humbugging me into eating that filthyfruit. "

"Why, it was delicious, " cried Bob. "I should have gone on and finishedmine if you hadn't made that upset. "

"I don't care; it was a nasty practical joke, " cried Tom Long, "and--Ibeg your pardon, Roberts, " he said, suddenly changing his tone, andholding out his hand. "I believe you saved my life. "

"Oh, nonsense!" said Bob. "He only meant to prick you with his kris. "

"Heaven defend me from all such pricks!" said Tom Long, devoutly, as heheld the middy's hand in his. "I say, Bob Roberts, I wish you and Icould agree better. "

"So do I, " said Bob, giving the hand he held a hearty shake; "But wenever shall. I always feel as if I wanted to quarrel with you, as soonas we meet. "

"So do I, " said Tom Long. "You are such an aggravating little beggar. "

"It is my nature to, " said Bob, laughing. "But you won't say anythingabout this affair, shall you? It will be a lesson how to deal with thenatives. "

"If you think I had better not, I won't, " said Tom Long, thoughtfully. Then, with a shudder, "I say, I felt just as if I was going to have thathorrid kris in me. I shall never forget this, Bob Roberts. "

"Oh, stuff and nonsense! Here, I say, have one of these bunches offlowers, old fellow. "

"No, no; I don't want them, " said the ensign, colouring up. 

"Yes, yes; take one. Quick, here are the ladies. I'm going to give mylotuses to Miss Sinclair, " he said quietly. And as Tom Long's fingersclosed upon the arums, the ladies, who were walking with the residentcame close up. 

"Ah, Mr Long, " said the latter, "what a lovely bunch of arums!"

"Yes sir, " said Tom, looking very red in the face; "they're for the messtable. "

"Your lotuses are lovely, Mr Midshipman Roberts, " said Miss Linton, smilingly greeting the frank-faced lad. 

"Aren't they, Miss Linton?" said Bob. "I'm just going to send themaboard to the first luff; he's rather poorly. "

They parted; and it was quite true, for after looking rathershame-facedly the one at the other, the ensign bore off his arums to themess-room, and the lotuses were sent on board the "Startler" by the verynext boat. 

There was nothing more said respecting the adventure with the Malayboatman; but the two youths, who were a good deal puzzled in their ownminds, as to whether they were friends or enemies, exchanged glances aday or two later, when stringent orders were issued respecting thebehaviour of the Englishmen to the natives. The men of both serviceswere warned to be very careful, especially as it was the custom for theMalays to carry the deadly kris. The character of the people too wasenlarged upon, their pride and self-esteem; and strict orders weregiven, to be followed by severe punishment if disobeyed, that the peopleand their belongings were to be treated with the greatest respect. 

Every one was as busy as could be, for there was an immense amount oflabour necessary to get the place into a state satisfactory to thevarious officers. Great preparations were being made too for the firstmeeting with Sultan Hamet, though it was a matter of doubt whether hewould come to the residency in state, or expect the English to call uponhim in his palm-thatched palace. 

"He's a rum sort of a chap, " Dick the sailor said, freely giving hisopinion. "Sultan, indeed! What call have they to say he's a sultan?Why, Sergeant Lund, Billy Mustard, and that sick chap Sim, who wentashore with despatches, come back last night, and they say it's no morea palace as he lives in than a pig-sty. It's for all the world like abig bamboo barn, thatched with leaves. "

"What's that?" said Bob Roberts, coming up, with the young ensign, towhere two or three of the sailors were, under the trees, talking to agroup of soldiers. 

"I was a telling of 'em about what Sergeant Lund told me, sir, " saidDick, pulling his forelock, "that this here sultan as we've come here toprotect lives in a place as is just like a big bamboo barn standing onstilts. And Lor' ha' mercy, they say it was a sight: with leaves, andcabbage stumps, and potato parings chucked about under the place!"

"Now come, Dick, " cried the middy; "no yarns, please. "

"Well sir, of course I don't mean real English cabbage stumps and potatoparings, same as we has at home, but what answers for 'em here, andcoky-nut huxes and shells, and banana rinds, and a nasty bad smellingkind o' fruit as they calls doorings. "

Bob gave the ensign a comical look. 

"Why Billy Mustard says--and this here's a fack--as the smell o' themdoorings. "

"Durians, Dick. "

"All right, sir, " said the old sailor; "that don't make 'em smell a bitbetter--the smell o' them things knocked him slap off his feet. "

The men laughed, and old Dick went on--

"Everything about the place was as ontidy as a bilge hole; and when ourambassadors--"

"Our what?" said Bob. 

"Well, them as carried the despatches, sir--got close up, they was toldto wait because the sultan was asleep. When seeing as a reg'lar partyof the Malays, every man with his bit of a toasting fork by his side, come round to stare at 'em, Sergeant Lund he says to himself, `Lor'!what a pity it is as I haven't got Private Tomkins, or Private Binns, ortwo or three more nice smart, handsome chaps o' that kind with me, instead of such a scuffy couple o' fellows as Sim and Mustard. '"

Here, of course, there was a roar of laughter, for Privates Tomkins andBinns were amongst the listeners. 

"Come away, " said Tom Long, frowning. "I don't like mixing with ourmen. "

"No, no: stop, " cried Bob. "They won't think any the less of us; we'reoff duty now. "

Tom Long wanted to hear what was said, so he remained. 

"And one of our nice hansum young orficers, " continued Dick, in the mostsolemn way, "and a middy and some smart Jacks. "

"And Dick Dunnage, " said one of the soldiers. 

"Well, he did mention me, but I was too modest to say so. "

Here there was another laugh. 

"`How so be, '" continued Dick, "he sez; `must make the best o' whatmaterial we got, ' so he pulls his men together, squares their yards, andcoils down all their ropes tidy, tightens the breechings o' their guns, and lets the poor benighted savages of niggers have their fill o'staring at real British sodgers. Then they turned civil, and brought'em out drinks, and fruit, and pipes; and they was very comfortable, till some one come out and said as the sultan was awake, and wanted hiscocks, so the chap as went as interpreter told them; and then there wasa bustle, and some three or four chaps went and fetched somefighting-cocks, and took 'em inside the barn--I mean the palace; and ourfellows was kept waiting till the sergeant hears a reg'larcock-a-doodle-doo, just for all the world as if he was at home, and heknow'd by that as one of the birds had won. Just about a minute aftersome one come and beckoned him, and he goes up the steps into thepalace, as had bamboo floors, and carpets lying about; and there was thesultan up at one end, sitting on carpet, and all his wives and peopleabout him. "

"How many wives had he got, Dick?" said the midshipman. 

"About a dozen, sir. But I'll just tell you how many he'd have had ifmy missus had been one on 'em. "

"How many, Dick?"

"Just one, sir; she'd clear out all the others in a brace o' shakes. She wouldn't stand none o' that nonsense. Why, bless yer 'art, therewas one had got a golden pestle and mortar--"

"Gently, Dick! gently!" said the midshipman. 

"It's a fack, sir, and as sure as I stand here; and she was a bruisingup betel-nuts for him to chew, and another was mixing up lime, andanother spreading leaves, whilst--there, I dursn't hardly tell you thishere, because you won't believe it. "

"Let it off gently, Dick, " said the middy, "and we'll try and bear it. "

"Well, sir, hang me if one of his wives--the oldest and ugliest of 'em--wasn't sitting there holden a golden spittoon ready for him to usewhenever he wanted. "

There was another roar of laughter, and Dick exclaimed, --

"There, you ask Sergeant Lund if every word a'most I've said ain't quitetrue, "--which, with the exception of Dick's embellishment about thehandsome sailors and soldiers, proved to be the case. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

TOM LONG'S WOUND. 

Doctor Bolter had been very proud of the cure he had effected in thecase of Adam Gray, whom, from that day forward, he looked upon in quitea different light, obtaining his services as often as possible incarrying out what he called his measures for preserving the camp inhealth, and he was constantly sending Gray on missions to the major. But the doctor and his plans were set aside one morning, when there wasan order for a general parade; and it was evident that there wassomething important on the way, for a good deal of bustle was visible onthe deck of the steamer. 

The news soon leaked out that the resident and officers were to make astate visit, full of ceremony, to the sultan; and in consequence therewas a general turn out, in full review order, with the band. Thesailors landed, and were drawn up on the shore, looking smart in theirwhite, easy-fitting dress; and the steamer's cutters were soon afterbusy, landing the greater portion of the troops with their officers, infull uniform; while quite a crowd of Malays assembled on the beach, staring, some in wonderment, some manifestly in dislike, at thestrangers. 

The grand muster took place beneath the shade of some large trees, asfar as was possible, for the heat was intense. Every one was in hisbest; and Ensign Long marched by Bob Roberts with a very bright swordbeneath his arm, and putting on a pair of white kid gloves. 

The middy tried to take matters coolly; but the thoroughly consequentialair of his companion roused his ire, and he longed to do something toupset him. 

That was, however, impossible, for the arrangements were complete; andthe march inland, about a couple of miles, commenced with the Malays nowdrawing off into the woods, till--what looked rather ominous--the littleforce was left entirely alone. 

The officers commented upon the fact, and felt a little suspicious, buttheir doubts were set aside by the appearance of a little party, ofevidently some importance, for two, who seemed to be chiefs, weremounted upon small elephants, and these, by the voice of one of theparty--a handsome, dark youth, in brilliant silk sarong and baju--announced themselves as coming from the sultan to act as guides. 

This changed the state of affairs, and the idea that there might betreachery afoot was completely dismissed from the minds of all, savewhen, now and then, the gleam of a spear head was seen amidst the treesin the jungle; and Major Sandars pointed out how easily they might beled into an ambush. 

Captain Horton was by his side, and that officer agreed that it would beeasy; but, at the same time, gave it as his opinion that the best policythey could affect was an appearance of full confidence in the Malaypotentate, while they kept strictly on their guard. 

Farther back in the line of troops Private Gray was marching along, feeling anything but easy in his mind; for as he glanced now and then tohis left, he kept making out the gleam of steel, or the white garmentsof some Malay amidst the trees; and at last, just as Captain Smitherswas abreast, he pointed out to him the fact. 

The captain felt disposed to resent it as a breach of discipline; butthe young man's manner was so earnest, that he nodded, and watchfullyturned his head in the same direction. 

"What do you think then, Gray?" said the captain. "They are only peopletaking an interest in what is, to them, a great sight. "

"I'm suspicious, sir, by nature, " said Gray, "and I can't help feelingthat we are living on the edge of a volcano. "

"Do you always make use of such fine language, Gray?" said CaptainSmithers with a sneer. 

"I beg your pardon, sir, " was the reply; "I was trying to speakrespectfully to my officer, " replied Gray. 

Captain Smithers frowned, and felt annoyed with himself for hismeanness. 

"Yes, yes, of course, Gray, " he said, hastily; "but there is nothing tofear. "

"Nothing to fear!" thought Private Gray; "and we are trusting ourselvesentirely to these people, who are known to be treacherous; and theladies and the women of the regiment are all on that island, protectedby only a weak force!"

Strangely enough, Captain Smithers had very similar thoughts to these asthey rambled on, in tolerable coolness now, for they were beneath thetrees. 

They both thought afterwards that their fears were needless; andfollowing the guides, they soon after were formed up in front of thesultan's house and those of his principal men, all of which, thoughcertainly somewhat better than the sergeant's account to Dick Dunnage, would have led any one to expect, were of an extremely simple and lowlycharacter. 

Here the officers waited for their audience of the great man, Mr Lintonbeing particularly anxious to make arrangements for carrying out thepolitical business, upon which he was engaged; but after waiting half anhour, one of the principal chiefs came out to announce that the sultanwas too unwell to receive them. 

The English officers flushed up, and looked upon the message as aninsult, and for the moment there seemed a disposition to resent it; butthe wise counsels of Mr Linton prevailed, and the order was given tomarch back. 

Just then the young chief who had acted as interpreter before, and whospoke very good English, approached the place where Bob Roberts and theensign were standing. 

"I am very sorry, " he said; "I meant to ask you to refreshments. Willyou take cigars?"

They had only time to thank the young chief for his courtesy and taketheir places, as the march back was commenced--this time without guides, for none came forward, which was looked upon as so ominous a sign thatextra care was taken, the men marching with loaded arms. 

The precautions were not unnecessary; for they had hardly effected halftheir march, when there was the loud beating of a gong heard upon theirright, followed by the same deafening din on the left. 

The men were steadied in the ranks, and every one was on the alert; butstill there came nothing more to cause alarm till they had arrivedwithin half a mile of their landing-place, when, as they were passingthrough a more open portion of the track, there was a shout, and ashower of limbings came whizzing past them. Again a shout, this time ontheir left, and another shower of the keenly-pointed spears whizzed by. 

There was a short, sharp command or two as the soldiers faced outwards, and every other man fired, sending a ringing volley crashing through theforest. 

There was another din, made by the beating of gongs, and a few morespears were thrown, one of which struck Ensign Long; and these werereplied to by another sharp volley, which crashed through the trees, making the twigs and leaves rattle as they pattered down. Then therewas a dead silence, as the troops waited for fresh orders. 

Bob Roberts, who was close by the ensign, turned pale as ashes as he sawthe ensign stagger back, to stand literally pinned to a tree, in whichthe blade of the limbing had buried itself. All feeling of jealousy hadpassed away, and, catching Long by the hand, he gazed earnestly in hisface. 

"Are you much hurt, old fellow?" he cried hoarsely, as he realised thefact that the keen spear had passed diagonally through the youth'sbreast before it buried itself in the soft endogenous tree. 

"I don't know yet, " said Tom Long quietly; "but the brutes have ruinedmy best tunic. "

"Hang your tunic!" cried Bob, excitedly. "Here, fetch the doctor. No;help here to get Mr Long to the residency. Bring up a dhooly. "

"I suppose I shall feel it when they draw out the spear, " said Tom Longcalmly. 

"Do you feel faint?" cried the middy. "Here, who has a little rack?"

"Here's some water, sir, in my canteen, " said Sergeant Lund. "Forward!"rang out from behind just then; and then the voice of Captain Smithersmade itself heard, --

"Who's that down?"

"Ensign Long, sir, " some one said. 

"Poor lad! poor lad!" cried the captain. "Ah, Long, my dear boy, how isit with you? Good heavens! Quick, my lads; bring up a dhooly. "

"Hadn't we better get the spear out, sir?" said Bob Roberts, anxiously. 

"Yes, out of the tree, of course, " said the captain; "but mind--steady!Here, let me. I won't hurt you more than I can help, " he continued, ashe drew the spear out of the palm, and then hesitated as to how theywere to manage to carry the injured man, with the lengthy shaft passingthrough his chest. 

Tom Long solved the question himself by taking hold of the spear handlewith both hands and giving it a tug, while every one present gazed athim with horror, expecting to see the terrible stains that must follow. 

Bob Roberts dragged out his handkerchief and rapidly doubled it, readyto form a pad to staunch the bleeding--rushing forward to clap it to thewound, as the ensign tore the spear from his breast. 

"Open his tunic first, " cried Captain Smithers; and he bore Tom Longback on to the ground, tearing open his scarlet uniform, while theinjured object of his attentions began to work his left arm about. 

"I say, gently, " he said. "I don't think I'm much hurt. "

"You don't feel it yet, " cried Bob Roberts. 

"Look out there!" cried a voice in authority somewhere behind; and thena couple of men ran up with a light hospital litter for wounded or sickmen. 

"It went--it went--" said Tom Long, slowly. 

"Why, confound you, Long, " said Captain Smithers; "you've not beenscratched. "

"No; I do not think I am, " said the ensign, getting up, feeling himselfcarefully about the chest. "It went through my tunic and under my leftarm. "

"Why, you've got about six inches of padding in your coat, " said BobRoberts, whose hands were busy about the young man's breast. 

"Yes, " said Tom Long; "more or less. "

"Forward!" shouted Captain Smithers; and the march was resumed, with TomLong looking very woeful about the two holes that had been made in hisscarlet tunic, and gradually growing terribly annoyed, as he saw BobRoberts pretending to stifle his laughter; while the men, in spite ofthe danger on either side, tittered and grinned as they kept catchingsight of the young officer's scarlet cloth wounds. 

Major Sandars was equally anxious with the resident to get back to theisland, for a feeling of dread had risen up that the residency mighthave been attacked during their absence. In fact, it seemed now thatthey had been out-generalled; and if their fort, and provisions, andstores should be in the hands of the Malays, their position would beperilous in the extreme. 

As Bob Roberts went on, he found the men eagerly discussing the matter, not from a feeling of fear, but of love of excitement; and, amongothers, Private Sim was saying in a low voice, that if he had only beenwell and strong, nothing would have pleased him better than fighting hisway back through the jungle, "anywheres--to the world's end if theyliked. "

Meanwhile, though it was evident that there was a large body of Malayson their right, the answer they had got to their first attack had keptthem off, and the long line of troops and blue-jackets went onunmolested by their enemies. Every precaution was taken; and in some ofthe denser portions of the jungle they regularly felt their way withadvance guards and flankers, who, poor fellows, had a most tough job toforce their way through the tangled creepers and undergrowth. 

At length, however, the river was reached, and it was evident, to thegreat delight and relief of all, that the island was safe, and thesteamer lay in its old position, unmolested by prahu or attack from theshore. 

Every man breathed more freely on seeing this; and the boats coming off, the whole party were rapidly transferred to steamer and to isle, where acouncil was called, and the situation discussed. 

It was a peculiar position for the little force which had been sent upthe country to help and protect Sultan Hamet, who, in return, --hadrefused to see Her Majesty's representative, and allowed them to beattacked by his people on their way back. 

The question to decide was, whether, after such an insult as they hadreceived, the little force ought not to at once retire from theirposition, though the bolder spirits were in favour of holding it at allcosts, and trying to read the sultan such a lesson as should scare hispeople from venturing to molest the English any more. 

The council was interrupted by an embassy of a couple of chiefs from thesultan himself, who solved the difficulty by announcing that the attackwas not made by their ruler's people, but by a certain rajah, whosecampong, or village, was a few miles up the river. This chief was arespecter of no one, but levied black mail of all who passed down thestream. Every boat laden with slabs of tin or bags of rice had to paytoll for permission to pass on in peace; and if resistance was offered, he had guns mounted upon his stockade, and a couple of well-armedprahus, whose crews liked nothing better than confiscating any boatwhose owner endeavoured to resist the rajah's demands. 

Any doubts as to the truth of this story were set aside by the sultan'searnest request that the English officers should at once proceed up theriver and severely punish this rajah, who was a thorn in Hamet's side. 

With the promise that the matter should have proper consideration, thetwo chiefs took their departure; and the rest of the evening was spentin examining different Malays from the village, all of whom told thesame story, that it was Rajah Gantang who had made the attack, and thathe was a perfect scourge to the people round. 

The next day further investigations were made; and had any doubtremained, it was chased away by the appearance of two long war prahus, pulled by a large number of rowers, and crammed with Malays. 

These vessels were allowed to float gently down with the stream, sternforemost, when, as much out of bravado as anything, several shots werefired from the small brass swivel guns on board, the little ballsrattling through the steep roof of the men's quarters; while before agun could be brought to bear, the oars rapidly plashed the water, andthe two prahus were swept back round a wooded point up stream, well outof sight. 

This was sufficient for the officers in command, who issued such ordersas placed all the men in a state of the most intense excitement, for itwas evident that there was to be an expedition up the river to punishthe audacious chief, who was probably in profound ignorance of thestrength of the power he had braved. 

CHAPTER NINE. 

A NIGHT ATTACK, AND A MISFORTUNE. 

It seems a curious thing to a man of peace that a man of war should bein a state of high delight at the prospect of an engagement wherein hemay lose his life; but the fact is, that when two or three hundred menare bound to attack some enemy, each single individual knows full wellthat somebody will be wounded, perhaps killed, but believes that it willnot be himself. 

So it was then that on board the "Startler" there was no littleexcitement. The grindstone was in full use to sharpen cutlasses, and inaddition there was a great demand made on the armourer for files to giveto the lethal weapons a keener edge, one which was tried over and overagain, as various messmates consulted together as to the probability oftaking off a Malay's head at a blow. 

"What you've got to do, my lads, " said old Dick, "is to keep 'em off. You as has rifles and bagnets always show 'em the pynte; and you asfights with your cutlashes, keep 'em well away off your sword arm; thenyou'll be all right. "

Capital advice if it could be acted upon, and a way of avoiding all kriswounds, but useless against the Malays' other dangerous weapon, thelimbing or lance. 

All the preparations were made over-night, so that long before daybreakthe expedition could be well on the way, the object being to surprisethe stockade and its defenders, and burn the bamboo fortification andthe prahus. 

The force was to consist of fifty soldiers, twenty-five marines, andfifty blue-jackets, who were to embark in the steamer's boats, two ofwhich were provided with small breech-loading pieces running on slides, and under the charge of the sailors. 

Water, provisions, plenty of spare ammunition, all were handed down, andtwo hours after midnight, the boats that were to convey the soldiersranged up alongside the landing-place, and in due time the embarkationtook place, the soldiers being under the command of Captain Smithers, the sailors under that of the first lieutenant of the "Startler. "

A guide had been found in the person of a native fisherman, who, uponcoming to the island the day before, had been detained, so that heshould not communicate with the shore, and so give warning of theexpedition. Not that there was any fear, for the Malay was in a highstate of delight at the idea of the rajah meeting his match. 

From this man they learned that for many years past Rajah Gangtang hadbeen a perfect scourge to the river. He was famous for his piracies andhis daring. Sultan Hamet dreaded him; and it was only to strengthen hisposition against the warlike rajah, who was too strong for him, thatHamet had entered into his alliance with the British, and invited thepresence of a resident and the troops. 

This was satisfactory, for the idea of the sultan proving treacherouswas a suggestion of a complicated knot that it would take no end ofpolicy to undo. Whereas, if it was all true about Rajah Gantang, hisdefeat and the breaking up of his power would be hailed with delight, and work greatly towards the pacification of a country terribly brokenup by petty quarrels, strengthen Hamet's position, and give inimicalchiefs a lesson on the power of the British forces that they were notlikely to forget. 

It was soon after two o'clock that the soldiers were mustered down tothe boats, and silently took their places, just as through the mist, andwith muffled oars, three more boats came slowly abreast of them, andafter a brief colloquy moved off, with instructions that there should beno talking on board. 

Fortunately for the expedition, though it was misty it was not so darkbut that the leaders could follow the little light sampan of the Malayfisherman, who, apparently without any difficulty, sent his frail boatonward against the stream. 

It was a weird procession through the mist, which gave the boats afantastic, unreal appearance, while the shores looked, where the fogbroke or floated up, strange, dark, and full of mystery. Every now andthen there was a low echoing splash in the water, which told of somegreat reptile disturbed from its resting-place upon a muddy bank. Thenthose in the boats heard strange cries coming from a distance in thejungle, to be answered by other calls, some farther distant, some nearat hand, telling that the various nocturnal creatures were busy securingfood before the sun should drive them to their hiding-places in thedarkest recesses of the forest. 

"What's that?" whispered Bob Roberts to old Dick, who was beside him inthe foremost boat. 

"Sounds like something swimming, sir. There, you can hear it blowing. "

"Do you think one of the boats has upset, " whispered Bob, excitedly, ashe leaned over the gunwale and tried to pierce the mist. 

"'Taint likely, sir. Wouldn't they shout if they was turned up!Leastwise our chaps would; there's no counting for what soldiers mightdo, though. I shouldn't say as they'd let their selves drown without asqueak. That there's a tiger swimming 'crost the river, that's whatthat is. "

"Get out, " exclaimed the middy; "just as if a great cat would take tothe water. Hist! I say, Doctor Bolter!"

"Yes, " was whispered back from the next boat. 

"Would tigers swim?"

"Yes. There's one trying to cross the river now. "

"What did I tell you, Mr Roberts?" growled old Dick, softly. 

"Here, give me your rifle, marine;" said Bob, excitedly. "I should likea shot at a tiger. "

"Silence in that boat!" said Captain Smithers sharply; and the oars wenton dipping softly, while Bob Roberts sat and listened till the pantingnoise of the swimming creature died away. 

"I wonder whether Ensign Long's in the expedition?" said Bob, after apause. 

"Yes, sir; please I see him, " said one of the sailors. "He got into oneof the boats, wrapped up in a big grey great-coat. "

"I hope he won't get wounded this time, " said Bob. And the men alllaughed; for Ensign Long's wound was a subject that afforded them nolittle amusement. 

Then the procession went on, the boats gliding along in wonderfulsilence. Sometimes a glimpse of the dark foliage told them that theywere a little too near either bank, but on the whole the Malay led thema very correct course along the centre of the stream, which wound hereand there, sometimes contracting its banks, sometimes widening out, butalways running swift, deep, and strongly, downward towards the sea. 

The mist grew thicker, and hung so low down upon the water that at lastthe boats had to proceed very slowly, a rope being paid out from one tothe other, so that there should be no mistake, otherwise it was quitewithin the range of possibility that one or the other would go astray, and be wanting at some critical time. A similar plan was carried outwith the sampan, during the latter part of the journey, for it was ofteninvisible; and so at last they felt their way onward in silence, tillthe Malay allowed his sampan to drift alongside the bows of the leadingboat, and whispered to the interpreter his conviction that they wereclose up to the stockade. 

"Might be anywhere, " muttered the midshipman. 

"Yes, sir, it's a thick 'un, " growled old Dick; "and if I was in commando' this here expedition, I should give orders for all the Jacks to outcutlashes and cut the fog in pieces, while the sogers and marines forkedit over with their bay'nets. "

"Silence, there!" came from one of the officers, just as a faint breezebegan to spring up, as if to solve the difficulty; breaking the fog intopatches, and then forcing a way right through, so that it was swept toright and left of the river, passing under the trees. 

The change was almost magical, for at the end of ten minutes the riverwas quite clear, and by the glittering starlight they could see thestockade on their right, while moored in front of it were two largeprahus. 

The boats closed in for the officer in command to give his final ordersfor the attack, and every man's heart beat fast with excitement, as heclutched his weapons. 

They had no knowledge of the enemy's strength; but trusting to a nightsurprise, they felt satisfied of being able to put him to flight; so twoboats were sent to board the prahus, while the three others made for thestockade, one to attack in front, while the others landed on eitherside, to take it in the rear, expecting an easy task, for there was nota sign of life as far as they could see. 

But if the leaders of the expedition counted upon trapping the Malaysasleep, they were mistaken. There is too much of his native tiger inthe Malays' nature for such a march to be stolen upon them; and, just asthe boats separated, and began rapidly to advance, the silence wasbroken by the deafening clangour of a gong, lights appeared suddenly inthe stockade and in both the prahus, and to the astonishment of theattacking force, there was the flashing of muskets, the louder roar ofthe lelahs or small brass guns, and the surface of the river wassplashed up in all directions by the bullets. 

Fortunately the aim was bad, and the boats had separated, so that no onewas injured, as, with a loud cheer, the sailors made their oars bend, the waters lapped and splashed beneath the bows of the boats, andsoldier and marine waited eagerly for the command to fire. 

But this was not given; for Captain Smithers felt that if the task wasto be done, it must be achieved at the point of the bayonet; so, biddinghis men be steady, he waited till the boat he was in crashed amongst thethick reeds and grass growing along the water's edge; and then leapingout, lead his little company through the dense undergrowth, round towhere he expected to find the entrance to the stockade, from which alively fire was now being kept up, while a deep-toned roar told that thelarge gun in the boat attacking the face of the stockade, had begun tospeak. 

The party Ensign Long was with, under one of the lieutenants, had tomake for the other side of the stockade, while the boat in which was BobRoberts, being manned entirely by sailors and marines, had to attack thelargest prahu. 

The men were sanguine and full of spirit, their only regret being thatthey had so far to go before they could reach the sides of the longprahu, which they found now on the move, her anchor having been slipped, so that she was slowly floating down the stream, as she kept up a livelyfire against the boat. 

It seemed long, but not a minute could have elapsed before the boat wasalongside, the bowman driving a Malay head over heels with theboat-hook, and then making fast, while the sailors let theirwell-secured oars swing, seized their rifles, and began to spring up thesides. 

"Up with you, my lads, " roared Bob Roberts, who was armed with a cutlassfar too large for him to handle in comfort. But it was easy enough tosay, "Up with you!" while it was excessively difficult to obey. Manafter man tried to climb the side of the prahu, but only to slip backinto the boat; while those who had better success found it impossible tosurmount the stout bamboo basket-work or matting, with which the sideswere protected from assault. 

Through this, spear after spear was thrust; and after severalineffectual attempts to reach the deck, the sailors and marines began toretaliate by thrusting bayonet and cutlass through in return. A fewshots were fired, but there was nothing to aim at; though the Malayswere not of that opinion, for they kept loading and firing the twolelahs on board, making a great deal of noise, but necessarily doing nomischief. 

"Back into the boat, my lads, " cried the lieutenant in command, as theyfloated down with the prahu, which evidently swarmed with men; "we'lltry round the other side. "

"Let me board them first, Mr Johnson, " cried Bob excitedly. 

"No, no, my lad, " was the reply. "What the men cannot do, you cannot. "

In the excitement of the men firing and making a fresh effort, as theboat was worked round the stem of the prahu, the lieutenant lost sightof Bob Roberts, who, after feeling terribly alarmed for the first fewinmates, had become accustomed to the firing and shouting, and thengrown so excited and angry that he felt as if he could not stay in hisplace. Getting hold of a rifle, laid down by one of the men who triedto board the prahu, he had given vent to some of his excitement byloading and firing as fast as he could, sending bullet after bulletwhistling through the tough screen, but doing no mischief to a soul; andstill the prahu floated steadily down the stream, getting farther andfarther away from where the firing was on the increase; the boats' gunssending an echoing report to roll along the surface of the water, andgiving ample notice to those at the residency, that the business wasgoing on. 

As the boat Bob Roberts was in reached the other side of the prahu, theMalays, uttering loud yells, rushed over, and once more there was adesultory attack kept up and repelled; for do all they could, not asailor was able to surmount the tall screen. 

Several wounds had been received from the limbings, and the men believedthat they had pretty well retaliated with the bayonet, but they couldsee nothing; and checked as they had been, again and again, they weregrowing disheartened, and thinking what else they could do, when a loudyelling from the prahu, and the reports of several muskets, told ofsomething fresh. 

"Where's Mr Roberts?" said the lieutenant, suddenly. 

"Here he is, sir, " replied old Dick; and in the same breath, "No heain't, sir. He was here just now. "

"Look out, my lads! Seize those sweeps, " said the lieutenant, asseveral long oars were now thrust out beneath the bamboo screen, and theMalays stabbed at the boat with them, trying to drive a hole through herbottom. 

Several of the sailors seized the long oars on the instant, and hung on, while some of their messmates tried to fire through the holes, with theresult that long spears were now thrust through, and desperate stabsmade at the attacking party. 

It was a wretched desultory fight, and the lieutenant was almost at hiswits' end, for his spirit forbade his giving up, and all the time, nomatter how bravely his men tried, they could not get on board the prahu. 

Just then it was observed by the men who held on by the sweeps, that abrass lelah was being thrust through a hole, and brought to bear uponthem, when the result would have been death to several, and the sinkingof the boat, if it was fired. The danger was, however, averted by oldDick, who seized a boat-hook, and hitching it on the prahu's side, gaveso sturdy a haul that he drew the boat some six feet along, and closeralongside. 

He was just in time, for as the boat grated against the prahu there wasa sharp ringing report, and the water was thrown up close astern. 

A sharp volley from the boat replied to this, probably with as goodresults; and then thrusting with spear and bayonet went on in thedarkness. 

"Confound it all, my lads! we must get aboard her somehow, " cried thelieutenant, stamping his foot with rage, as he stood up in the boat. "Here, make ready some of you, and follow me. Dick Dunnage, you keepher fast with the boat-hook. "

As he spoke the lieutenant parried a thrust with his sword, and repliedto it with a shot from his revolver, letting both weapons then hang fromhis wrists by sword-knot and lanyard as, seizing one of the sweeps, hebegan to clamber up, followed by a dozen of the men. There was aconfused roar of shouts, yells, and cheers mingled, as those left in theboat ceased firing, so as not to injure the boarding party, who made adesperate effort now to climb over the bamboo screen, little thinkingthat the missing midshipman had boldly climbed up, a little ahead ofwhere they were, mounted to the great bamboo spar that held up thescreen, and then with a miserably ineffective weapon, to wit, hispocket-knife, set to work as he sat astride it, and sawn away at therattans that held it up. 

It was a brave act, but an unlucky one. He had nearly succeeded ingetting through, and he would have shouted out a warning, but that wouldhave brought upon him the spears of the Malays; so he cut away, and hadbeen so successful that, as the boarding party made their desperatedash, down came the great bamboo with a rush. The screen went outwards, over the sailors, who fell back beneath it into the boat, while BobRoberts felt himself describing a half circle in the air, beforeplunging out of semi-darkness into that which was total, as he wentdown, yards away from the boat, into the cold black water, one thoughtalone filling his mind, and that thought was--crocodiles. 

CHAPTER TEN. 

HOW BOB ROBERTS WAS NOT DROWNED. 

For a few minutes it was a question of whether the boat would be swampedor no, as she lay beneath the great bamboo screen, which completelyparalysed the efforts of the crew. The prahu was still floating withthe stream, and the boat being dragged along in her wake, while, awakingnow to a sense of their assailants' position, the Malays hurriedlythrust out sweeps, and others fired, and hurled their spears, a coupleof dozen of which stuck in the bamboo mat. Dick in the stern, and acouple of the men in the bows, however, began a steady fire at theprahu, loading as rapidly as they could, while the men amidships castoff the awkward canopy, and, half stunned, but panting with rage andexcitement, the lieutenant once more gave his orders. 

"Oars, lads!" he cried, "and give way. We shall have 'em yet. "

"Boat ahoy!" came from out the darkness. 

"Why, that's young Roberts, sir, " cried Dick. "Ahoy-oy-oy. "

"Help here!" came from the stern again. 

"We shall lose the prahu, " cried the lieutenant. 

"But we must have Mr Roberts, sir, " cried old Dick, excitedly. "Givethe word, sir--starn all--and we'll overtake her arterwards. "

"Starn all, my lads, and do your best. "

"Ahoy!" came once more, faintly, out of the darkness. 

"We're going away from him, " cried the lieutenant. "Pull round, mylads, " he cried, seizing the tiller. "Now then, steady. Be smart therewith a boat-hook. Roberts, ahoy!"

"Help, help, " came again, from somewhere astern now, for the poor fellowwas growing weak. 

For as he had plunged down, with the thought of the great reptilesuppermost in his mind, Bob Roberts had felt a chill of horror runthrough him that seemed for the moment to rob him of all power; but ashe rose to the surface again, and felt that he could breathe, he struckout manfully in the direction of the firing; but in his confusion, afterswimming for a minute, he found from the noise behind that he was makingfor the stockade, and he turned hastily to swim after the boat. 

It was no light task, dressed as he was. He had a sword in his belt, and on the other side a revolver, and his first thought was to ridhimself of them; but a strange feeling of dislike to parting with hisweapons made him put off the act of throwing them away until he shouldfeel that he was sinking; so, guided by the flashes of the pieces thatwere being fired, he swam lustily in the direction in which he felt theboat must be. 

He called for help several times, but his voice was not heard by thoseto whom he appealed; and as he felt himself being left behind, a coldchill of horror once more seized upon him, making his limbs seem heavyas lead, and paralysing his efforts in a way that was terriblysuggestive of death. 

Thoughts of the great slimy monsters being at hand to seize upon him, sent his blood rushing to his face in a way that made him giddy, and fora few moments he felt half mad with fear; but calling upon his manhood, he mastered the nervous trepidation. 

"'Taint English--'taint game, " he cried aloud, with the water at hislip; and checking the frantic desire to beat the surface with his handsin the natural last effort of a drowning creature, he swam steadily on, hailing the boat at intervals, but more and more feebly, as his despairincreased; for he felt that he was only a lad, and that his life was amere nothing compared to a successful capture of the prahu. 

"They have gone after her, " he groaned, as he uttered a despairing hail. And then the bright light of hope seemed to cross the darkness, for heheard a shout in reply, and then other answering hails to his cry forhelp, and he knew now that it was only a question of holding out tillthe boat could reach his side. 

Shouts came again and again out of the darkness, and he answered--eachtime more feebly, for his strength was ebbing fast. He could see thestars flashing in the water, and he fancied he could hear the splash ofoars, and the sounds of voices; then, too, he heard the crackle ofdistant musketry, and the roar of one of the boat-guns. Then, as if hewere in a dream, he could hear some one close at hand hailing him--buthe could not answer now, only swim feebly on, with his clothes, and theweapons, and cartridges in his pouch, dragging him down. 

Then the stars above, and the stars on the water, seemed to be blottedout, and he was in utter darkness--strangling, but swimming still, beneath the stream. Then he seemed to see the stars again in a dim way, and he heard a shout; but he could not reply, for all was dark oncemore; and lastly, in a dim misty state he felt a spasm, and a sensationof being dragged beneath the water, and he thought that one of thereptiles of the river had seized him; and then he knew that he was lyingin the bottom of the boat, and someone was pouring brandy between hislips. 

"I just ketched the glint of his white face under the water, " said avoice which seemed to be Dick's, "and ketched hold of his jacket. Itwas a near touch, and no mistake. "

"Give way, my lads, give way!" was the next thing Bob Roberts heard; andas if in a dream he made out that they were rowing fast in chase of theprahu, which, with all her sweeps out on either side, was going rapidlythrough the water, her object being to get down to the tidal way at thelower part of the river, where there were mangrove-fringed creeks andinlets by the hundred, offering her a secure hiding-place from herindefatigable assailant. 

"We shan't never ketch her, sir, " growled Dick. 

"No, " replied the lieutenant, sharply, "but we'll hang on to her to thelast. How far are we now from the steamer?"

"Not two miles, I should think, sir. "

"Make ready then, marines, " he cried, "and fire after her; hit her, ifyou can. Two fire at a time--mind, slowly and steadily. They will hearit on board, and be on the look-out, and if they don't sink her as shegoes by them, why, it's a wonder. "

Almost directly after there was the report of a couple of rifles, andthen two more at half-minute intervals, while right on ahead, in thedarkness, they could hear the heavy beat of the prahu's sweeps, and knewthat she was going more rapidly than they. 

"How are you now, Roberts?" said the lieutenant, kindly. 

"Coming round, Mr Johnson, " said Bob. "Thank-ye for picking me up. "

"Keep your thanks for to-morrow, Roberts, " said the lieutenant, bitterly. "How vexatious to make such a mess of the affair?"

"There's another one a-coming, sir, " said Dick, softly. "You can hearthe oars beating right behind us, sir. "

The lieutenant listened. 

"There must be a great curve in the river here, " he said, "one that wedid not notice in the fog. "

"Then it's a precious big curve, sir, that's all I can say, " exclaimedold Dick; "for if that ain't t'other prahu coming down, with all sweepsout, I'm a Dutchman. "

"They never can have failed the same as we have, " exclaimed thelieutenant, listening. "No--yes--no. You are right, Dick, my man. Cease firing there. Make ready, my lads, and we'll plump every shot wehave into this one as she comes abreast, and then lay the boatalongside, and board her in the confusion. Be ready, my lads, and then, you know, down with your rifles. Cutlasses must do it afterwards. "

A few minutes of intense excitement followed, during which time everyman sat with his finger on the trigger, listening to the regular beat ofthe prahu's long oars as she came sweeping down at a rapid rate, evidently bent upon making her escape, like her consort, out to sea. 

"If we only had a bow gun, " muttered the lieutenant. "No you be still, Roberts, " he continued; "you are weak and done up. "

"I think I could manage a rifle now, Mr Johnson, " said the lad, withhis teeth chattering from cold. 

"I don't, " was the abrupt reply. "Now, my lads, not a sound; we have adisgrace to wipe out, and this prahu must be ours. "

By this time the long swift boat was rapidly approaching, quiteinvisible to the little party of English, but audible enough; and theywaited eagerly till it seemed as if she was bearing down upon them, when, with a short, sharp warning first to be ready, the lieutenant gavethe word _Fire_! when about fifteen rifles went off almost like one, their flashes lighting up the darkness for an instant, and displayingclose upon them the long dark prahu, with a long bank of oars, comingdown fast. 

"Oars! Give way!" shouted the lieutenant; and almost as he spoke, theprahu changed her course so rapidly that there was but little rowingneeded, for instead of avoiding them, the vessel came right at theEnglish boat, trying to run her down, being so nearly successful thatshe ripped her down to the water's edge just by the bows. There was acrash of breaking oars; but the Malay boat dashed rapidly away, leavingthe English helpless and sinking on the river. 

"Catch this boat cloak, " cried the lieutenant who was ready enough inthe emergency. "Stuff it in, and one of you sit back against it. "

"It'll take two on us, sir, " cried the man, who rapidly obeyed orders, and to some extent checked the rush of water. 

"Two of you begin baling, " cried the lieutenant next; and then, as hesaw that all their efforts would only just keep them afloat, "There, mylads, " he said, "we've done our best. One more volley and then I thinkwe had better run her ashore. "

Another volley was fired, to give warning to the steamer that there wassomething extraordinary on the way, and then the boat's head was turnedto the shore; but as they found that by constant baling they could justkeep afloat, the lieutenant altered their direction, and they rowed on, with the gunwale nearly level with the water's edge, and proceeding veryslowly, but ever carried by the stream nearer to the steamer and theisle. 

"A nice night's work, Roberts, " said the lieutenant dolefully, as theysat deep in the water that washed from side to side; "lost both prahus, and got the boat crippled. "

"But we haven't lost any men, sir, " said Bob, by way of comforting him. 

"No; but several of the poor lads are wounded. There's only one thingthat would give me any comfort for my ill-luck, Roberts, and that is tohear--"

"There's the `Startler' a-talking to one, sir, " cried Dick, forgettingdiscipline in his excitement, as the boom of a big gun not very far-offmet their ears. "There she goes again, sir, " he continued, as there wasanother shot, and another, and another, all showing that the captain hadheard the firing and been prepared. 

A couple more shots were heard, and then all was silent till the boatslowly drifted by the lights of the island, answering the sentries'challenges, and then sighting the lights and open portholes of thesteamer, to whose side they managed to struggle, answering thechallenges as they approached. 

In spite of all their efforts, it was doubtful whether the boat couldhave floated another minute, but on reaching the side the falls werehooked on, and she was slowly run up to the davits, with the waterrushing out, the lieutenant then reporting his ill-success to thecaptain. 

"Not one man killed, though, " he said. 

"How many wounded?"

"Six, sir, but only slightly. "

"Mr Johnson, I hope the other boats have done better, " said thecaptain. "I'm afraid you will not get any promotion on the strength ofthis job. "

"No, sir, " said the lieutenant dolefully. "But did you sink either ofthe prahus?"

"Sink them, no, " said the captain, testily. "I don't believe they wereeither of them touched; they went by us like the wind. There, go belowall of you, and get into dry clothes. " The captain went forward to seethat the look-out was doing its best; while the prahus were safelymaking their way to a mud creek, where the chiefs who commanded themfelt that they could laugh at any force the English might send to redeemthe failure of the past night; and to work such mischief in the futureas was little imagined at the time. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

HOW BOB ROBERTS HAD A LESSON ON COMMON SENSE. 

The sun rose over the dense forest, turning the river mists into gauzyveils, that floated rapidly away, leaving the rapid stream sparkling inthe soft morning breeze. The brightly-coloured parroquets flewshrieking from bank to bank; and in the thick jungle, across from theend of the island, the noisy chattering of a party of monkeys could beheard. 

But bright as was the scene in all the gorgeous tints of tropic scenery, no one on the isle or in the steamer had a thought for anything but theexpedition. At the residency, Rachel Linton and her cousin had watchedthe starting of the boats in the dim starlight, and they had sat eversince at their window, listening for tidings. The noise of the distantfiring had reached them, making their breath come short as they startedat each volley. Even by the very faintly-heard pattering of the smallarms, broken occasionally by the loud report of boat-gun or lelah, theyknew that quite a sharp fight must be raging. 

Twice over they were visited by the major's wife, for the major couldnot rest, but kept going to the steamer to consult with Captain Horton, as to whether they had done everything possible to ensure success. 

Mrs Major Sandars found the two ladies pale and anxious to a degree;and though she refrained from saying so, she shook her head, tellingherself that this excess of anxiety was due to something more than theabsence of a father and uncle, especially as the resident was not afighting man. 

She sat with them for long at a time, trying to comfort them, as she sawtheir agitation, and then grew as anxious herself, especially when thetide of the little war swept their way, and she heard the volleys bredfrom the boat, as the two prahus came down the stream. 

At last, just as a couple of Malay fishermen had been engaged to helppilot the steamer up the river, where Captain Horton had determined togo in quest of the missing expedition, the sentry at the point of theisland challenged, and the ship's boats were seen coming round a point, the sun gleaming brightly on the barrels of the rifles, while the whitejackets and frocks of the soldiers and sailors gave life to a scene thatwas one series of gloriously tinted greens. 

Glasses were brought to bear, and it was evident that it was no dejectedbeaten party returning, for no sooner did they see that they wereobserved than the men began cheering, their shouts bringing the Malaysflocking down to the river side, where several chiefs were seenembarking in a naga, or dragon-boat, eager, though looking very stolid, to hear the news. 

It was on the whole good, for on the party landing it was to announcethat they had, after a sharp fight, captured the stockade, driving theMalays, who were headed by the Rajah Gantang himself, to take refuge inanother stockade, in a ravine some three miles inland, and then theriver fort was set on fire. 

The officer who had attacked the second prahu had met with similarill-success to Lieutenant Johnson, and upon relating the incidents ofthe fight, found but little sympathy from the late occupants of theother boat, who were rather rejoiced to find they had not been excelled. 

The escape of the second prahu was followed by a short council; andseveral Malays being found ready enough to act as guides to thestockade, to which the rajah and his men had fled, it was decided tofollow him up, and read him a second severe lesson. 

It was a risky proceeding, for the guides might prove treacherous andlead them into an ambush; but after giving them notice that they wouldreceive no mercy if they proved false, a small portion of the littleforce was left in charge of the boats, and, lightly equipped, the menwent off in search of the second stronghold. 

It proved to be an arduous task, for the way was through one of thejungle-paths, with walls of dense vegetation right and left, of the mostimpenetrable nature. Every here and there, too, the enemy had cut downa tree, so that it fell with the branches towards the pursuers, who werecompelled to force a way through the dense mass that choked the narrowpath. 

But these impediments were laughed at by the Jacks, who hacked andhewed, and soon made a passage, through which, in the darkness of theforest, the little force crept on till they halted, panting, for theMalay guides to go on first, and act the part of scouts. 

"Perhaps to give warning of our coming, " said Captain Smithers. 

"No, " said Tom Long, "I don't think that. I should say that they havehad spies out all along the path, and that they know our position to aninch. "

"You are right, Long, " said Captain Smithers, as, one after the other, several reports rang out. "They are firing on our friendly Malays. "

So it proved, for the men came running back to say that they had beenfired upon as soon as they neared the stockade; and now, as there was nochance of a surprise, the men were divided, and, each party under itsleader, started off to try and flank the place. 

This was something new to the Malays, who looked upon it as unfairfighting, and the result was, that after five minutes' sharp, hand-to-hand engagement, the rajah and his men once more took to thewoods, and the second stockade was burned. 

This was so satisfactory a termination, that it seemed to make up forthe loss of the two prahus. These, however, Captain Horton said theship's boats would soon hunt out; and the Malay chiefs went back to thesultan, to announce to him the defeat of his old enemy; while at theisland every one was occupied about the hospital and the wounded men, who, poor fellows, were carefully lifted ashore, the doctor saying thatthe sailors would be far better on the island, in a tent beneath theshady trees, than on shipboard. 

"Ten wounded, major, " he said sharply, "and not a man dangerously. I'llsoon set them right. Steady there, my boys; lift them carefully. "

A goodly group had assembled by the landing-place when the men werebrought ashore, the ladies being ready with fruit and cool drink for thepoor fellows; and Bob Roberts, who had come to the landing-place withCaptain Horton in the gig, felt quite envious. 

An hour or two's sleep had set him right, and he felt none the worse forhis adventure; but there was Tom Long being lifted carefully ashore bytwo of the sailors, and Rachel Linton and Mary Sinclair eagerly waitingon the youth, for he had received a real wound this time, and lookedmost interestingly pale. 

"Just like my luck, " grumbled Bob. "He gets comfortably wounded, andthey will be taking him fruit and flowers every day. I shouldn't wonderif they had him carried up to the residency, so that he would be handy, and--hang me if it ain't too bad. Oh! 'pon my word, I can't stand this;they are having him carried up to the house. Just my luck. I get acontemptible ducking, and no one wants to wait upon me. "

Bob ground his teeth and looked on, while Tom Long was sympathised withand talked to on his way up to the residency, where, after swallowinghis wrath, as the middy expressed it, he got leave to go up and see hisfriend. 

"My friend!" he said, half aloud, as he walked on through the brilliantsunshine. "Lor', how I do hate that fellow! I wish I had had the kris. I'd have given the Malay such a oner as he wouldn't have forgotten in ahurry. Poor old Tommy, though I I hope he isn't hurt much. How do youdo, Miss Linton?" he said stiffly, as he encountered Rachel Linton inthe verandah. 

"Quite well, I thank you, Mr Roberts, " said Rachel, imitating hispompous stiffness, and curtseying profoundly; "how do you do?"

"Oh! I say; don't, Miss Linton. What a jolly shame it is, " he cried, throwing off all form. "You always laugh and poke fun at me. "

"Not I, Mr Roberts, " she replied. "When you are stiff and formal, Ishape my conduct to suit yours; when you come as the nice, frank, manlyboy that we are always so glad to see, I am sure I never laugh at youthen. "

"Boy? Yes, of course, you always treat me like a boy, " said Bob, dolefully. "Is a fellow never going to be a man?"

"Far too soon, I should think, " said Miss Linton, holding out her hand. 

"Oh! I'm only a boy, " said Bob, stuffing his hands in his pockets, andlooking so sadly injured, and in so comical a way, that Miss Lintoncould hardly refrain from laughing. 

"Such a boy as I'm sure we are all very proud of, " said Miss Linton. "We have heard from my father and Lieutenant Johnson how bravely youbehaved last night. "

"Gammon!" said Bob, blushing scarlet. "I only behaved like a boy. Howis the wounded man you have had brought up here--Mr Ensign Long?"

"Poor boy!" said Rachel Linton quietly; "he has a nasty wound. "

"Say that again, Miss Linton, " cried Bob excitedly; "it does me good. "

"He has a nasty wound. Are you so pleased, then, that your friend isbadly hurt?" said Miss Linton gravely. 

"No, no; of course not. I mean the other, " cried Bob. 

"Why, what did I say?"

"You said `Poor boy!'" exclaimed the middy. 

"Of course I did, " said Miss Linton, raising her eyebrows. 

"Say it again, please, " said Bob. 

"Poor boy! I am very sorry for him. "

"That does me a deal of good, " cried Bob excitedly. "You know I can'tstand it, Miss Linton, for you to think of him as a man and of me asonly a boy. "

"Why, you silly, foolish boy!" she said, laying her hand upon hisshoulder, and gazing full in his face, "of course I think of you both aswhat you are--a pair of very brave lads, who will some day grow to beofficers of whom England will be very proud. "

"If--if I'm not a man now, " said Bob, in a low, husky voice, "I shallnever grow to be one. "

"Not grow to be a man? Why, what do you mean?" said Miss Linton. 

"I don't know, " faltered Bob, "only that it's precious miserable, and--and I wish one of the jolly old Malays would stick his old kris rightthrough my heart, for there don't seem anything worth living for whenone can't have what one wants. "

Rachel Linton gazed at him half sad and half amused. 

"Do you wish me to think of you, Robert Roberts, with respect andesteem?"

"I'd give all the world to be one of your dogs, Miss Linton, or yourbird. "

"Do you mean to be a goose?" said Miss Linton, laughing. "There, I didnot mean to hurt your feelings, " she added frankly; "but come, now, giveup all this silly nonsense, and try to remember that you are after allbut a boy, whom I want to look upon as a very dear friend. "

"Do you really?" said Bob. 

"I do, really, " said Miss Linton, holding out her hand; "a friend whom Ican believe in and trust, out in this dangerous place, and one who willnot make my life wretched by being silly, romantic, and sentimental. "

Bob gripped the hand extended to him, and held it for a few moments. 

"There, " he said firmly, as he seemed to shake himself together, "I seeit now. It's all right, Miss Linton; and it's better to be a brick of aboy than a weak, puling noodle of a man, isn't it?"

"Indeed it is, " cried Miss Linton, laughing merrily. 

"There, I'm your man--I mean I'm your boy, " cried Bob; "and I'll let yousee that I'm a very different fellow to what you think. Now I want togo and see poor old Tom Long. I am sorry he's hurt. "

"You are now more like the Bob Roberts, midshipman, " said Miss Linton, "whom I saw first some months ago, than I have seen for a long time. "

"All right, " said Bob; "now let's go and see the other poor boy. "

"Come along, then, " she said, smiling; "but I'm afraid that Tom Longwill not be so easy to convince that he has not yet arrived at years ofdiscretion. "

As she spoke Miss Linton softly opened the door unseen, and let BobRoberts enter a cool and airy well-shaded room, closing the door uponhim, and herself gliding away. 

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

A DISCUSSION UPON WOUNDS. 

"Avast there! what cheer, my hearty? Heave ahead, my military swab. How goes it!" cried Bob, as Tom raised himself a little on his couch, evidently very glad to see his old companion. 

"Oh, not quite killed, " he said. "Gently; don't shake a fellow topieces. "

"Where's the wound?" cried Bob. "Ain't going to send in the number ofyour mess, are you?"

"No, I'm not, " cried Tom Long, flushing up; "and if I ever do comeacross the chief fellow who gave me such a nasty dig, he'll remember itto the end of his days. "

"What was it--a spear or a kris?" said Bob. 

"Kris, right through my left shoulder. Doctor Bolter says if it hadbeen four inches lower it would have been fatal. "

"Bother!" cried Bob. "If it had been four inches higher it would havemissed you altogether. "

"Yes, of course, " said Tom; "but it's precious unpleasant to have afellow stick his skewer right through you. "

"Well, I don't know, " said Bob, who had made up his mind that the properthing was to try and cheer the ensign, and not to let him think he wasvery bad. "I think I'd just as soon have it right through as onlyhalf-way. "

"Oh, it's nothing to laugh at, I can tell you, " said Tom Long, "I don'tsee why you mightn't just as well have had it as me. You always get offall right. "

"I didn't last night, or rather this morning, " said Bob. "I was rightinto the prahu we tried to take--first man, sir--I mean boy, sir; and Iwas sawing away at a mat with my knife, when all came down by the run, and I was pitched into the river. "

"And picked out, " said the ensign impatiently. 

"Yes, but not before I'd been swimming for a quarter of an hour--goodmeasure. Oh, I say, Tom, didn't I think of the crocodiles!"

"You're such a cheeky little beggar, I wonder they didn't get you, " saidTom, who looked feverish and excited. "I say, Bob Roberts, you knowwhat that chap, that Kling fellow, said to us about the krises. "

"Yes, of course. What then?"

"Do you think they are poisoned?"

"No, not a bit. Do you?"

"Yes, " said the young ensign; "and I am sure this one was, for I canfeel the wound throbbing and stabbing, and a curious sensation runningto my finger ends. "

"Well, so one did when one had a bad cut, " said Bob sharply. "Bah!poisoned! it's all rubbish. Why, if you had been poisoned you'd havebeen sleepy and stupid. "

"I feel so now. "

"What--stupid?" said Bob, grinning. "Well that's natural: you alwayswere?"

"I can't get up and cane you, Bob Roberts, " said the ensign, slowly. 

"Of course you can't, old man. But there, don't you worry; that kriswasn't poisoned, or you'd feel very different to what you do now. "

"Think so?"

"Sure of it. "

"How do you know?" said Tom Long, peevishly. "You were never wounded bya poisoned weapon. "

"No, but I've seen somebody else, and watched him. "

"What was he wounded with?"

"Serpent's tooth, " said Bob; "Private Gray. "

"Why, that's a different thing altogether, " said Long. 

"No it isn't, Mr Clevershakes. The snake's poison goes into the blood, don't it, same as that of a kris, and the symptoms would be just thesame. "

Tom Long seemed to think there was something in this, and he laythinking for a minute. 

"How did Gray look?" he said. "I don't remember. "

"Just the same as you don't look, " said Bob, sharply; "so don't be astupid and frighten yourself worse. Malay krises are not poisoned, andit's all a cock-and-bull story. "

"What is?" said Doctor Bolter, entering the room. 

"About krises being poisoned, doctor. "

Doctor Bolter felt his patient's pulse. 

"Have you been putting him up to thinking his wound was poisoned?" hesaid, angrily. 

"No, doctor, " said Tom Long, quietly; "it was my idea, and I feel sureit is. "

"Tom Long, " said Doctor Bolter, "you're only a boy, and if you weren'tso ill, I'd box your ears. You've been frightening yourself into abelief that you are poisoned, and here's your pulse up, the dickensknows how high. Now look here, sir, what's the use of your placingyourself in the hands of a surgeon, and then pretending to know betteryourself?"

"I don't pretend, doctor. "

"Yes, you do, sir. You set up a theory of your own that your blood ispoisoned, in opposition to mine that it is not. "

"But are you sure it is not, doctor?"

"Am I sure? Why, by this time if that kris had been poisoned you wouldhave had lock-jaw. "

"And Locke on the Understanding, " put in Bob. 

"Yes, " laughed the doctor; "and been locked up altogether. There, there, my dear boy, keep yourself quiet, and trust me to bring youround. You, Bob Roberts, don't let him talk, and don't talk muchyourself. You'd better go to sleep, Long. "

"Wound pains me too much, doctor. It throbs so. Isn't that a sign ofpoison?"

"I'll go and mix you up a dose of poison that shall send you to sleepfor twelve hours, my fine fellow, if you don't stop all that nonsense. Your wound is not poisoned, neither is that of any other man who cameback from the expedition; and if it's any satisfaction to you to knowit, you've got the ugliest dig of any man--I mean boy--amongst thewounded. "

The doctor arranged the matting-screen so as to admit more air, andbustled towards the door--but stopped short on hearing a buzzing soundat the open window, went back on tiptoe, and cleverly captured a largeinsect. 

"A splendid longicorn, " he said, fishing a pill-box from his pocket, andcarefully imprisoning his captive. "Ah, my dear boys, what a pity it isthat you do not take to collecting while you are young! What muchbetter men you would make!"

"There, " said Bob, as soon as they were alone, "how do you feel aboutyour poison now?"

"He says it is not, just to cheer me up, " said Tom Long, dolefully. "Isay, Bob Roberts, if I die--"

"If you what?" cried Bob, in a tone of disgust. 

"I say, if I die. "

"Oh, ah, of course. Now then, let's have it. Do you want me to write averse for your tombstone?"

"They'd pitch me overboard, " said Long, dolefully. 

"Not they, " said Bob. "This promising young officer, who had taken itinto his head that he had been wounded by a poisoned kris, was buriedunder a palm tree, to the great relief of all who knew him, for theyfound him the most conceited--"

"Bob Roberts!"

"Consequential--"

"I tell you what it is--"

"Cocky--"

"I never heard--"

"Unpleasant fellow that ever wore Her Majesty's uniform. "

"Just wait till I get well, Master Bob Roberts, " said Tom Long, excitedly, "and if I don't make you pay for all this, my name's not whatit is. "

"Thought you had made up your mind to die, " said Bob, laughing. "There, it won't do, young man; so now go to sleep. I've got another half-hour, and I'll sit here and keep the flies from visiting your noble corpus tooroughly; and when you wake up, if you find I am not here it is because Iam gone. D'ye hear?"

"Yes, " said Tom Long, drowsily; and in five minutes he was fast asleep, seeing which Bob sat till the last minute, and then went out on tiptoeto run and learn whether the boat was waiting by the landing-stage. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

AN UNPLEASANT INTERRUPTION. 

The feeling of satisfaction was very general at the lesson given therajah; and though his two prahus had escaped, his power had received amost severe blow. 

Sultan Hamet was sincere enough in his demonstrations of pleasure, sending presents five or six times a day to the resident, the variousofficers, and, above all, fruit for the wounded men. 

The presents were but of little value, but they showed the Malay'sgratitude, and the officers were very pleased with what they looked uponas curiosities. Even Bob Roberts and Tom Long were not forgotten, eachreceiving an ivory-mounted kris, the young chief Ali being the bearer. 

The resident, however, felt that the sultan was not meeting him in quitea proper spirit, and he was rather suspicious, till a fresh embassy ofthe principal chiefs arrived, and brought a formal invitation for theresident and the officers to visit him upon a fixed day. 

As before, an imposing force was got ready, and once more the march towhat Bob had nick-named Palm Tree Palace, took place, the middy comingafterwards to Tom Long's room, and telling him how the affair had goneoff. 

"It was no end of a game, " he said to the young ensign, who was rapidlygaining strength, the fancy that his wound was poisoned having passedaway. "We started just as we did last time, and marched through thejungle till we came to the sultan's barns, where the men were drawn up, and no end of the niggers came to wait on them, bringing them a kind ofdrink made of rice, and plenty of fruit and things, while we officershad to go into the sultan's dining-room--a place hung round with cottonprint--and there we all sat down, cross-legged, like a lot of jollytailors, with the sultan up at the top, the major on one side, and ourskipper on the other. "

"But they didn't sit down cross-legged?" said Tom Long. 

"Didn't they, my boy? But they just did; and it was a game to see ourskipper letting himself down gently for fear of cracking his best whiteuniform sit-in-ems. Your major split some stitches somewhere, for Iheard them go. Then there was the doctor; you should have seen him! Hecame to an anchor right enough, but when he tried to square his yards--Imean his legs--he nearly went over backwards, and looked savage enoughto eat me, because I laughed. "

"Poor old doctor!" said Tom Long, smiling. 

"Oh, we were all in difficulties, being cast upon our beam-ends as itwere; but we got settled down in our berths at last, and then the dinnerbegan. "

"Was it good?" said Tom Long, whose appetite was growing as he began toget better. 

"Jolly!" said Bob, "capital! I say, though, how hot this place is. "

"Yes, " said the ensign, "the lamp makes it hot; but the window is wideopen. "

Bob glanced out into the darkness, to see the dark gleaming leaves, andthe bright fire-flies dancing in the air, while right before them laythe smooth river, reflecting the brilliant stars. 

"There was no cloth; but it was no end of fun. Mr Sultan is going infor English manners and customs, and he mixes them up with his own mostgloriously. By way of ornaments there was a common black japannedcruet-stand, with some trumpery bottles. There was one of those brownearthenware teapots, and an old willow-pattern soup tureen, withoutcover or stand, but full of flowers. Besides which, there were knivesand forks, and spoons, regular cheap Sheffield kitchen ones, and asrusty as an old ring-bolt. "

"Indeed!" said Tom Long. 

"I looked at our officers, and they had hard work to keep solemn; and Ihalf expected to see a pound of sausages, and some potatoes in theirskins, for the banquet. But wait a bit; those were the English thingsbrought out in compliment to us. Mr Sultan had plenty of things of hisown, some of silver, some of gold. He had some beautiful china too; andthe feed itself--tlat!" said Bob, smacking his lips. "I wish you hadbeen there. "

"I wish I had, " sighed Tom Long. "Getting well's worse than beingwounded. "

"Never mind; you'll soon be all right, " continued Bob. "Well, we hadsome good fish, nicely cooked, and some stunning curry; the best I everate; and we had sambals, as they call 'em, with it. "

"What the dickens are sambals?" said Tom Long. 

"Well, it's either pickles or curry, whichever you like to call it, "continued Bob. "These sambals are so many little saucers on a silvertray, and they are to eat with your curry. One had smashed up cocoa-nutin milk; another chillies; another dried shrimps, chutney, green ginger, no end of things of that kind--and jolly good they were! Then we hadrice in all sorts of shapes, and some toddy and rice wine, and somesweets of sago, and cocoa-nut and sugar. "

"But you didn't eat all those things?" said Tom Long, peevishly. 

"Didn't I, my boy? but I just did. I thought once that the sultan mightbe going to poison us all; and, as they say there's safety in a bigdose, and death in a small, I went in for a regular big go. But I say, the fruits! they were tip-top: mangosteens and guavas, and mangoes, andcocoa-nuts, and durians, and some of the best bananas I ever ate in mylife. "

"You didn't try one of those filthy durians again?"

"Bless 'em, that I did; and I mean to try 'em again and again, as longas a heart beats in the bosom of yours very faithfully, Bob Roberts. They're glorious!"

"Bah!"

"That's right, " said Bob. "You say `Bah!' and I'll eat the durians. But I didn't tell you about the drinks. We had coffee, and pipes, andcigars, and said pretty things to each other; and then the sultan toldMr Linton he was going to bring out some choice English nectar in ourhonour. "

"And did he?"

"He just did, my boy. A nigger came round with a little silver tray, covered with tiny gold cups in which was something thick and red. "

"Liqueur, I suppose, " said Tom Long, uneasily. 

"Wait a wee, dear boy, " said Bob. "Here's the pyson at last, I says tomyself; and when my turn came, I did as the others did, bowed to thesultan, feeling just like a tombola, and nearly going over; then Idrank--and what do you think it was?"

"I don't know; go on. "

"Raspberry vinegar, and--ah!"

Tom Long started back, looking deadly white in the feeble light of thelamp; for, as Bob ejaculated loudly, a Malay spear whizzed past his ear, and stuck in the wooden partition behind him, having evidently beenthrown through the window by some lurking foe. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

HOW BOB ROBERTS MADE A FIRM FRIEND. 

Bob Roberts seized his sword and dashed to the window, leaping boldlyout, and shouting for help; and as he did so he heard the bushes rapidlyparted, the crackling of twigs on ahead, and then, as he neared theriver in pursuit of the assailant, there was a loud splash, followed bythe challenge of a sentry and the report of his piece. 

A brisk time of excitement followed, during which a thorough search wasmade, but no one was found; and it was evident that the spear had beenthrown by an enemy who had come alone; but the incident was sufficientto create a general feeling of uneasiness at the residency. Thesentries were doubled, and orders were given that the place should becarefully patrolled; for though the English were upon an island, theMalays were such expert swimmers that they could start up stream and letthemselves float down to the head of the island and land. 

It was some few days before Bob Roberts was able to pay another visit tothe residency, for he had been out twice with the steamer's boats, insearch of the two escaped Malay prahus, each time on insufficientinformation; and after a weary pull through a winding mangrove creek, had come back without seeing them. 

Meantime the relations with the Malays were daily growing infriendliness. A brisk trade with the shore was carried on, and sampansfrom far up the river came laden with fruit, fish, and rice; somebrought poultry, and green sugar-cane for eating; others cocoa-nuts, andquaint articles for barter. But somehow there was an uneasy feeling onthe island, that though the sultan and his people were friendly, some ofthe rajahs detested the English, as being likely to put a stop to theirpiratical practices, the destruction of Rajah Gantang's stockade, whileit gave plenty of satisfaction in some parts, being looked upon withdisfavour in others. 

"Pretty well all right again, old man?" said Bob, sauntering in one day, to find the ensign reading. 

"Yes, I'm stronger by a good deal than I was, " said Tom Long, holdingout his hand. 

"No more limbings pitched in at the window, eh?"

"No, " said Tom Long with a slight shudder; "I hope that sort of thing isnot going to happen again. "

"To which I say ditto, " said Bob. "But I say, I know who pitched thatspear at you. "

"You do?"

"Yes, it was that Malay chap you offended with the durian. "

"Then he must be taken and punished. "

"First catch your brown hare, master officer of infantry, " said Bob, smiling. "He won't set foot here again, depend upon it, unless heslinks in at night. By George, what a malicious lot they must be, toact like that!"

"Yes, it's not pleasant, " said Tom Long, with an involuntary shudder, as, in imagination, he saw the dark face of his enemy always on thewatch for an opportunity to assassinate him. 

"I never finished my account of the trip to the sultan's, " said Bob, atlast. 

"Was there anything more to tell?"

"Yes, one thing, " replied Bob; "the best of the whole lot. "

"What was it?"

"Don't get riled if I tell you. "

"Pooh! how can it rile me?"

"Oh, I don't know; only it may. It was a proposal made by the sultan toMr Linton. "

"Proposal! What proposal?"

"Well, I'll tell you; only don't go into fits. It was after we'd beensitting smoking for a bit, and just before we were coming away. MasterSultan had shown us all his best things--his gold and silver, and hisslaves, and the dingy beauties with great earrings, and bangles on theirarms and legs, who have the honour of being his wives; and at last hesaid something to Mr Linton, who understands his lingo as well as youand I do French. "

"Well, but what did he propose?" said Long, eagerly. 

"I got to know afterwards from Captain Smithers, " continued Bob, "thathe said he had been thinking very seriously about his position inconnexion with the English, and that he saw how a strong alliance wouldbe best for all; that it would settle him in his government, and make ita very excellent match for the English, who would be able to get tin andrice from the sultan's people, and gold. "

"You're as prosy as an old woman, " said Tom Long, impatiently. 

"Yes, it's an accomplishment of mine, " said Bob coolly. "Well, as I wastelling you, he said the proper thing was a very strong alliance; andthe resident said we had already made one. He said he wanted a strongerone; and he thought the best thing would be for him to marry Miss Lintonand her cousin, and then it would be all right. "

"Why, confound his insolence!" said Tom Long, starting up. 

"No, no, you must say something else, " cried Bob. "I said that as soonas I heard it. "

"Did not Mr Linton knock him down?" cried Tom Long. 

"No, he did not. He heard him out, and said it must be a matter ofconsideration; and then we came away. "

"But it's monstrous!" cried Tom Long. 

"Of course it is, " said Bob, coolly; "but don't you see it was of no useto break with the fellow at once. It was a case of diplomacy. We don'twant to quarrel with Master Sultan Hamet: we want to keep friends. "

"But it was such an insult to the ladies!"

"He looked as if he thought he was doing them an honour, Master Long, soit wouldn't have done to fall out with him. There, don't look sofierce, we've got a difficult game to play here, and our great point isnot to quarrel with the Malays, unless we want spears thrown in at everydark window while we stay. "

Tom Long sat biting his nails, for Bob had touched him in a very tenderpart, and he knew it. In fact, the middy rather enjoyed his companion'svexation, for he had begun, since his memorable conversation with MissLinton, to look upon his feelings towards her with a more matter-of-facteye. 

"I shall have to get about at once, " said Tom Long, speaking as if hisweight in the scale would completely make Sultan Hamet kick the beam;but upon seeing the mirthful look in Bob Roberts' eye, he changed thesubject, and began talking about how he longed to be out and aboutagain. 

"I thought we should get no end of fishing and shooting out here, " hesaid, "and we've had none as yet. "

"Get well, then, and we'll have a try for some, " Rob suggested. "Theremust be plenty;" and with the understanding that the ensign was todeclare himself fit to be off the doctor's hands as soon as possible, Bob Roberts returned to the steamer, and then finding it terribly close, he did what he had acquired a habit of doing when the weather was veryhot, found a snug shady place on deck, and went off to sleep. 

That was very easy in those latitudes. Whether the sun shone or whetherit was gloomy, black, and precursive of a thunder-storm, an European hadonly to sit down in a rocking chair, or swing in a hammock, and he wentoff into a delicious slumber almost on the instant. 

So far so good; the difficulty was to keep asleep; and so Bob Robertsfound. 

He had settled himself in a low basket-work chair, beneath a stout pieceof awning which shed a mellow twilight upon the deck, and loosening hiscollar, he had dropped off at once; but hardly was he asleep before"burr-urr-urr boom-oom-oom, boozz-oozz-oozz" came a great fly, bangingitself against the awning, sailing round and round, now up, now down, asif Bob's head were the centre of its attraction, and he could not getfarther away. Now it seemed to have made up its mind to beat itself topieces against the canvas, and now to try how near it could go to themidshipman's nose without touching, and keeping up all the time such anaggravating, irritating buzz that it woke Bob directly. 

There was plenty of room for the ridiculous insect to have flown rightout from beneath the awning and over the flashing river to the jungle;but no, that did not seem to suit its ideas, and it kept on with itsmonotonous buzz, round and round, and round and round. 

Half awake, half asleep, Bob fidgeted a little, changed his position, and with his eyes shut hit out sharply at his tormentor, but of coursewithout effect. 

He turned over, turned back; laid his head on one side; then on theother; and at last, as the miserable buzzing noise continued, he jumpedup in a rage, picked up a book for a weapon, and followed the fly about, trying to get a fair blow--but all in vain. He hit at it flying, settled on the canvas roof; on the arms of chairs, and on the deck, andtwice upon a rope--but all in vain: the wretched insect kept up itsirritating buzz, till, hot, panting, his brows throbbing with theexertion, Bob made a furious dash at it, and with one tremendous blowcrushed it flat. 

The middy drew a long breath, wiped the perspiration from his forehead, and, panting and weary, threw himself back in the chair, and closed hiseyes. 

He was a clever sleeper, Bob Roberts. Like the Irishman who went tosleep for two or three days, when Bob went to sleep, he "paid attintionto it. " In a few seconds then he was fast, and--truth must be told--with his mouth open, and a very unpleasant noise arising therefrom. 

Vain hope of rest. Even as he threw himself back, a little many-leggedcreature, about two inches long, was industriously making its way overthe deck towards where one of the middy's limbs lay outstretched, and ina few seconds it had mounted his shoe, examined it with a pair of longthin antenna, and then given the leather a pinch with a pair of hookedclaws at its tail. 

Apparently dissatisfied, the long thin yellow insect ran on to thesleeper's sock, carefully examined its texture, tasted it with its tail, and still not satisfied, proceeded to walk up one of the very wide openduck trouser legs, that must have been to it like the entrance to somegrand tunnel, temptingly inviting investigation. 

The insect disappeared; Bob snored, and there was the loud buzzingmurmur of men's voices, talking drowsily together, when, as if suddenlyelectrified, Bob leaped up with a sharp cry, slapped his leg vigorously, and stood shaking his trousers till the long thin insect tumbled on tothe white deck, and was duly crushed. 

"Scissors! how it stings!" cried Bob, rubbing the place. "O Lor'! whata place this is to be sure. Who the dickens can get a nod?"

Bob Roberts was determined upon having one evidently, for having giventhe obnoxious remains another stamp, he took a look round, to see if anyother pest, winged or legged, had been brought from the shore, andseeing nothing, he again settled himself down, gave a turn or two and atwist to get himself comfortable, ending by sitting with his legsstretched straight out, his head thrown back, and his nose pointedstraight up at the awning. 

This time Bob went off fast asleep; his cap fell on to the deck, but itdid not disturb him; and he was evidently making up for lost time, whena very industrious spider, who had made his home in the awning, cameboldly out of a fold by a seam of the canvas, and with busy legsproceeded to examine the state and tension of some threads, which it hadpreviously stretched as the basis of a web upon a geometrical plan, expressly to catch mosquitoes. 

Apparently satisfied, the spider set to work busily, its dark, heavybody showing plainly against the yellowish canvas; and in a very shorttime a main rope was attached to the roof, and the architect of fly-netsbegan slowly to descend, in search of a point to which the other end ofthe said main-stay could be attacked. 

Now fate had so arranged it, that the point exactly beneath the spideras it slowly descended was the tip of Bob Roberts' nose, and to thispoint in the course of a minute the insect nearly arrived. 

It may be thought that its next act would be to alight and fix its rope;but this was not so easy, for the soft zephyr-like breaths the middyexhaled drove the swinging architect to and fro. Now it came near, nowit was driven away; but at last it got near enough to grasp at thesleeper's most prominent feature, just brushing it with its legs, andsetting up an irritating tickling that made Bob snort and scratch hisface. 

The spider swung to and fro for some seconds, and then there was anotherterrible tickle, to which Bob responded by fiercely rubbing theoffending organ. 

The spider was driven to a distance by this; but it was back againdirectly, with its legs stretched out, tickling as before. 

Bob was not asleep, and he was not awake, and he could neither sink intooblivion, nor thoroughly rouse himself. All he could do was to bestowan irritable scratch at his nose, and the spider came back again. 

At last, spider or no spider, he dropped into a strange dreamy state, inwhich he believed that Tom Long came and loomed over him on purpose tobend down and tickle him, out of spite and jealousy, with the long thinfeather from a paroquet's tail. 

"Don't! Bother!" said Bob, in his sleep; but the tickling went on, andhe felt ready to leap up and strike his tormentor; but he seemed to beheld down by some strange power which kept him from moving, and thetickling still went on. 

Then he could hear voices talking, and people seemed to be about, laughing at and enjoying the trick that was being played upon him; andthen he started into wakefulness, for a voice exclaimed, --

"Come, Mr Roberts, are you going to wake up?"

It was Lieutenant Johnson who spoke; and on the middy jumping up, hefound standing by him, with the lieutenant, the dark-faced youth who hadmet them and acted as guide on the occasion when they made their firstvisit to the sultan's home. 

He was dressed similarly to the way in which he made his firstappearance before the English party; that is to say, he wore the silkenjacket and sarong of the Malay chiefs, with a natty little embroideredcap, set jauntily upon his head like that of a cavalry soldier; but inaddition he wore the trousers, white shirt-front, and patent leatherboots of an Englishman, and the middy saw that he had a gold albertchain and straw-coloured kid gloves. 

"This gentleman is the son of the Tumongong of Parang, Mr Roberts, "said the lieutenant, "and he has come on board to see the ship. Takehim round and show him everything, especially the armoury, and let himunderstand the power of the guns. Captain Horton wishes it. "

The lieutenant looked meaningly at the middy, who saluted, and thennodded his head in a way that showed he comprehended his task. 

"The skipper wants these people to know that it is of no good to try andtackle us, " thought Bob. "Yes, sir, " he said aloud, "I'll take himround;" and then the lieutenant, who had been interrupted in a nap, saluted the young chief; who salaamed to him gravely, and the two youngmen were left alone, gazing straight at one another, each apparentlytrying to read the other's thoughts. 

"This is a jolly nice sort of a game, " said Bob to himself! "How am Ito make him understand? What a jolly fool old Johnson is. Now, mysun-brown-o cockywax, comment vous portez-vous? as we say in French. Meno understandy curse Malay's lingo not at all-oh. Bismillah! wallah!Come oh! and have a bottle oh! of Bass's ale oh!"

"With much pleasure, " said the young Malay, laughing. "I am thirsty. "

Bob Roberts turned as red as a turkey-cock with vexation. 

"What! Can you understand English?" he stammered. 

"Rather!" was the reply. "I couldn't make out all you said--not quite, "he added, laughing meaningly. 

"Oh! I say, I am sorry, " said Bob frankly. "I didn't know you couldunderstand a word. "

"It's all right, " said the young Malay, showing his white teeth, andspeaking fair idiomatic English, though with a peculiar accent. "I'vebeen a great deal at Penang and Singapore. I like English ways. "

"I say, you know, " cried Bob, holding out his hand, "it was only my fun. I wouldn't have chaffed you like that for a moment if I had thought youcould understand. "

"No, I suppose not, " said the young Malay. "Never mind, I wanted to seeyou. That's why I came. Where's the young soldier?"

"What Tom--I mean Ensign Long?"

"Yes, En-sign Long. "

"Knocked up. Ill with his wound. He got hurt up the river. "

"I did not know it was he, " said the young Malay. "Poor fellow!"

"He was in an awful state, " said Bob. "Got a kris through his shoulder, and thought it was poisoned. "

"What, the kris? Oh, no. That is nonsense. Our people don't poisontheir krises and limbings. The Sakais poison their arrows. "

"The whiches?" said Bob. 

"The Sakais--the wild people of the hills and jungle. Naked--wear noclothes. "

"Yes, " said Bob drily. "I knew naked meant wearing no clothes. So youMalay folks are not savages, but have got savages somewhere near. "

"Savages? wild people, " said the young man, with a little flushappearing through his tawny skin. "The Malay chiefs are gentlemen. Weonly are simple in our ways and living. "

"Oh! that's it, is it?" said Bob. "Well, come and have this drop ofBass. I can't stand fizz. "

"Fizz?" said the visitor; "what is fizz?"

"Champagne. "

"Oh, yes! I know; frothing, bubbling wine, with a pop cork. "

"Yes, that's it, " said Bob, grinning, "with a pop cork;" and leading theway below, he got a bottle of Bass and a couple of glasses, which theysat down and discussed. 

"Have a cigar?" said the young Malay, producing a handsome French-madecase. 

"Thanky, " said Bob. "What are these? Manillas?"

"No; from Deli, in Sumatra, " said his visitor. And then they lit-up bythe open window of the gun-room, and sat and smoked for a few minutes insilence, each watching the other. 

"I say, " said Bob at last, "this is jolly rum, you know. Why you arequite an Englishman, young fellow. "

"I like English ways, " said the young chief, flushing; "some of them. If I were sultan, I'd take to all the best English customs, and makethem take the place of all our bad ones. Then we should be great. "

"Yes, " said Bob; "I suppose so. "

"Ah, " said the young man, sadly, "you laugh. But I could improve ourpeople. "

"Yes, of course, " said Bob, hastily. "Now come and see round the ship. "

"No, no, let us sit and talk, " said the young Malay. "I have seenplenty of ships. I know all about them. "

"Just as you like, " said Bob. "Then let's go and sit on deck, under theawning. It's awfully hot here. "

"You think it hot?"

"Yes; don't you?" said Bob. 

"No, not at all, " said the young Malay, smiling; and rising he followedthe middy on deck. 

"That's better, " said Bob; "sit down in that cane chair. I say, what'syour name?"

"Ah; what is yours?"

"Robert Roberts; commonly known to my intimates as Bob. "

"Intimates? what are intimates?"

"Best friends, " said Bob. 

"Yes, I understand. May I be an intimate?"

"To be sure you may, " said Bob, holding out his hand, which the othereagerly grasped. "But no larks, you know. "

"Larks! what is larks?" said Ali, eagerly. 

"I mean, no sticking that kris of yours into a fellow on the sly. "

"Nonsense! What bosh!" cried the young Malay. 

"Bosh, eh?" said Bob, laughing. "I say, Master Ali, you are civilised, and no mistake. It is only our very educated people who say _Bosh_!"

"You took the word from us, " said the young Malay. "Bosh is goodeastern language, and means _nothing_. "

"I've heard it was Turkish, " said Bob, drily. 

"Well, Turkish; the language of Roum. We look upon the Sultan of Roumand Stamboul as our greatest chief. "

"Oh, I say, " cried Bob; "I can't stand this, you know. I thought youwere a young Malay chief, and you are talking like a professor. Lookhere, Ali, is there any good fishing here?"

"Yes, oh yes. I'll take you in my boat, and my men shall catch plenty. "

"No, no, " said Bob. "You take me in the boat, and I'll catch the fish. But is there any shooting?"

"Shooting!" said the young Malay, laughing; "everything; bird thatflies, bird that swims, tigers, buffalo, deer. "

"Where?" cried Bob, excitedly. 

"In the great forest--the jungle. Will you come?"

"Will I come?" cried Bob. "Won't I! I say, " he went on, excitedly, "you can't shoot, can you?"

"I practise sometimes, " said the young Malay, quietly. 

"What with? A blow-pipe?"

"Yes, I can use the sumpitan, " said the young Malay, nodding; "but I usea revolver or a rifle. "

"I believe I'm half asleep, " muttered Bob. "Haven't got a gun, haveyou?"

"Yes; an English gentleman changed with me. I gave him ivory and gold, and he gave me his double gun. "

"Not a breechloader?" said Bob. 

"Yes, a breechloader--a Purdey he called it, and a bag of cartridges. "

"Oh, I say, " cried Bob; "this is rich, you know. I am sorry I was suchan idiot with you at first. But do you mean it? If I get a day ashore, will you take me where there's some good shooting?"

"Oh, yes, plenty;" was the reply. 

Bob Roberts was thoughtful for a few moments. 

"I say, " he said at last, "I wish Tom Long were here. "

"En-sign Long?" said Ali. 

"Yes. He's a very cocky fellow, you know; but he's a good one atbottom. "

"Should I like him?"

"Yes, when you got to know him; but he only shows some fellows hisclothes. "

"I don't want to see his clothes, " said Ali, smiling. 

"I mean, some people never get to know what's inside him, " said Bob. 

"What is `inside him'?" said Ali, whom these mysteries of the Englishtongue somewhat puzzled. "Do you mean what he has had to eat?"

"No, no;" said Bob, laughing. "I mean his heart. "

"Show people his heart?" said Ali, thoughtfully. "Oh yes, I see; Iunderstand. You mean he is cold outside, and proud, and does not showpeople what he really thinks--like a Malay?"

"Yes, that's what I mean, " said Bob, smiling. "But that's like a Malay, is it? They say one thing, and mean another, do they?"

"Yes, " said Ali, gravely--"to their enemies--to the people who try tocheat, and deceive them. To their real friends they are very true, andfull of faith. But it is time now that I should go. "

"I say, though, stop a minute, " said Bob sharply. "Are your peoplereally good friends to us?"

"Yes, " said the visitor, "I hope so. I believe so. They are strange atfirst, and do not like English ways, like I. Afterwards they will dothe same as I do. Good-bye. "

"But about our shooting?" said Bob. "May I bring Tom Long?"

"I should like to know En-sign Long. He is very brave, is he not?"

"Pretty bobbish, I believe, " said the middy. 

"Is he bobbish, too, like you. Are you not Bob Bobbish?"

"No, no, I'm Bob Roberts, " said the middy, laughing. "I mean, Tom Longis as brave as most fellows. "

There was a short consultation then as to time and place of meeting;after which the young Malay passed over the side into his boat, rowed byfour followers, and was quickly pulled ashore. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

HOW THE SULTAN WAS PUT OFF WITH WORDS. 

There was a good deal of communication now between the sultan and theresident, and rumours began flying about that the former proposed payinga visit to the residency; but the days glided by, and it did not takeplace. The men who had been wounded were rapidly recovering; and afterseveral attempts to find the missing prahus, it was announced oneevening, in a quiet way, that there was to be another expedition downthe river, for information had been brought in by a Malay boatman, whohad been employed to act as a scout, that the two vessels were lying-upin a creek on the left bank of the river. It would therefore be quiteeasy for the steamer to float down stream off where they lay, and eithersend in boats to the attack or to shatter them by sweeping the mangroveswith the steamer's great guns, for the prahus lay behind a thick groveof these trees some twenty or thirty yards across, quite sufficient fora screen, but worse than useless as a protection if the heavy guns wereonce brought to bear. 

Messages had come again and again from the sultan, urging that the powerof the rajah should be thoroughly crushed; in fact, his requests almosttook the tone of a command. 

There was a disposition to resent this, but it was felt better totemporise, and word was sent to the sultan by a trusty messenger thatsomething would be done. 

The result of this was another visit from the leading chiefs, who ratherstartled the resident by the message they brought, which was to theeffect that their master thought it would be better that his marriage tothe two Englishwomen should take place at once; and what did Mr Lintonthink of the next day?

Mr Linton thought, but he did not tell the sultan's ambassadors so, that he would consult Major Sandars and Captain Horton; and this he didwhile the messengers waited. 

Major Sandars blew his nose very loudly, and said he should like to kickthe villain. 

Captain Horton said that nothing would give him greater pleasure than tohave this Mr Hamet tied up and to give him six dozen. 

"This is all very well, gentlemen, " said Mr Linton, smiling; "but itdoes not help me out of my difficulty. What am I to say so as not tooffend this man?"

"Oh, you must offend him, " said the major. "I can see nothing for it, but to send him word that the English ladies are greatly honoured by thesultan's proposal, but that they cannot accept it. "

Captain Horton nodded approval, and the resident agreed that they coulddo nothing better; so the message was delivered to the sultan'sambassadors, who looked exceedingly depressed upon hearing it, and as ifthey would have gladly exchanged places with somebody else. 

"Those fellows expect to get into trouble, " said the major, as henoticed the change. 

He was quite right, for the two chiefs took their departure, looking asif they expected to be introduced by their wrathful ruler to theexecution kris as soon as they returned. 

The troops had been expecting orders for a trip down the river in searchof the two prahus, but the command came upon them, as such mattersusually do, just when it was least expected. One company, under CaptainSmithers, was ordered to embark, but to Tom Long's great disgust, hefound he was not included. 

He hurried to the doctor's quarters, and found that gentleman busy witha case of instruments, open before him. 

"Look here, Long, " he said; "did you ever see such a wretched country asthis? Everything rusts; look at my instruments. "

"Yes, sir, it is terrible; such fine steel too. "

"Fine steel? There isn't a better case in the army. I could doanything with these tools. "

Tom Long shuddered as he glanced at the long, fearfully keen knives, andthe saw--so horribly suggestive of taking off arms and legs. 

Doctor Bolter saw it, and smiled to himself. 

"Come to say good-bye, Long?" he said, as he stuffed some lint into apouch, with some bandages. "I'm not a lighting man, and don't mean tobe killed. "

"No, sir. I came to ask you to let me go--to give me a certificate, saying I am quite well enough. "

"But you are not, my dear boy. You are too weak. "

"Weak, sir? No, I feel as strong as a lion. Let me go, doctor. "

"What nonsense, my dear lad! I'm not the commandant. Ask the major. "

"No, sir, " said Tom Long. "You are not the commandant by name, but fromthe major downwards you do just as you like with us. Hang me if I'dhave drunk such filthy stuff as you gave me, by the major's orders. I'dsooner have lost my commission. "

"Ha, ha, ha!--Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the doctor. "That's very good, Long, very good indeed. I suppose I do get the better of all of you in turn. Ha, ha, ha! But look here, my dear boy, I don't think you are wellenough yet. "

"Do let me go, doctor, " pleaded Tom. "There, I don't want to _fight_, but let me go with you and help you. This dreadful do-nothing sort oflife seems to make me worse. "

"Idleness is bad for any man, " said the doctor. 

Tom Long felt flattered at being called a man, but still lookedpleadingly at the doctor. 

"I could take care of your instruments, sir, and hand you what youwanted if there were any of our fellows hurt. "

"Humph! yes, you could do that, " said the doctor. "But look here, " hesaid, gazing searchingly into the youth's face; "did you take yourmedicine to-day?"

"Yes, sir, three times, " cried Tom, eagerly; for, after neglecting itfor two days previously, he had taken it that day by way of a salve tohis conscience. 

"Then you shall go, " said the doctor. "Be quick. Get your great-coat--and mind, you are to be my assistant. "

Tom Long ran back to his quarters, and doctor's assistant or no, hebuckled on his sword, and stuck his revolver in its case, before puttingon his grey great-coat; meeting the detachment on its way down to theboat. 

"Hallo, Long, what are you doing here?" said Captain Smithers. "You arenot detailed for duty. "

"No, " said the doctor, sharply, "he is coming on hospital service. "

There was no time for argument, so they marched on down to the"Startler's" boats, which were waiting, and at once put off silently, the swift stream bearing them quickly to the steamer's side, as she laythere with her steam up, but not a light visible to tell those upon theshore of the projected expedition. There was the low dull hiss andsnort of the escaping steam; and one versed in such matters would havenoticed that the steamer had let go her moorings at the stem, and swunground in the stream, holding on hard by the stern, ready to slip thecable and start. 

But Captain Horton felt pretty secure of getting away unobserved; andtrusting to the keen eyes of a couple of Malay boatmen, he calculatedupon getting the steamer just abreast of the mangrove creek where theprahus lay, and then dealing with them and their crews as he pleased. 

The distance down was about ten miles; and the stream was so swift, thatin a couple of hours the steamer would have run down without the aid ofher screw; but it was proposed to steam for about two-thirds of thedistance, and then drift in silence, with a turn of the screw now andthen to keep her head right. 

The river was so deep, and clear of obstruction, that there was nothingto fear in their journey down, while fortunately the night, though notilluminated by the moon, was tolerably light. 

The arrangements were soon made, and directly the boats were hoisted upthe cable was slipped from the great buoy, and the steamer drifted downstream, the steam power being kept in abeyance until they were somedistance below the campong. 

In his character of doctor's assistant, Tom Long did not mix with theofficers in command of the little detachment, and was standing aloofleaning over the bulwarks, and gazing at the fire-flies on the shore, when he heard a familiar voice close by. 

"Think those Malay chaps will be able to see the creek on a night likethis, Dick?"

"See it, Master Roberts, sir? Why, I could see it myself if I tried, and knowed where to look for it. Bless yer 'art, they Malay chaps havegot eyes like cats, and can see in the dark. "

"Oh yes, I dare say, " said Bob. "Well, all I can say is, I hope weshall knock the prahus into splinters. I do owe those fellows a grudgefor being chucked overboard as I was. It makes me feel wet now to thinkof it. "

"Yes, that 'ere war a rum 'un, Master Roberts, sir, " said Dick, solemnly. "Now, look here, sir, you being a boy like, and not wanted, if I was you, I'd just go down below, get on my perch, and tuck myselfup and go to roost where I should be quite safe. "

"Thank you, Dick, " said Bob, quietly; "I'm going to stop on deck, andthen go with the party ashore. We'll leave the old men and old women onboard to take charge of the ship till we come back. "

"That's as good as saying I'm a reg'lar old woman, Master Roberts, sir, "said Dick, grinning. 

Bob did not condescend to reply, but walked aft a little way, to wherehe could see a dark figure half-leaning, half-sitting in the darknessupon a gun, and looking over the bulwarks. 

"Here, you sir, " he said sharply, "come away from that gun. Why are younot with the detachment forward there?"

"Oh, you be hanged!" said a familiar voice. 

"What? Tom Long?"

"That's my name, Mr Roberts, " said the dark figure. 

"Why, I thought you were in hospital yet. "

"I'm on hospital service, " replied Tom. "I got the doctor to bring me. "

"I say--I am glad, " said Bob. "Eh?"

He stopped short, for Tom Long had pinched his arm. 

"Isn't that a long low vessel moored there under the bank?" said Tom. 

Bob looked long and attentively. 

"I think so--two of them, " he said. "I'll tell the officer of thewatch. "

He turned aft and pointed out the dimly seen objects. 

"Yes, I think they are prahus moored to the trees, " he said, examiningthem through the glass. 

The officer reported what he had seen to the captain, who also inspectedthem through a night-glass. 

"Yes, coasting boats, I think. We'll overhaul them as we come back, wemust not stop now. "

The vessel was now steaming steadily down stream, not quickly, for therewere too many turns, but sufficiently fast to bring them rapidly neartheir goal. 

"Let's see; I want to have a talk to you, Tom Long, about a tripashore--shooting, " said Bob. 

"Silence there, young gentleman, " said the officer of the watch sternly, and then Bob was called suddenly away, so that he had no opportunity fora quiet chat with the young ensign. 

Meanwhile the heavy throb throb of the steamer was the only noise heardsave some weird cry of animal or bird in the dense jungle on eitherside. But every now and then as the waves and wash of the steamerrolled ashore, churning up the mud, they startled the dull, heavyalligators into activity, sending them scurrying off the muddy banksinto deep water, to await the passing of the, to them, large watermonster, whose great bulk dwarfed them into insignificance the mostextreme. 

Lower and lower down stream went the steamer with the dense black lineof jungle on either side, till at the suggestion of the Malay pilots thesteam was turned off, a couple of boats lowered, and the position of thevessel being reversed, she was allowed to float down head to stream, forquite another half-hour, when the word having been given, a small anchorthat had been hanging down in the water was let go, without so much as aplash, the stout hemp cable ran quietly out, and the vessel was checkedjust off the narrow mouth of a creek, which seemed to run up amidst thepalms and undergrowth, for there were no mangroves till the tidal waterswere reached. 

There was a little rapid passing to and fro here, and a couple of boatswere silently lowered down, to go a quarter of a mile below to watch theother entrance to the creek, for the Malays were too fox-like not tohave a hole for exit as well as one for entry. But everything was donein the most noiseless manner, so that when three more boats full ofsoldiers, marines, and sailors rowed off for the creek, no one wouldhave imagined that they had slipped off on a deadly errand, or that thesteamer was cleared for action, the guns shotted and every man ready tolet loose a deadly hail that should cut down the jungle like a scytheamidst the corn. 

But the British officers had yet to learn that the Malays were more thantheir equals in cunning. No sooner had the steamer passed on into thebank of mist and darkness that overhung the river, than there was arustle, a splash, the rattling noise of large oars being thrust out, andin a couple of minutes the two long snaky prahus they had passed crammedwith fighting men were gliding up stream towards the residency, wherecertainly there were sentries on guard, but no dread of an enemy athand. 

The boats then had pushed off from the steamer, which lay ready to helpthem, and rowing out of the swift waters of the river they began toascend the dark and muddy creek, when Bob Roberts, who was with thelieutenant and part of the soldiers in the same boat suddenlywhispered--

"Hark! wasn't that distant firing?"

They listened, but could hear nothing, and the lieutenant was about toorder the men to pull more sharply, when Bob touched his arm again. 

"I'm sure that's firing, sir, " he said. 

"Nonsense, Roberts! absurd! Sit still and be silent. What firing couldit be? We are ten miles from the residency. "

"I can't help it, sir, if we are twenty, " said Bob, sharply. "I'm sureit was firing, and there it goes again. "

"Silence, sir, " said the lieutenant, angrily. "Give way, my lads, giveway. "

The ship's boats glided on over the smooth water, the men rowing withmuffled oars; and so steadily that the blades seemed to be dipping inwithout making a splash. 

The creek grew narrower, so that they had to keep right in the middle toavoid letting the oar blades brush the reeds, and so they rowed on, butwithout seeing anything resembling a prahu. 

As to their direction, that they could not tell, but the shape of thecreek they believed to be that of a bow--at least so the Malays haddescribed it; and as the two ends of the bow must rest upon the river, they were sure, unless they struck up some narrow tortuous way, to comeout at the other mouth and join the boats. 

They went on very cautiously, with the midshipman anxious to talk to TomLong, who sat beside him, but forbidden now to utter so much as awhisper. The oars dipped and rose, dipped and rose, without a sound, and sometimes a reed or water plant rustled slightly as it brushed thesides of the boats. 

That in which the lieutenant was in command led the weird procession, Captain Smithers being in the next, while the third, nearly full ofmarines, every man with his loaded rifle between his knees, was closebehind. 

Still there was no sign of the prahus, and to the lieutenant's greatannoyance, he found that in the darkness they must have turned up thesluggish stream that flowed into the creek, and missed the continuation, which was probably masked with reeds. 

He felt ready to stamp with vexation, but controlling himself he passedthe word, and the boats backed down the stream, that in which theofficer in command was seated, naturally being the last of the three. 

"Wouldn't it have been better to have brought the Malays, sir?" saidBob. 

"Yes, of course; but the cowards were afraid to come, my good lad, " saidthe lieutenant. 

"There, sir, " whispered Bob again, "isn't that firing?"

"If you say another word to me about your confounded firing, " said thelieutenant sharply, "I'll have you gagged, sir. "

"I don't want to talk about it, sir, " grumbled Bob, "but I'm surethere's something wrong up yonder. "

"And I'm sure there's something wrong here, Mr Roberts, " said thelieutenant, "and that's enough for me to attend to. "

They went back in silence for some time, and then Tom Long, whose eyeswere unusually good, pointed to a part of the reed-bed on the right. 

"Is not that the continuation of the creek, sir?"

"Yes, to be sure, so it is, " said the lieutenant. "We can see it comingthis way. It's masked by those trees the other way. Steady, my lads;steady. Let us go first. "

The creek was wider here, so the boats turned, and retook their formerpositions; but still there was no sign of the prahus. 

"Those scoundrels must have led us wrong, " muttered the lieutenant;"there's nothing here. Why, yonder's the open river, isn't it; or is ita wider space? Yes, thank goodness; there are the prahus after all. "

He waited till the other boats closed up, and then whispered his finalorders, appointing two boats to attack one of the prahus while he madefor the other alone. 

"Now then, " he whispered, "are you all ready? A bold dash, my lads, andthey are ours. "

"Please, sir, " said old Dick. 

"What is it?" cried the lieutenant, angrily. 

"Them's our own two boats. I'd swear to 'em. "

"And I'm sure that's _firing_, " cried Bob, aloud. 

"Yes, " said Tom Long, speaking excitedly; "those were the two prahus wepassed on the way down. "

"And they are attacking the residency, " cried Bob. 

Even as he spoke there was a shot fired from the steamer to recall theboats, and the men bent to their stout ashen oars with all their might, the lieutenant as he leaped on board being met by Captain Horton with--

"These Malay tigers are a little too cunning for us, Johnson. Thosewere the prahus we passed on the way down. "

"Yes, sir, another slip; but we may have them yet. "

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

HOW PRIVATE SIM TOOK A NAP, AND FOUND IT UNPLEASANT. 

A general feeling of uneasiness had been excited as soon as it was knownthat the "Startler" had left her moorings to go in search of the twoescaped prahus. Mr Linton did not feel happy in his own mind, thoughhe did not communicate his fears to a soul. 

Still he might have spoken openly, for it would not have caused greaterterrors in the breasts of his daughter and niece, who were for somereason or another too full of vague fears to retire to rest. It did notoccur to them to associate their sensations with the departure of thesteamer. In fact if they had so done, they would not have harboured thethought for a moment, knowing as they did how well-protected they wereby the sturdy little garrison of troops, only about a third of which hadgone upon the expedition. 

Both Tom Long and Bob Roberts might have been conceited enough to thinkthat the uneasiness of the ladies was entirely upon their account, andthey would have been terribly upset to know that not a single thoughtconcerning them had crossed the minds of either since the departure. 

It was, in fact, a vague feeling of general uneasiness, such as mighthave been suffered at any time by those who were comparatively alone inthe midst of a notoriously hostile, and even treacherous people, some ofwhom were friendly to the English, though the majority bore them themost intense hate. 

Even the Major was out of spirits, and told Mrs Major that he wouldafter all a great deal rather be at home, than out in such atreacherous, krising, throat-cutting place as Parang. 

"And a very nice thing to say too, " said Mrs Major Sandars, "just tooas we are going to bed. I shall now lie awake all night thinking, andkeep seeing brown men climbing in through the blinds, and be uneasy ascan be. "

"Don't talk nonsense, " said the Major, gruffly. "But really, I've agood mind to have the sentries increased in number. "

"I really would, if I were you, " said Mrs Major. 

"No; second thoughts are best. There is no occasion to harass the menwith extra duty; and, besides, I'm nearly undressed. "

So the Major and Mrs Major went to bed, as did the majority of those atthe station, excepting, of course, the officer and the guard. 

There was one man though who shared the feeling of uneasiness. Earlierin the night he had been disappointed at not being called upon to formone of the little company for the expedition, for he was raging withdesire to in some way distinguish himself. He was a mere privatesoldier, but he told himself that the way to honour was open; and thougha long and wearisome one for a private, still he might win his way topromotion--corporal, sergeant--some day, perhaps, ensign; and so on, till he became, maybe, adjutant of his regiment. 

He could not sleep that evening, and crushing down the feelings thatoppressed him, he told himself it was the heat, and dressing lightly, hewent out into the comparative coolness of the night. 

He had not gone far before he was reminded that there was watchfulnessaround; for he was challenged by first one and then another sentry, who, however, in turn, let him pass, on finding who it was. And so hewandered restlessly here and there amidst the trees, longing to go inone direction, but fighting hard against the desire; as he told himselfwith a bitter smile that some of the old poison of the water-snake muststill be in his blood, and be the cause of all this restlessness andpain. 

He had wandered here and there for some time, seating himself amidst thetrees, and then going down to the landing-place to gaze at the calmswift river that eddied and gurgled amidst the water-washed boats andmasses of rush at the edge of the island, wondering the while whetherpossibly at some time or another the effect of the constant washing ofthe water might not be to completely sweep away the island. "Not in ourtime of possession, " he said to himself; and turning slowly away hestood hesitating for a while, and then, in spite of his self-restrainthe took the path leading to Mr Linton's house, to convince himself, sohe mentally said, that the place was quite safe. 

The "place" in his brain really meant one solitary being in that house, for if he felt assured that Rachel Linton was sleeping peacefully, andwith no overhanging danger, he said that he should be satisfied. 

He went on then cautiously, getting nearer and nearer to the house, andfeeling surprised that he was not challenged by a sentry, till he wasquite close up, and then his heart began to beat fast, for he fancied heheard whispering voices, and at last, after intense listening, he wasquite sure. 

Here then was the danger; not such danger as he had fancifullyimagined--the swimming of tigers from the mainland, or some noxiousreptile; it was from man that the peril was to come. 

He stole on again, making not a sound. And now he recalled how someMalay had swum to the island and hurled a spear in through one of theresidency windows. 

"Good heavens!" he muttered; "and I am quite unarmed. " As this thoughtoccurred to him, he could hear the whispering continued; and mingledwith it there seemed to come a sound of hard breathing, like a sleeperclose at hand. 

It was so--the sentry asleep; and following the sound two or threeyards, Adam Gray bent over a prostrate form, and caught up the riflewith fixed bayonet, seeing at the same moment that it was Private Sim. 

He was about to kick the fellow, but he thought that by so doing heshould be spreading the alarm, perhaps prematurely; so he walkedcautiously forward towards where the whispering seemed to be. 

It was so dark amidst the trees that he could hardly make out hisposition; but directly after it seemed to him that the sounds came froman upper window; and as the thought struck him he stepped upon a pieceof dry cane, which snapped beneath his feet. 

To bring his rifle to the present was the work of an instant; and as hedid so a quick voice exclaimed, --"Who is there? Is that the sentry?"

"Yes, ma'am, " he replied; feeling the blood tingle in his face, as herecognised the voice. 

"We thought we heard the hard breathing of some beast, or some oneasleep, " said Rachel Linton, with her voice shaking a little as shespoke, "and we were afraid. "

"There was--there is some one asleep here, ma'am;" said Gray, trying tospeak calmly and quietly; "but I am on duty now. "

"It is Private Gray, Rachel, whom you attended to, " said another voice. "Let us go in now, we shall be quite safe. "

"Yes, " said Rachel, in a low voice, meant only for herself; but heardplainly in the utter silence of that night, "we shall be quite safenow. "

"Good-night, sentry, " said Mary Sinclair. 

"Good-night, ma'am, " replied Gray; and he stood and heard the shutterblind closed, with a bitter feeling of annoyance at his heart. 

"My name seems to have driven her away, " he muttered. "At any rate, though, I am of some use, " he said soon after; "she feels safe when I amby. "

All was perfectly still now, except the heavy breathing of Private Sim;and Gray stood thinking what he should do. 

Should he wake up Sim?

No; if he did, he would have to leave him on duty, when he would go tosleep again, and something horrible might happen. 

What was to happen? he asked himself. 

That, he could not say; but on one thing he determined at once, and thatwas, to take Private Sim's place and to keep guard. 

But then Sim's lapse of duty would be found out, and he would beseverely punished. 

Richly he deserved it; but perhaps a severe taking to task might sufficeto awaken him to a sense of his duty; and therefore Gray felt that hewould be lenient, and not betray him, though it was horrible to thinkthat the lives of all on the island might be betrayed to death by theneglect of such a fellow as this. 

Private Gray was a man of quick decision, and his mind was made up atonce. He would keep on duty till it was time for the guard to bechanged, and then he would wake up Sim, and see that a responsible mantook his place. 

"The lazy, untrustworthy scoundrel!" he muttered, as he shouldered therifle and walked up and down for a few minutes along the sentry's post. But matters were not to be ordered as he intended, for he had not beenon duty very long before he heard a sound from the river that made himstart and listen attentively. 

"Nothing!" he said to himself after a few seconds' attention; and heonce more resumed his slow march up and down, the motion seeming to calmhim, for when standing still his thoughts tortured him. 

"There it is again, " he said to himself suddenly. "It is a boat of somekind. "

Plainly enough now he had heard the peculiar creak given by an oarrubbing against wood, and this was repeated again and again. 

He strained his eyes in the direction from which it came, but could seenothing for the trees. Feeling, though, that he ought to act, he wentto where Private Sim still lay sleeping heavily and gave him a lustykick, with the effect of making him start to his feet. 

"I only--oh, it's you Private Gray, " he said, huskily. "I thought itwas the sergeant. "

"You untrustworthy villain!" whispered Gray. "Silence, this moment. Take your rifle, and keep watch till I return. "

"Who are you talking to like that?" said Sim, in a bullying tone. 

"You, sir, " replied Gray, in a low, authoritative manner, which made theman shrink. "Do you wish me to report that I found you sleeping at yourpost? Silence! no words. There is a large boat of some kindapproaching; be on the look-out and challenge, and fire if necessary. "

Private Sim did not answer, but stood on the alert, while Gray ran backin the direction of the fort. 

Before he was half-way there, though, he heard the challenge of a sentryon his right, followed by a faint cry and a heavy fall. 

The challenge was repeated by another sentry farther away, and this timethere was the report of a sentry's rifle; and directly after came frombehind him, where he had left Private Sim, the report of another piece. 

He knew it must be Sim, and as danger was there, his first impulse wasto run back to the help of the ladies and the resident. His secondthought told him that he was unarmed, and such an act would be madness. It must take some time for an enemy to break into the place, and beforethen the soldiers would have turned out. 

In fact the bugle rang out as he hurried on through the darkness, beingcompelled to turn back twice; for he heard the trampling of feet andrustling of the leaves as people forced their way through, and he wasobliged to make somewhat of a detour. 

Even then somebody struck at him, a blow which he returned with hisfist, sending his assailant staggering back amidst the bushes, while heran on, to hear a limbing whistle by his ear. 

Shot after shot had meanwhile been fired, fully giving the alarm, and bythe time Gray reached the fort, after an extremely perilous run--for theway seemed to swarm with enemies; and even now he did not know whetherhe was wounded or no, for he had felt two heavy blows in the chest andback--he found the men falling in, and catching his rifle and belts fromthe stand he joined them. 

Major Sandars was with them, in nothing but his shirt and trousers andbare feet, but he had not forgotten his sword, and in a few short wordshe made his arrangements for the defence of the fort, while, to Gray'sgreat delight, he detailed a party of a dozen men, under a lieutenant, to go down to the residency. 

"You must act according to circumstances, Mr Ellis, " he said quietly. "It is impossible to tell who or how many our assailants are; but thedarkness that favours them will also favour you. Your orders are to getsomehow to the residency, and hold it or bring its occupants away, according to circumstances. "

The lieutenant saluted, and the dozen men, among whom was Gray, weremarched to the gate. 

There was not one among them who had done more than slip on histrousers, so that they were in light fighting trim; and as soon as theywere outside the gate, the lieutenant gave the word, "Quick march--double!" and away they went in single file along the narrow path. 

Before they could reach the residency their pulses began to throb, forthere were the sharp, quick reports of a revolver, fired six times insuccession. Then a rifle spoke, and another followed by a desultoryfiring as if in reply. 

Then from behind came the loud, heavy report of a brass lelah, firedevidently from some boat on the river; then another, and another, withmore desultory firing. 

"Come along my lads; our fellows will talk to them directly. " There wasa crashing volley just then. 

"I told you so. That's English, my lads. Steady, steady; don't get outof breath. As we get out of the wood here, form up directly in theopen, and wait till we can see by the firing where the enemy is. Thenwe'll give him a volley, and charge at once right for the verandah, where we'll take our places, and act as is afterwards necessary. "

The men followed their leader's commands to the letter, formed up in alittle line outside the path, and stood there waiting in the darkness, watching the flashing of a revolver fired from one of the residencywindows, and the quick streaks of light from a party of the enemy, whoever that enemy might be, just in front. 

"Ready!" cried the lieutenant; and as he gave his command there was thequick rattle of the pieces, then a ringing little volley, the cry_Forward_! and on the party dashed with a hearty hurrah, which had theeffect of stopping the fire from the residency, Mr Linton and hisservant, who had been defending the place, recognising the voices offriends. 

The little line, with fixed bayonets, dashed over and swept down acluster of Malays who tried to meet their attack with spears beforetaking to flight, and the next moment, it seemed to Gray, he wasstanding with his comrades in the verandah, reloading. 

"Any one down?" cried the lieutenant, sharply. 

"No, sir; no, sir, " was repeated on all sides. 

"All right then, my boys; make cover of anything--posts, flower vases, anything you can; and we must hold on. Fire where you have a chance;but don't waste a shot. "

The opening of a door changed the plans, for Mr Linton's voice washeard saying, --"Come in quickly; and we can fire from the windows. "This little evolution was soon performed, but under fire, for the Malayssent a desultory series of shots, in company with flying spears, thoughwithout any effect, while, as soon as the rest of the upper windows werethrown open, the men knelt down behind what was an excellentbreast-work, and maintained a steady fire wherever they saw a flash. 

Meanwhile there was some sharp volley firing from the direction of thefort, in reply to that of the enemy's brass lelahs. This was soon afterfollowed by the heavy roar of a larger gun on board one of the prahus, to which the occupants of the little fort could not reply, on account ofthe darkness, and the fact that one of the attacking prahus was betweenthem and the campong, while the other was so sheltered by trees that itwould have been folly to have fired. 

The attack was weak in the extreme--the Malays running forward, firing ashot or two, and then retreating to cover; and this was kept up for aconsiderable time, the enemy evidently thinking that, as the defenderswere weak through the departure of the steamer, they would soon give in. 

It was evident that they were staggered by the defence, for they had nodoubt hoped to surprise both fort and residency. In token of this, theattacking party retreated two or three times over, as if to ask foradvice or fresh orders from their boats--orders that were prettydecisive, for they came on each time more keenly than before, the lasttime with bundles of inflammable wood and reeds, with which they boldlyadvanced to the verandah of the residency, throwing them down and thenrapidly retreating. 

Lieutenant Ellis no sooner became aware of this, though, than he got hismen out from a side window, formed up, waited their time till the Malayscame on, shouting, with a burning torch of inflammable resin, and thengave them a volley, followed by a charge. 

The enemy gave way at once, but only for a few moments; then theirnumbers seemed to become augmented, and with a tremendous rush they boreback the little party of soldiers step by step. Numbers fell, but theypaid no heed to this; and the lieutenant began to wish earnestly thatthey were safe back within the walls of the residency, when there was aroar like thunder, then the beating of gongs on both sides of theisland. Then another roar, and another, and the Englishmen began tocheer and pursue, for the Malays were rushing in the direction of thegongs. 

But it was no time for pursuing this crowd of Malays into narrow pathsthrough dark woods. They had maintained their defence till the steamerhad returned, and now she was firing regularly, gun after gun, in thedirection of the prahus, but doing no harm, the darkness giving them noopportunity for taking aim. 

The firing of the steamer's big Armstrongs had, however, the effect ofcausing a _sauve qui peut_ style of retreat amidst the Malays; and atthe end of ten minutes the sweeps of the prahus were in full work, andthe whole party rapidly making their way up the river once more to somefresh hiding-place, from which they could issue to deal ruin anddestruction wherever they pleased. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

HOW DICK BUYS A RAJAH, AND HIS FIRST LUFF OBJECTS. 

The rapid rate at which the two prahus went away from the island afterthe attacking party had scrambled in, was sufficient to show those onboard the "Startler" how impossible it would be to overtake them bymeans of boats. The only way would be to surprise their crews, or tosink them with the guns of the steamer next time they tried to pass downthe river. 

Congratulations in plenty were exchanged as soon as the communicationswere effected, though a good deal of annoyance was felt at being againout-manoeuvred by the Malay cunning. 

One thing was very evident, and that was that there would be no safetyfor the residency while so daring a chieftain as Rajah Gantang was atliberty, with his two cleverly managed prahus. 

No further alarms took place during the night, and in the morning theamount of damage done was found to be nothing more than a littlecarpentering and painting would restore. The real damage done was tothe British prestige, which, in spite of the brave defence, had receiveda blow in the eyes of the Malays. 

Judging the matter fairly next morning, Mr Linton and the officers cameto the conclusion, after a careful inspection, that though it would havebeen necessary for the occupants of the residency to have fled to thelittle fort, half-a-dozen such desultory attacks would have done thelatter no real harm. 

"No, " said Major Sandars, aloud; "for my part, if provisioned, I shouldsee no difficulty in holding our place against half-a-dozen rajahs. There is only one way in which we could be hit. "

"And that is?" said Captain Horton. 

"By a surprise such as they treated us to last night. There is no otherway in which they could harm us. "

Adam Gray heard his words, and in silence made an addition to them. 

"They could harm us by treachery, or by the neglect of our sentries. "

The dark scene of the previous night flashed across his mind as hethought this, and he recalled Private Sim's recumbent form amidst thegrass, wondering the while whether he ought not to relate what had takenplace, and so obtain for the fellow the punishment he deserved. 

Finally, he made up his mind to let matters take their course, aftergiving Sim to understand that he should report him if such a thing cameunder his notice again. 

The sultan sent word that he was most grieved to hear of this newattack, and begged the resident to spare no pains to root the rajah andhis followers off the face of the earth. He assured Mr Linton, by hismessengers, that he felt the insult as bitterly as if it had beenoffered to himself; while even now, surrounded as he was by faithfulfollowers, he never dared sleep twice in the same place in his house, for fear that an envoy of the rajah should pass a kris up between thebamboos that formed the flooring, and assassinate him. 

The message sent back was, that no effort should be spared to rid theriver, of so dangerous a neighbour; but opportunity failed to offer forcarrying out the promise. 

Anywhere within a mile or two of the sultan's campong the people wereready enough to give information to the English, when a boat was sent tocruise about and endeavour to find where the rajah had hidden; butbeyond that distance they were met with stern looks of distrust, and itwas evident to the officers in charge that the rajah was perfectly safe, his influence being too great amongst the people for any one to act asinformer. 

This added a good deal to the feeling of insecurity felt at theresidency; and to counteract this the ship's carpenters were set to workto contrive stout shutters with loopholes for barricading, and also makethe doors more secure. 

The fort with its little barrack was already pretty safe, and of courseso long as the steamer lay there, any attacking prahus could beliterally blown out of the river; but there was always the risk of thesteamer being called away, and in view of this Mr Linton increased thearms and ammunition at his house, and also asked for an extra sentry. 

In a few days the night attack had lost the greater part of its terrors, for the steamer was not likely to be moved at present, and boats werealmost constantly out patrolling the river in search of the enemy. 

Every sampan or prahu that came down the stream was stopped, boarded, and searched, at first greatly to the annoyance of their occupants. Several times over efforts were made to slip by, but the report of aheavy gun fired across their bows brought the Malays to their senses, and they humbly submitted to the overhauling. 

These boats were for the most part laden with rice, fruit, or slabs oftin, and of these every rajah up the river made a practice of takingtoll for payment of his permission to pass down the stream. 

The occupants of a prahu then might already have paid tax two or threetimes, and the appearance of this new power in the river was resentedstrongly; but when it was found that no tin was taken from them, andthat when rice, or fruit, or poultry was taken, the full market valuewas paid in dollars, a strong friendly feeling sprang up mingled withrespect. 

The news soon spread, and from that time whenever a trading boat camedown from the upper country, the sight of an English boat was sufficientto make the Malays lie on their oars or pole, and await the coming ofthe English officer to board. 

There came quite a calm over the little settlement about this time. Therajah was not heard of, and information, true or false, was brought inthat the prahus were high up the stream, where they had been rowedduring a flood, and taken up a tributary of the main river, where, onthe cessation of the flood, they remained grounded and out of reach. 

The sultan seemed to have forgotten his disappointment about the ladies, and the soldiers and sailors were enjoying a time of indolent ease, their greatest excitement being a little drill. Provisions wereplentiful, fruit abundant, with as much native tobacco as the men likedto buy, at a most moderate price, and in spite of the steamy heat thepeople were perfectly happy. 

Ali, the young chief, had been again to see Bob Roberts on board; but asyet the visit had not been returned, the attack upon the residencyhaving put a stop to all leave for the time being; but as the officerswere getting less strict, the middy was looking forward to the day whenhe could go ashore. In the meanwhile he indulged himself with a littlefishing from out the chains. 

Doctor Bolter was about the happiest man at the island, for now that hehad got his sanitary matters put right, and his wounded men well, he hadample time for following his favourite pursuit of natural history. 

The sailors were in a high state of delight over what they called the"Bolter's weakness, " and out of gratitude to him for many a little bitof doctoring, they took him everything they could get hold of that flew, crept, crawled, ran, or swam, bothering him almost to death. For Jackcould not see the necessity for refraining from presenting the doctorwith a fire-fly, because Tom had taken him a dozen the day before, andBill two dozen the day before that. 

"Wasn't his flies as good as Bill's, or Tom's? Well, then, mind yer ownbusiness, and let him mind his. "

Dick came back from the shore beaming one day, with a large black monkeyunder his arm, held by a stout piece of chain, and a dog collar roundits loins. 

"Hallo, Dick, " said one of his messmates, Bill Black, as soon as heclimbed on board. "Where did you find your little brother?"

"'Tain't no brother o' mine, " said Dick seriously; "he's a Black, andhis name's Joseph, ain't it Joey?"

The monkey wrinkled its forehead, and its restless eyes ran over oneafter the other of the group as the sailors gathered round, who nowbegan laughing. 

"Well, he's a handsome chap at all events, " said Bill, putting out hishand to pat the monkey on the head. 

"Don't touch him, lad, " growled Dick, by way of caution; "he bites. "

"Get out, " said Bill. "Now then, old man, how are you?"

"Chick--chack--squitter--witter--chack, " cried the monkey, snapping atthe sailor's hand and giving it a sharp nip. 

"There, I told you so, " said Dick. 

"Hallo, what have you got there, Dick?" said Bob Roberts, coming up, attracted by the laughing. 

"Native gentleman, sir, I bought for four dollars, " said Dick, seriously. "He's a rar-jah I think, only he hadn't time to get histoggery and his kris afore he come aboard. "

"Didn't know the native gentlemen had tails, " said Bob, smiling. "Hallo, old chap, how are you? Have a bite?"

He held out half a biscuit that he happened to have in his jacketpocket, and the monkey looked at him curiously, as it held out one longthin black hand, flinchingly, as if expecting to be teased. 

Twice it essayed to get the biscuit, but always flinched, till Bob tooka step more in advance, when the animal snatched the coveted morsel andbegan to eat it ravenously. 

"Why, it's half-starved, Dick, " said the middy. 

"Yes, sir, he tried to get a piece of Bill Black's finger, but Bill cutup rough, and wouldn't let him have it. "

Here there was a fresh burst of laughter, in which Bill, whose fingerwas, after all, only pinched, heartily joined. 

"What are you going to do with him, Dick?" said Bob Roberts. 

"Well, sir, " said Dick, with a dry wrinkle or two extra on his mahoganyphysiognomy, "I was going to ask the skipper if he'd like to have thegent for a new middy, seeing as you, sir, have got to be quite a grownman now. "

"Don't you be cheeky, Dick, " said Bob, indignantly. 

"No, sir, I won't, " said the old sailor humbly; "but on second thoughts, which is allers the best, Mr Roberts, sir, I thought as the skipperwouldn't have a uniform as would fit him, so I said as I'd take him onto the island, where they'd soon make a sojer of him. "

"Now look here, Dick, " said Bob, "I take no end of impudence from you, but let there be some end to it. Now then, have you done joking?"

"Yes, sir, but he would look well in a red jacket, wouldn't he?"

"What are you going to do with the monkey?" said Bob, peremptorily. 

"Well, sir, " said Dick, seeing that he had gone far enough, "I was up inthe campong there, and I bought him of one of the niggers as used him topick cokey-nuts. "

"Oh, yes, of course, " said Bob, derisively. 

"He will, " said Dick; "and I bought him because, I says to myself, Isays: Here's just the sorter thing our doctor would be glad to have, andhe'd pin a long name to him directly, and say as he's a BlackskinniusMonkinius, or something of the kind. "

"And are you going to take it to the doctor?" said Bob. 

"Yes, sir, now, directly I've showed you how he can pick cokey-nuts. Bill Black, mate, just step down and bring that ball o' stoutfishing-line out o' the locker, will you?"

The sailor addressed went down, and returned directly after to Dick, whoundid the chain, and tied one end of the stout fishing cord to themonkey's strap. 

The little animal had been munching away at the biscuit in a quaintsemi-human fashion; but as soon as Dick had fastened one end of the cordto the belt, it seemed to know what was wanted, for it squatted upon thedeck, looking intelligently up in the sailor's face. 

"There, ain't he an old un?" said Dick. "Now then, Yusuf, be kraja. "

As the monkey heard the last two words, it sprang up the rigging to oneof the great blocks, which in his mind represented the cocoa-nuts it wasto bring down, and seizing one it tried hard to twist it off, chatteringangrily, till Dick gave the cord a jerk, when the animal bounded toanother block, and tried hard to fetch it off, going so far as to gnawat the rope that held it, till Dick gave the cord another jerk, when itcame down. 

"Well done, old man, " said Dick, patting the animal, which kept close tohis leg, as if feeling that it must find protection of him, when Dicktook it under his arm. 

"Are you going now, Dick?" said Bob, eagerly. 

"Yes, sir. "

"Wait a moment, and let me see if I can get leave. Why, look here; thedoctor's coming aboard. "

True enough, Doctor Bolter was seen in a sampan rowed by one of theMalays, and a minute or two later he was on deck. 

"Monkey, eh?" he said sharply, as he saw the animal. "_SemnopithecusMaurus_, I should say. What are you going to do with it?"

"Dick was going to give it to you, sir, " said Bob, smiling. 

"Give it--to me?" cried the doctor. "Thanks; no, my man, I must drawthe line somewhere. Keep it on board. Climb the rigging, and that sortof thing. Here, you Roberts, tell the captain I'm here. "

Bob went off, and then brought a message to the doctor, who went intothe cabin. On returning to where Dick was standing, that worthy wasscratching in a melancholy way at his head. 

"I'm 'bout done over this here monkey, sir, " he said. "I can't go andget the chap to take him back. "

"Keep him, and make a pet of him, Dick, " said the middy, holding out alump of sugar to the subject of their conversation. 

"No, sir, that wouldn't do. The skipper wouldn't stand it; and besides, if the monkey was mine the chaps would lead him such a life, teachinghim to smoke tobacco and drink grog. Will you have him, sir?"

"No, Dick, " was the reply. "I've no money to spend on monkeys. "

"I didn't mean that, sir, " said Dick. "I meant it for a present for thedoctor. Will you have him as a present, and take care of him?"

"Of course I will, Dick, but I don't like taking it. "

"Why, bless your 'art, Mr Roberts, sir, you'd be doing me a kindness bytaking of it. You take it, and you can larn him all sorts of tricks. Why, look at the pretty crittur, how he takes to you!"

"Pretty crittur, indeed!" cried Bob. "You mean how he takes to thesugar. Here, come along, old man. Come, rouse up. "

To Bob's surprise the monkey got up, and came close to him, while uponDick making a motion as if to refasten the chain, the animal snarled andsnapped at him. 

"There now, look at that, " cried Dick. "You see you'll have to take it, Master Roberts, sir. "

"I'll take him for a day or two, " said Bob; "but I expect the skipperwon't let me keep it. "

"Lor' bless you, sir, he'll let you keep it, see if he don't, " said theold sailor, and his words proved true. 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

HOW BOB ROBERTS WENT A-FISHING. 

Bob Roberts liked having the monkey, but there was a sore side to thematter; it was unpleasant to hear that the first lieutenant had saidthat one monkey was enough in the ship, and they did not want two. 

"It's as good as telling me to my face that I'm a monkey, " said Bob tohimself. "Now look here, I shall just go and ask him to lend me thedinghy to sit in and fish, and old Dick to manage it; and if he says no, I shall just tell him that his remark about the monkey was preciousungentlemanly. "

So Bob went up to the first lieutenant and preferred his request, fullyanticipating a refusal, but to his surprise the officer in question wasall that was urbane and pleasant. 

"Fishing from the dinghy, eh, Roberts?" he said, smiling. 

"Yes, sir, I thought I might catch a basket if I fished from the dinghy. I lose so many hauling them up the side into the chains. "

"To be sure--yes--of course, " said the lieutenant. "On one condition, Roberts, you can have it. "

"What's that, sir?"

"Two conditions, I should say, " replied the lieutenant. "The boat is tobe properly cleaned afterwards, and we are to have a dish of fresh fishfor the gun-room dinner. "

"Certainly, sir, " said Bob, laughing, "if I catch them. "

"You must catch them, " said the lieutenant. "Ah, I remember the dayswhen I used to be fond of going up the Thames fishing, and--there, beoff with you as soon as you like. "

The first lieutenant smiled as he felt that he had been about to proseover his old days; and Bob having obtained leave for Dick to be hiscompanion, and to manage the boat if he should elect to go up or downthe river, instead of lying astern hitched on to a ring-bolt, was soonover the side, with plenty of hooks and lines and bait. 

"This here's a rum sorter game, Mr Roberts, sir, " said old Dick, assoon as he had fastened the boat's painter to a ring in the stem part ofthe great steamer. "I'm afraid I shan't be strong enough for the job. "

Dick glanced at the great muscles in his sun-browned arms with a smileof pride, and then stared at the middy, who turned upon him sharply. 

"Now look here, old Dicky, " he said, "you've come here to manage thedinghy for me, and not to preach and drive away all the fishes. So justlight your pipe and sit still and hold your tongue, and if I find youare not strong enough to do that, I'll hail the steamer, and ask them tosend me down another hand. "

Old Dick chuckled and grinned, and without more ado took out and filleda short black pipe, which he lit with a burning glass, and then satcontentedly sucking at it, while Bob, who had provided himself with abamboo about ten feet long--a natural fishing-rod in one piece--fittedon a thin line, baited his hook, and began to fish in the deep stream. 

The sun poured down his rays like a shower of burning silver, and inspite of the puggaree with which he had provided himself, Bob found theheat almost too much for him, and looked enviously at old Dick, who layback in the bows of the little cockle-shell of a boat, with his kneesin, his chin pointing upwards, and his arms resting on the sides, literally basking in the hot glow. 

The line kept floating down with the stream, and Bob kept pulling it upand dropping it in again close to the boat, but there was no sharp tugat the bait; and after half an hour of this work a peculiar drowsyfeeling began to come over the middy, the bright flashing river ran on, and the palms and attap-thatched houses on the shore began to run ontoo, and all looked misty and strange, till the rod was about to fallfrom his hand, his nodding head to rest itself upon his chest, and thefirst lieutenant's basket of fish to vanish into the realm ofimagination--when there was a tremendous tug, and Bob started intowakefulness, with his bamboo bending nearly double, and some large fishmaking the line hiss through the water as it darted here and there. 

The contest was short and furious. Any doubts in the middy's mind as tothe existence of fish in the river were gone, for he had hooked amonster. Now it was rushing up towards the surface, now diving down sodeeply that the top of Bob's bamboo dipped in the water, and then it wassailing up and down stream, anywhere in fact, but never giving theexcited lad a chance of seeing what it was like. 

"Had I better go in arter him, sir?" said Dick, grinning. 

"I don't know, Dick. I think--oh, I say, look at that!"

_That_ was Bob's line hanging limply from his straight bamboo, for therewas a furious rush, a dull twang, and the fish had gone. 

"He was a big 'un, sir, " said Dick, refilling his pipe. "Never mind. Try another, sir; better luck next time. "

Bob sighed as he fitted on a fresh lead and hook, and was soon fishingonce more, thoroughly awake now; and to his great delight he felt asharp tug at his line, and striking, found that he had hooked a fish ofa manageable size, which he soon hauled into the boat, and recognised asthe _ikan sambilang_, a fish frequently sold to them by the Malays, andesteemed quite a delicacy. 

"It's a rum-looking one, " said Dick, examining the captive as Bob put ona fresh bait. "It's just like one of the eel pouts as we boys used toketch down in the drains in Yorkshire. "

"In the drains, Dick?"

"Oh, I don't mean your drains. I mean land drains as take the water offa country. We used to catch lots on 'em, thick, short, fat fellows, butthey hadn't got a lot of long beards like these here. What, anotheralready!"

"Yes, and a big one too, " said Bob, excitedly, as he lugged out, after asharp tussle, a handsome fish, with glistening scales, and a sharp backfin, bearing some resemblance to a perch. 

"That's the way, sir, " said Dick, smoking contentedly in the bows. "Ilike fishing arter all. "

Bob smiled, and went on catching the little barbed fish, rapidly, andevery now and then a good-sized fellow of a different kind. Two orthree of the men came and leaned over the side to watch them for a fewminutes, but the heat seemed too much for their interest to be kept up, and they soon disappeared. 

There was a little audience on the further bank, though, which watchedBob's fishing without ceasing, though unseen by the young fisherman. This audience consisted of three half-nude Malays, lying in a sampanhidden amidst the reeds of the river's side, and these men seemedgreatly interested in all that was going on, till, as the evening drewnear, Bob, who had captured at least sixty fish of various sizes, sat atlast completely overcome by the heat, and following Dick's example, forthat worthy had gone off fast asleep, and Bob's bamboo dipped in thewater, the line unbaited, and offering no temptations to the hungryperch. That was the time for which the Malays in the sampan had beenwaiting, and one of them glided over the side like a short thick snake, reached the shore, and then making his way up stream for some littledistance, he softly plunged in, with nothing but a kris in his lingouti, or string round the waist used by the natives to support their loincloths, and after swimming boldly out for some distance, turned over, and floated with just his nose above the water. 

The stream did all he required, for the Malay had calculated hisdistance to a nicety, so that he was borne unseen right to the steamer'sbows, and then floated along her side, and round the stem, where a fewstrokes brought him into the eddy. 

Dick and the fisherman slept on soundly, so that they did not see abrown hand holding a keen kris raised from the water to divide theboat's painter, neither did they see that the same hand held on by thecut rope, and that the dinghy was floating, with its strange companion, swiftly down the stream. 

At the end of five minutes it had been swept round a bend, and was outof sight of the steamer. 

So likewise was the sampan from which the Malay had come, while one ofits occupants steered it into the dinghy's course, and the othercrouched in the forward part with a keen-headed limbing or spear. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

HOW BOB AND OLD DICK FINISHED THEIR DAY. 

The very motion of the boat lulled its occupants into a deeper sleep asthey glided on and on down the swift deep river, with the tall wavingpalms and the dark undergrowth ever slipping by the travellers, who hadembarked now upon a journey whose end was death. 

The sampan floated quietly on in attendance, and the Malay, whose handwas twisted in the boat's painter, kept beneath the bows of the littleboat with merely his face above water, the dinghy now floating downstern foremost, and, having been guided into the swiftest part of thestream, always faster and faster towards its journey's end. 

Utterly unconscious of danger, and dreaming comfortably of being in aland of unlimited do-nothingism, Dick's head lay across the gunwale ofthe boat in terrible proximity to the Malay's kris; while Bob, with hischin on his chest, was far away in his old home, in a punt of which hehad lost the pole, and it was being whirled along faster and fasterthrough the shallows towards the mill down at the bend of the river. 

He was very comfortable, and in spite of an uneasy position his sleepwas very sweet, unconscious as he was of anything having the semblanceof danger. 

And now the dinghy was a good half mile below where the steamer wasmoored. They had passed the last house standing on its stout bambooprops, some distance above, and the river had curved twice in its bed, so that they had long been concealed from any one upon the deck, andstill the Malays hesitated, or rather waited the time to make theirspring. They had no special enmity against the occupants of the dinghyin particular, but they were three of the most daring followers of RajahGantang, who had assumed the part of fishermen in a sampan, with a roughcast net, so as to hang about the neighbourhood of the "Startler, " andpick up information for their chief, who, so far from being, with histwo prahus, _hors de combat_, was merely lying-up in a creek hidden bybamboos and palms, awaiting his time to take deadly vengeance upon thedestroyers of his stockade and miners of his income from the passingboats. 

The opportunity of cutting off a couple of the hated infidels who hadforced themselves into the peaceful country, where their rajah, likemany another, had been free to carry on a happy lawless existence, cutting throats, selling slaves, committing acts of piracy, andindulging in every vile and sensuous custom, was one not to be lost. Rajah Gantang wanted no peace, or order, or prosperity in the land wherehe could seize on the wretched people, and make them pay him in gold, tin, rice, poultry, fruit, or any precious commodity, for the right topass down the river, which he, and a few more of his stamp, looked uponas theirs by right; so that his three followers were certain to receivepraise and reward for the proof they might be able to show of the deathof a couple of the giaours. 

For the Malays are good Mohammedans, and look upon the slaying of aChristian as a most meritorious act, but at the same time they were toocautious to endanger their plot or their own lives by undue haste. 

Hence it came about that the dinghy was allowed to drift down, a goodthree quarters of a mile, before the Malays made any attempt, when, asthe sampan closed up, and the man in her bows raised his limbing tothrow, the savage in the water reached up one hand to Dick's shoulder, and struck at him with the other. 

The blow from the kris and the hurling of the spear took place at oneand the same moment, but the touch of the Malay's hand upon his shouldermade Dick leap up with such a sudden start, that the aim was baffled, and the boat rocked so violently that the spear whizzed by Bob Roberts'head, and plunged into the water. 

In a moment more Dick had seized the little scull that lay in thedinghy, and struck the Malay in the river so severe a blow on the headthat the man went under, to rise again a few yards away, and then paddlefeebly towards the sampan, whose occupants, spear in hand, now made adesperate attack upon those they meant to make their prey. 

Bob Roberts never quite knew how it all took place, but he had a livelyrecollection of old Dick standing up in the boat, sweeping the littleoar round his head, and striking fiercely at the men who thrust at himwith their spears. 

It was a most unequal encounter, for while the Malays were uponcomparatively substantial ground, the dinghy rocked to and fro, and itonly needed the hand of the half-drowned Malay to catch at the side, ina frantic effort to save his life, to send it right over, and Bob andthe English sailor into the stream. 

Bob felt that his minutes were numbered, for as he struck out for theshore the Malays in the sampan uttered a savage yell, and came inpursuit. 

Dick swam to his side on the instant, and the dinghy went floating awaywith the half-drowned Malay, while now the sampan was close after them, and as one of their enemies rowed, the other stood in the bows ready tothrust at them with his spear. 

"Swim away, my lad, " cried old Dick, hoarsely, "and get ashore, I'm onlyan old 'un, and I'll get a grip of his spiker if I can. "

"No, no, Dick, keep with me, " panted Bob, who saw in Dick's words adetermination on the brave old fellow's part to sacrifice his life thathe might live. 

"No, my lad, it's no use. Swim on, " cried Dick, "they're here. Tellthe skipper I did my dooty like a man. "

As he bravely shouted these words in his excitement, he turned to facehis enemies, the Malay with the limbing thrusting savagely at him. 

But Dick was quick enough to strike the limbing aside, and grasp it withboth hands, when a struggle for its possession took place. 

It was a futile effort, though, upon Dick's part, for the other Malaydropped his oar, and picking up another spear, came to his comrade'shelp. 

Bob was paralysed, and the desire was upon him to shut his eyes, andescape seeing the death of the brave old sailor, who was giving his lifeto save his young officer; but in place of closing his eyes, the middyfelt that he was forced to hold them open, and fixed them upon theterrible scene; and his lips parted to utter a cry of warning, when, just as the third Malay was about to deliver his thrust, to avert whichDick was powerless, there was a sharp whizzing noise through the air, accompanied by a loud report, and then another whizzing, and a secondreport. 

Bob turned his head to see the smoke rising from above a good-sizednaga, or dragon-boat, coming up the stream, and at the sight thereof theMalays seized their oars, gave the sampan a sharp impulse which broughtthem within reach of their comrade, and after helping him on board, theyrowed off with all their might, with the dragon-boat coming up fast. 

But the naga had to stop and pick up the middy and Dick who had swum, assoon as they were free from enemies, towards the dinghy, which theyreached as the dragon-boat came up. 

"Are you hurt?" said a voice in English, and a delicate hand wasstretched down from the naga's side to help Bob in, where, as he sankdown panting, he recognised Ali, the young Malay chief. 

"No: only half-drowned. But Dick--save Dick. "

"I'm all right, Mr Roberts, sir, " said the old sailor, hoarsely; "andthe dinghy's made fast astern. "

"But are you speared, Dick?" said the middy. 

"Not as I knows on, sir. I ain't felt nothing at present, but I don'tsay as I ain't got a hole in me somewheres. "

"They'll get away, " said Ali, just then, as he stood up with a doublegun in his hand. "Only small shot, " he said, tapping the stock. "Ihave no bullets. "

As he spoke he clapped the piece to his shoulder and fired twicerapidly, as the Malays in the sampan seemed to dive through a screen ofreeds into some creek beyond. 

The pattering hail of straggling small shot hastened their movements, and then Bob proceeded to thank the young chief for saving their lives, explaining to him, as far as he knew, how it was that they had falleninto such a plight. 

"You must take more care, " said Ali, in a low voice. "Our people wouldnot harm you; we are friends, but plenty hate you much. But you aresafe. "

"Yes, " said Bob, who, with all the elasticity of youth, was fastrecovering himself, "we are quite safe; and the fish are there too. Isay, though, old chap, I am so much obliged. "

"Oh, no, " said the young Malay, laughing, as he coloured through hisbrown skin; "it is nothing. I saw a wretch trying to do harm, and Ifired at him with small duck shot. You would do the same. "

"Yes, and with bigger shot too if I had a chance, " said Bob excitedly, as he proceeded to wring all the water he could out of his clothes, fornow the excitement was over he felt slightly chilly. 

Meanwhile the boatmen were rowing steadily up stream, it having beenseen to be useless to attempt pursuit of the Malays in the sampan, andthey were rapidly nearing the steamer. 

"'Scuse me, Mr Roberts, sir, " said Dick, who was very wet and spongy, "but your knife's littler than mine, and if you'd pick a few o' thesehere small shot outer my arms, I'd feel obliged. "

Examination showed that Dick had received quite a dozen shots in hisarms and chest. They had just buried themselves beneath the skin, andwere easily extracted by means of an open knife, after which Dickdeclared himself to be much better. 

"They've give them Malay chaps a tickling, I know, " he cried, laughing. "I'm such a thick-skinned 'un, I am, that they only just got through. I'll bet an even penny they've gone a good inch into them niggers. "

The boat now reached the steamer, where, after a warm and heartyparting, Bob stepped into the dinghy with Dick, and the remains of thepainter were made fast to the cut fragment hanging from the ring. 

"Now, if you'll take my advice, Mr Roberts, " said the old sailor, "you'll step up and get to your berth, and change your togs, while I getout the fish and wash the dinghy. Being wet won't hurt me. What's moreis, as I shouldn't say nought about the scrimmage; specially as we'renot hurt, or you won't get leave again. "

"But you are hurt, Dick. "

"Bah! Don't call that hurt, dear lad. I'm as right as nine-pence. Yougo on, and think about what I've said. "

"I will, Dick, " said Bob; "but take care of the fish. "

"Ay, ay, sir. "

"But I say, Dick. "

"Ay, ay, sir. "

"How did the dinghy get loose? You must have gone to sleep. "

Dick rubbed his ear. "Well, sir, suttunly I think I must have shut oneeye; but how the dinghy got loose is more than I can say, unless themspiteful niggers cut us adrift. But you get aboard. We ain't beenmissed. "

But Dick was wrong: they had been missed, and the sentry had reportedthe coming of the naga-boat; so that as soon as Bob had changed his wetclothes for dry, he had to go to the captain's cabin and relate thewhole affair. Those on board merely supposing that they had gone downthe river to fish, it was a remark made aloud by the young chief Alithat had started a train of ideas in the first lieutenant's head thatsomething was wrong. 

"Ah, " said Captain Horton, "that was well done of the young chief. Butit seems to me that we've a lot of ugly scoundrels about to deal with, and we must take care, gentlemen, we must take care. "

"Yes, Captain Horton, " said the first lieutenant, "and we will. But arethere no fish there for us, Roberts, eh?" he continued. 

"Yes, sir, there are, " said Bob. "I've caught you a capital dish. Andvery nearly got turned into ground bait for my pains, " he said tohimself, as he went out to find Dick. "I say, Dick, " he said, as he methim with the basket of fish, "did you think about crocodiles when youwere in the water?"

"No, sir, never once; there was too much to think about beside. "

"So there was, Dick, " said Bob. "There's sixpence: go and ask them togive you a glass of grog to keep out the cold, but first change yourthings. I'll take the fish. "

"Right, sir, " said Dick: but he finished the dinghy first, said thatthere'd be a row about the cut painter, and then had his glass of grogbefore he changed his things. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

A RUN AFTER A RAJAH. 

Fresh news reached the residency the next day from the sultan, who sentword that he had had a very threatening letter from Rajah Gantang, declaring that if he did not break at once with the English, ruin, destruction, and death would be his fate before many months had passed. 

This threatening language had completely upset the sultan, so the chiefwho bore the message said, and he begged that his friends and allies, the English, would not let him suffer for his fidelity to them; and whenasked what he wished done, the chief replied that while Rajah Gantanglived there would be no peace, for the rajah's emissaries were in everypart of the country, ready to carry news, to rise on their lord'sbehalf, even to assassinate, should their orders be to that extent. 

The result of all this was a promise that the rajah should be found, ifpossible, though how it was to be done the resident could not say. 

Just in the nick of time a good-sized prahu came down the river, and onanchoring by the steamer her captain went on board, with a pitiful taleof how he had been treated higher up the river. 

Believing the rajah's power to be broken, he had been on his way down, laden with a good cargo of tin, when he was summoned by a prahu to stop. This he refused to do, not knowing who summoned him, when he wasattacked by a party from the prahu, two of those on board were killed, and he himself severely wounded. 

In proof of his assertions he displayed a spear wound in his arm and thestab of a kris in his shoulder. 

Doctor Bolter was sent for, and the master of the prahu had his woundsdressed, after which he implored the help of Captain Horton to recoverthe slabs of tin that had been taken from his boat, almost ruining him, so severe was the loss. 

The news that one of the prahus was about, up the river, set the ship'scompany on the _qui vive_ once more. The master of the prahu, havingbeen robbed of his cargo, had no farther aim, and was glad enough tooffer his services as guide. When asked as to the depth of the river, he declared that the steamer could ascend for another twenty miles, soit was decided to make a fresh expedition against this disturber of thecountry; but the whole of the plans were kept a profound secret, lestthe time and arrangements of the party should again be conveyed to therajah by some one or other of his spies. 

Preparations were quietly made, then, and fifty men from the islandtaken on board the steamer, a few at a time, so as not to attractnotice; and when at last the expeditionary party started, the occupantsof the residency were dining with Major and Mrs Sandars at theofficers' quarters, where they quietly stayed. 

Steam had been got up before dark, and every preparation made, for thistime the "Startler" was to go up stream: and at last, when night rapidlysucceeded day, as it does in the tropics, the steamer lay waiting forthe rising of the moon, and then her screw slowly revolved, and shebegan to feel her way gently against the swift stream--the people of thecampong only seeing her at nightfall moored as usual, and not awaking tothe fact that she had gone until the morning, of course far too late togive any warning to the rajah if they were so disposed. 

Patiently and almost silently the great steamer forced its way on forquite a mile, when, there being no fear now of being heard, thepropeller revolved more rapidly, and the waves made by the vessel ranwashing the roots of the trees on either side. 

The moon was just at its full, and seemed, as it rose, to silver thetops of the trees, while it left the river in utter darkness, though itmarked out its course through the dense jungle where it seemed to haveto cut its way, the great trees growing to the water's edge, andoverhanging the stream. 

A rapid rate was impossible, on account of the way in which the riverwound about; but it kept so wide and deep that there was but littledifficulty in its navigation, especially as not a single craft of anykind was encountered. 

The master of the prahu pointed out a couple of campongs as they passedthem, on the banks; but they might have been villages of the dead, sosilent and unoccupied did they seem, as the steamer slowly glided by. 

The moon rose higher and higher, till the river was like a broad path ofsilver, and along this they continued their course with a man constantlysounding from the chains, but always to show an average depth of aboutfour fathoms, with a thick, soft, muddy bottom, upon which the steamercould have met with no harm had she taken the ground. 

Silence had been ordered, but as the Jacks and soldiers sat beneath theshelter of the bulwarks, or leaned over and watched the smooth, silveryriver, they conversed in low whispers about the expedition, and wonderedwhat luck was to attend them now. 

The plan was evident to all, it was intended to spare the men all therisk they could, by getting the steamer within range of the prahus, andsinking them with her big guns. If this could not be done, through theshallowing of the river, of course the boats would have to continue thejourney up stream; but even then it was Captain Horton's intention tomake use of the boat-guns as much as possible, and save the men from thedisadvantages of boarding vessels that were so carefully protected. 

Higher up the river still, and past the stockade, whose remains showedplainly in the soft moonlight. Ever and again strange noises could beheard from the jungle on either side, as the various denizens of thethick tangle of vegetation were alarmed by the throb and rush of thesteamer, with its strange wave that rushed up to the bank, and startledmany a nocturnal creature from its lurking-place, where it lay watchingin search of prey. 

To Bob Roberts' great delight, he found that Tom Long was one of theparty, for, being declared well enough by the doctor, he had put in asort of claim, as having been of the last force, to a right to belong tothis. 

This was conceded to him by Major Sandars, and he was burning todistinguish himself, if he could obtain a chance. 

Very formidable he seemed, with his sword ground to the keenest possibleedge, and a revolver in his belt; though in appearance Bob Roberts wasscarcely less offensive in the way of weapons, as he took pains to showhis friend. 

It must have been close upon midnight, when the man in the chains, whohad continued to take soundings, announced by degrees the shallowing ofthe river. 

For quite twenty miles it had kept to its muddy bottom and uniformdepth, but during the past half-hour the mud had given place toclean-washed gravel, the depth grew less, and at last the anchor was letgo, for it was not considered safe to proceed farther. But it was notuntil there was less than a foot of water beneath the vessel that theorder was given; while even then there was so much way upon the steamerthat she touched upon the gravel lightly before she gradually settledback and swung to her cable. 

Quickly and silently four boats were lowered, each containing twentymen, and at the word of command the party, under the joint command ofLieutenant Johnson and Captain Smithers, pushed off, with the goodwishes of all left on board. 

The master of the prahu was in the foremost boat, and according to hisaccount, they were still about a couple of miles below where the attacktook place, he having been mistaken about the steamer's draught ofwater. His opinion was that both the prahus would be found lying in theQualla, or mouth of a river higher up, and towards this point the boatssteadily ascended without any undue bustle, for the object of theofficers in charge was to get the men up to the point, fresh and readyfor the task in hand. 

Each boat carried a gun running on slides, and upon the proper serviceof these guns, depended a good deal of the success of the expedition. 

They had been rowing steadily on for above half an hour, when suddenlyfrom their left a bright line of light cut the black darkness of theforest, and was followed by a sharp report. 

For a moment the course of the boats was checked, and one was directedto pull in and see who the enemy might be, but directly after there wasanother report a couple of hundred yards higher up, and then another, and another. 

"Catch a weasel asleep, " said Lieutenant Johnson, grimly; "that signalwill run right up to the prahus. We've got to deal with some one whohas his wits about him. "

So indeed it proved; for a quarter of an hour later, as they stillpushed steadily on in line, there came a warning from the first boat inthe shape of a dull heavy report, and the other boats sheered out of theright line, ready to deliver their own fire. 

For plainly enough, though wearing a grey shadowy appearance, a coupleof prahus could be seen coming swiftly down the stream, the long rows ofoars on either side beating the water with a wonderfully regular stroke, and sending them along at quite a startling rate. 

Shot after shot was fired, but with what effect the occupants of theboats could not tell, for no heed was paid to the firing, save that theprahus seemed to increase their speed, and were steered so as to rundown the enemy that tried to check their way. 

It was a matter of little more than a minute from the first sighting ofthe vessels, each of which was five or six times the size of the largestboats, and their disappearance round the point below, with the waterfoaming behind them, and the English boats in full pursuit. Severalshots had been fired, for each boat found its opportunity at last, andthe firing was kept up till the enemy had gone. 

The attempt to overtake them was, however, felt to be hopeless, for theprahus went at least two yards to the boats' one; all the officers couldhope was, that one of the shots had done irreparable mischief, or that, warned by the firing, the steamer would sink them as they passed. 

More they could not have done; for to have remained still was to havebeen sunk, the prahus dashing down at a fearful rate, and evidentlyseeking a collision; so, angry and disappointed, the pursuit was keptup, every ear being attent for the first shot sent at the enemy's boatsby the steamer; but they waited in vain, for when at last they camewithin challenging distance, it was to find that no prahus had beenseen. 

"Was a strict watch kept, sir?" asked Lieutenant Johnson, sharply. 

"Yes, of course, " said Captain Horton. "I have been on deck with mynight-glass ever since you started, and as soon as we heard your gunsthe men stood ready, lanyard in hand, to fire at any vessel that triedto pass. "

"Then they must have gone off through some side stream, and come outinto the river lower down. "

Captain Horton stamped his foot with rage, but nothing could be doneuntil morning; for if the steamer had set off at once, it might havebeen only to pass the prahus in the darkness of some creek. 

Morning then was impatiently awaited, and at the first streak ofdaylight a couple of boats at once set off, to find a side branch of theriver about a mile above the steamer, and that it came out in the mainstream once more, half a mile lower down. 

They rowed through it to find the current swift and deep, though theplace resembled a narrow canal. It was a short cut off through a bendof the river, and at last, vexed and discomfited, the steamer wentrapidly back, to learn that the prahus had passed the island atdaybreak, and had fired a few defiant shots from their lelahs as theyrapidly went by. 

"Never mind, Tom Long, " said Bob, as the former shivered in hisgreat-coat, for the early morning was damp and cold, "only take time, and we shall put salt on their tails yet. "

"No, sir, " said old Dick, shaking his head seriously, "it strikes me asyou never won't catch them as manages them two swift boats. They're tooclever for us, they are. But only think of two big bits of HerMajesty's army and navy like us being set at nought by this here savageprince. "

"Wait a bit, Dick, and you'll see, " said Bob. "It strikes me that I'mthe man for settling Mr Rajah Gantang; and if it does come to me to doso, why let him look out. "

"Ay, ay, sir; and his men too. I owe 'em one for that boat affair. Thecowards! when a fellow was asleep!"

"Ah, " said Tom Long, discontentedly, "it's all very well to talk, but Iwant my breakfast;" and he made haste off to his quarters as soon as thesteamer's boats had set the military part of the expeditionary partyashore. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

HOW ABDULLAH SHOWED THE SMOOTH SIDE OF HIS WAYS. 

It was decided after this to wait patiently for an opportunity tocapture Rajah Gantang, or to destroy his prahus; and meanwhile life atthe residency went on very pleasantly. The men at the fort had settleddown into an easy-going existence, and under the doctor's guidance acareful examination was made of the little island, to clear it ofeverything in the shape of noxious reptile and insect, as far as waspossible. 

The example of the Malays was followed by the construction of a largebathing-place for the men, which being carefully stockaded round withstout bamboos, allowed the free flow of the river-water, without theaddition of any four-footed creatures, in the shape of crocodiles, whichwere far too common to be pleasant, especially where lower down theriver the salt water mingled with the fresh. In fact, it was dangerousthere for a hand to be dragged in the water beside a boat, the hideouscreatures being ready to make a dash at it, darting through the stream, as they did with great velocity, by a stroke of their powerful tails. 

The great desire on the part of the men was to go ashore, but, in themajority of cases, this was sternly refused. Here and there, though, anofficer had a shooting-trip, but it was thought better to wait until theconfidence of the natives had been more thoroughly won, and thedisaffected party of Rajah Gantang dismissed. 

The sultan seemed to have quite forgotten his rejection by the ladies, and was most liberal in his presentations of fruit and fresh provisions. Every morning a boat came off with a load, the fore part beinggenerally crammed with freshly-cut flowers; and later on in the day theresident's boat would be sent ashore to return the compliment. Tom Longgenerally had the honour of being the escort, and marching a fatigueparty up to the sultan's residence, with something likely to gratify hishighness. 

There used to be hearty laughter amongst the officers at the quaintnessof the presents, and sometimes Tom Long would have been glad to evadehis duty had he dared; for, he confided to Bob Roberts--

"It is so confoundedly ridiculous, you know. I don't mind taking him upa little case of a dozen champagne pints, but what do you think I had totake yesterday?"

"I don't know, " said Bob, laughing; "a pound of candles, perhaps. "

"No, not yesterday, " cried Tom Long; "but I did have to take him apacket of composite candles, one day. Only fancy, you know, an officerin Her Majesty's service marching with a fatigue party, up to apalm-thatched barn, to take a coffee-coloured savage a packet of candlesfor a present!"

"Mustn't look a gift horse in the mouth, " said Bob, philosophically. "Present's a present, whether it's a pound of candles or a gold chain. "

"Bah! It's disgusting, " said Tom Long. "It's enough to make a man wantto part with his commission. "

"What'll you take for it, Tom Long? I think I should like a change. Orcome, I'll swap with you. I'll turn ensign, and you take a go at thesea?"

"Don't be absurd. "

"Certainly not; but come, you didn't tell me what you took upyesterday. "

"No, " exclaimed Tom Long, flushing with annoyance; "but I will tell you, for it's a scandal and a disgrace to the service, and Mr Linton oughtto be informed against. I actually, sir, had to march those men allalong through that jungle with a box. "

"Box of what?" said Bob; "dominoes?"

"No, sir, " cried Tom Long. "A box containing two bottles of pickles. "

"Ha, ha, ha, ha!" roared Bob. "What were they? Walnuts, or onions?"

"Neither, " said Tom, with great dignity; "one was piccalilli, and theother mixed. "

"Well, I dare say he was very glad of them, " said Bob. "I consider agood bottle of pickles, out in this benighted place, one of the greatestluxuries one could have. "

"Yes, " said Tom Long, who had on a supercilious fit that day, "I supposeit would satisfy you. "

"All right, my noble friend, " thought Bob to himself; "I'll take youdown for that some day. "

They strolled out and about the fort together for a time, and then outto the upper end of the island; for though longing to go to the lowerportion where the residency stood, both of them carefully avoided thatpart. But it so happened that soon after, when they directed theirsteps towards the landing-place, they found that the ladies were there, in company with the major's wife, talking to a couple of Malays in asampan laden with fruit and flowers. 

The ladies were making liberal purchases of the delicious fruit andsweet-scented flowers, when, to the astonishment of Bob Roberts, he sawthat one of the Malays, was the man who had made so fierce an attackupon Tom Long over the durian affair. 

Seeing this they both stepped forward, when the Malay recognised him, said a few hasty words to his companion, and they both leaped ashore, the man of the kris salaaming profoundly, and remaining half prostratebefore the young ensign. 

"Dullah asks pardon of his excellency, " said the other man in goodEnglish. "He thought him an enemy who had insulted him, and he drew hiskris. He asks now that his excellency will forgive him. "

"Yes, yes, " said the offending Malay, without raising his head or hispleading hands; and then he repeated what seemed to be the whole of hisstock of English, "Yes, yes. "

"Dullah asks your excellencies to forgive him, and to let him bringfruit and flowers, and to make offerings to the English princes he hasoffended. "

"Oh, I say, Tom Long, " said Bob; "that's a little too strong, isn't it?English princes!"

"What are we to do about the fellow?" said Tom Long; "tell the sentry toturn him off?"

"No; what's the good?" said Bob. "Here, leave it to me. I'll settlehim. "

He glanced merrily at Rachel Linton as he spoke, seeming quite at easein her society now; while Tom Long appeared to be buttoned up in hisstiffest uniform, though he was in undress white. 

"Go on, then, " said Tom Long in a whisper, "but don't say anythingstupid; the ladies can hear every word. "

"All right, " said Bob. "Look here, old cockolorum, " he continued to theMalay who interpreted, "what has become of that Kling who was herebefore?"

"Gone Mirzapore, most excellent prince, " said the man. 

"Come, that'll do, " said Bob impatiently; "drop all that eastern sugarwordings, my fine fellow, and look here!"

The Malay salaamed again. 

"My friend here isn't an English prince. We are English officers. Andmy friend here says you may tell Mr Abdullah there that he does notbear any malice against him for the attack. If he asks pardon, that isenough. "

This being interpreted to Abdullah, who remained humbly bent, he startedup, and catching Tom Long's hands, kissed them both, and afterwardsBob's, very much to that young gentleman's disgust, though Tom receivedthe salute with a good deal of dignity, posing himself to look to thebest advantage in the presence of the ladies. 

"There, that'll do now, " said Bob. "It's all right, only tell MrAbdullah not to be so handy with his kris again, and that I--MrRoberts, of Her Majesty's ship `Startler'--think he ought to present uswith some durians. "

This was duly interpreted to the Malay, who drew back, gazing keenlyfrom the ensign to the middy, and back again, his dark eyes seeming toflash, as he said something in his native tongue to the interpreter. 

"Dullah say you throw durian again in his face, and it make him mad. "

"No, no, old fellow, nothing of the kind, " said Bob, laying his hand onAbdullah's shoulder. "That's all past. "

The Malay judged his meaning from his looks, and not from his words. Then smiling, he leaped back into the boat, and returned laden with thefinest fruit he had, which he offered to the young officers with nolittle grace and dignity, smiling pleasantly the while, but manifestingnothing little or servile. 

The ladies looked on so wonderingly, that Bob had to leave the duriansand explain, returning directly after, though, to the Malays, andobtaining a splendid bunch of the sweet flowers of the waringhan tree, which he carried back to the ladies, who smiled, thanked him, and tooktheir departure. 

"I never saw such a fellow as you are, Roberts, " said the ensign, sulkily, as Bob returned; "you always seem to know what to say or dowhen ladies are present. I don't!"

"Native modesty, ability, and natural gifts, my dear fellow, " said Bob;"and I'm precious glad they are gone, for I want to have a go at thosedurians. "

Abdullah had already opened one, which he presented to Bob, who took itand made a terrible onslaught; and then, with a doubting look in hisdark eyes, the Malay opened a second durian, hesitated, and then, evidently mastering his pride, offered it to Tom Long. 

The latter drew back, shaking his head, and the Malay looked hurt andannoyed. 

"Tell him I don't like durians, Bob Roberts, " said Tom, nervously, "orwe shall have another row. "

"Here, hi! old cockolorum!" cried Bob, with his mouth full, as he turnedto the Malay, "tell Mr Abdullah there, that his durians are 'licious--luscious--'licious, but Mr Long likes mangosteens better. "

This was interpreted, and Abdullah's doubting look changed as he hurriedback to the boat, and returned with a basket full of delicious fruit, which he offered Tom Long with a bow; and then, finding they wereaccepted, he stood smiling with his head bent, while Bob went ondevouring durian at a terrible rate. 

"I say, Tom Long, " said Bob, making a very unpleasant noise with hismouth. 

"What is it?" said the ensign, who was deep in the mysterious flavour ofthe delicious mangosteen. 

"I never believed in old Darwin, and his development, and evolution, andthat sort of thing, till now. "

"Why now?" said Tom Long. 

"Because I feel such a pig, " said Bob, attacking another durian. "Lookhere, old man, if you'll put me up in a durian tree, I don't wantanything else, thankey; you may have all the honour and glory. Oh! Isay, this one's lovely! it's just like nectar made with custard, with anold shoe put in for flavour, and all stirred up with a paint brush. Howare you getting on?"

"Bravely, " said Tom Long. 

The two young officers went on eating till they caught sight of thedoctor in the distance--a sight so suggestive of making themselves ill, that they gave up with a sigh or two, and went away, Tom Long offeringto pay liberally for the fruit, notwithstanding a hint from hiscompanion that he should be content to accept it as a present. 

Both the Malays drew back very proudly, but Bob Roberts healed thebreach in etiquette by quietly taking out his case, and offering a cigarto each of the Malays in turn. 

These were taken with a smile, and accompanied by a thoroughly friendlylook at parting. 

"They're rum fellows, those Malays, " said Bob, "and want a lot ofmanaging. They are gentlemen at heart, and savages at body. That's myopinion of them. "

"And my opinion is, " said Tom Long, "that they are a precious unpleasanttreacherous set of people, that it is downright cruelty to expect agentleman to live amongst. "

Up to this point no Malay, not even a servant, had been admitted to liveupon the island, though the want of natives for assistance and to supplyfood had been keenly felt. 

During the last few days, however, the resident had begun to relax thisstringent rule, and a fisherman had been permitted to set up his hut, and keep his boats, at the upper end of the island, with the consequencethat in place of a very intermittent supply, there was plenty of fish atthe mess table. 

Now as soon as the young officers had gone, Abdullah and his Malaycompanion sought audience, basket in hand, of the resident, who, aftertalking to them for a time, walked down to the landing-place, saw theirample supply of fruit and flowers, and ended by granting them a site bythe water's edge, where they might set up their hut, and secure theirboat, the understanding upon which the grant was made, being that anample supply was to be kept up for the use of the officers and men. 

"Capital fellow, Linton, " said the doctor. "Nothing like fruit inmoderation to keep men in health. But isn't it risky to have thesefellows on the isle?"

"I have thought of that, " said Mr Linton; "but by being too exclusivewe shall defeat our own ends. We must receive the principal part of theMalays in a friendly way, and it is only by a more open policy that thiscan be done. If we admit any wolves amongst the sheep they must meetwith the wolves' fate. So far I think I have done well. "

"Well, yes, perhaps you are right, " said the doctor. But both gentlemenwould have altered their opinions exceedingly if they had seen a longlow boat, painted of a dark grey, and manned by six men, float gentlydown stream that night, and, unseen by the sentries, stop beside thesampan of Abdullah and his Malay companion. 

Here there was a short consultation, Abdullah crawling over the gunwaleinto the long low boat, where he lay down, side by side with the man whosteered. 

Their conversation was long, and the others in the boat lay down whileit was going on, so that had the boat been seen by an unusually watchfulsentry it would have appeared to be empty, and moored to a bamboo stakethrust into the mud. 

But the dark silent boat was not seen by the nearest sentry, either whenit floated down, or when it was cautiously turned and paddled up streamonce more, till, out of hearing, the oars went down with a noisy splash, and the long narrow vessel literally dashed through the river. 

The reason it was not seen was simple enough. 

Private Sim was on duty that night, and he had been once more fastasleep. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

THE CREW OF THE CAPTAIN'S GIG. 

There was a good deal of the schoolboy left in the young representativesof Her Majesty's two services; not that this is strange, for a good dealof his schoolboyhood clings to a man even in middle life. Bob Robertshad a tiff with Long, made vow after vow that he would never speak tothe ensign again; declaring him to be a consequential cocky scarletpouter pigeon, with as much strut in him as a bantam. 

On the other hand, Tom Long declared the middy to be a most offensivelittle rascal, with impertinence enough in him for a dozen men. He wasdetermined to cut him dead--that he was, and he would have no more to dowith him. 

Result the very next day:

Bob Roberts hurried down into the captain's gig, sitting there veryeager and excited; for they were going to the island, and he had a planin his head. 

The captain came to the side and down the ladder, the gig was pushedoff, the crew's oars fell into the bright river with one splash, and asthey did so Bob Roberts forgot all the respect due to his commander, bysuddenly catching him by the arm. 

"Look, look, sir. See that?"

"No, Mr Roberts, " said the captain rather sternly, "but I felt it. "

"I beg your pardon, sir, " said Bob, saluting. "It was a greatcrocodile, and the splash of the men's oars frightened it. "

"Oh, indeed, " said the captain dryly; and he took out a despatch andbegan to read. 

Dick, who was coxswain of the gig, screwed up his mahogany visage, andBob pretended to look terribly alarmed, and so the boat was rowed overthe sparkling waters to the bamboo landing-stage, when the captain gotout, and Bob was left in charge of the boat. 

Bob jumped up as soon as the captain had entered the residency, andbegan to fidget about. 

"I wish I knew how long the skipper would be, Dick, " he said. "I wantto go ashore. No, I don't, " he said, correcting himself. "I got in arow once for that. But look here, Dick, suppose you go and find MrLong. "

"All right, sir, " said Dick, with alacrity. "I'll go. "

"Oh no, you don't, " cried Bob, recollecting himself again; "that flywon't take the same cock salmon twice, Master Dick. "

"I don't understand you, sir, " growled Dick, rubbing his ear. 

"Oh no, I suppose not, " said Bob. "You didn't go ashore for me oncewith a message, and then get up to the canteen and forgot to come backagain, did you?"

"Lor', now you mention it, sir, so I did, " said Dick. "It was that dayas I met Sergeant Lund, and he says, `Why, Dick, old man, ' he says, `youlook as dry and thirsty, ' he says, `as a fish. Come and have some limejuice and water, ' and I did, and talking together about the `Startler'and her guns, and earth-works, made me quite forget how the time wentby. But lor', Mr Roberts, sir, what a memory you have to be sure. "

"Yes, " said Bob, sticking his cap on one side, and cocking his eyeknowingly at the old salt; "a fellow just needs to have a good memory. I say, Dick, that lime juice and water was precious strong that day, wasn't it?"

"No, sir, not a bit, " said the old sailor, stolidly. "But now I come torecollect, the sun did make me awful giddy. "

"All right, Dick, " said the midshipman; "run the boat a little moreunder the shade of those trees, and we'll keep you out of the sunto-day. "

Old Dick growled, and picked up the boat-hook to draw the gig furtheralong, to where there was a dense cool shade. Then as he laid theboat-hook down, and retook his place, he began to chuckle. 

"You're a sharp 'un, Mr Roberts, that you are, " he said, laughing. "Well, I'll own it; that was a bit of a slip that day. Send one o' thetothers ashore then, with your message. "

"No, I'll be blessed if I do, " said Bob. "I'll never give way an inchagain about a boat's crew; I haven't forgotten that little game at Aden, where I sent one chap ashore to get me some cold water to drink, and hedidn't come back; and another volunteered to go and fetch him, and I lethim go, and he didn't come back; and then I had to send another, andanother--eight of 'em, every one vowing he'd bring the rest back; and atlast I sat alone in that boat without a crew, and the first lieutenantcame, and a nice wigging I had. No, Master Dick, I've been at sea toolong now to be tricked by those games, and I mean to have the strictestdiscipline whenever I'm in command. "

The men in the forepart of the boat overheard all this, and began tolook very gloomy. 

"Couldn't you let one on us go and get a bucket o' water, sir? it'sprecious hot, " said the man who pulled bow oar, and he touched hisforelock. 

"No, Mr Joe Cripps, I couldn't, " said Bob, sharply; "but I tell youwhat you all may do; put your heads over the side, and drink as much ofthis clear river-water as you like. We're not at sea, man. "

"More we aren't, sir, " said the man, glancing round at his companions, who laughed. 

"Look here, " said Bob, "Dick will keep an eye on the shore, and I'lltell the sentry there to pass the word. You may all smoke if you like, only look smart, and put away your pipes if the captain's coming. "

"Thanky, sir, " chorussed the men, and pipes were quickly produced by allsave Dick, who helped himself to a fresh quid. 

"I say, sentry, " cried Bob, "pass the word on there--I want to see MrLong. "

"Yes, sir, " was the reply, and the white-coated sentry walked to the endof his beat, and made a sign to the next sentry, who came to the end ofhis beat, heard what was wanted, and passed the message on, so that atthe end of a few minutes Ensign Long came slowly down to thelanding-place, with an umbrella held up to keep off the sun, and foundthe boat's crew smoking, and Bob Roberts, with his cap tilted over hiseyes, sitting in the bottom of the gig, with his legs over the side, soexactly arranged that the water rippled round the soles of his shoes, and pleasantly cooled his feet. 

"Did you wish to speak to me, Mr Roberts?" said Long, stiffly. 

"Hallo, Tom, old man! Here, jump in! I've got some news for you. "

Ensign Long looked very stand-offish; but the eager face of Bob, theonly one about his own age of whom he could make a companion, was toomuch for him; and as Bob got up and made a place for him, Mr EnsignLong unbent a little, and really, as well as metaphorically, undid abutton or two, and got into the captain's gig. 

"I say, look here, Tom, old man, what's the use of us two always fallingout, when we could be so jolly together?" said Bob. 

"I don't quite understand you, " said Tom Long, stiffly. "I am not of aquarrelsome disposition, as any of my brother officers will tell you. "

"Then it must be me then who is such a quarrelsome beast, and there's myhand, and we won't fall out any more. "

Ensign Long undid a few more buttons, for it was very hot, andcondescended to shake hands. 

"I'm sure it's not my wish to be bad friends, " said Ensign Long. "Ithink the members of the two services ought to be like brothers. "

"So do I, " said Bob. "I say, sentry, keep a sharp look-out for thecaptain, and I'll stand a glass for you at the canteen next time I comeashore. "

"Yes, sir, " said the sentry. "But p'raps, sir, I mayn't see you nexttime you come ashore. "

"There's an artful one for you, Tom, " cried Bob, getting his hot wethand into his pocket with no little difficulty, and throwing the man afourpenny piece. "Now, look here, Tom, " he continued, as the mancleverly caught the tiny piece and thrust it in his pocket, Ensign Longcarefully closing his ear and looking in the other direction the while, "you and I might have no end of games if we could only keep friends. "

"Well, let's keep friends, then, " said Tom Long. 

"Agreed, " said Bob, "and the first one of us who turns disagreeable, theother is to punch his head. "

"No, I can't agree to that, " said Tom, thoughtfully, "because we couldnot settle who was in the wrong. "

"Then we'd punch one another's heads, " said Bob; "but never mind aboutthat. Look here. "

Ensign Long undid a few more buttons, of which he had a great many downthe front of his mess waistcoat, just like a row of gold-coated pills, and then he proceeded to _look there_, that is to say mentally, at whathis companion had to say. 

"Do you know that young Malay chap, who came on board yesterday with hisfather, the Bang-the-gong, or Tumongong, or whatever he calls himself?"

"Yes, I saw him; he came afterwards to the fort, and was shown round. "

"Didn't you speak to him?"

"Not I. Don't care much for these niggers. "

"Oh! but he's no end of a good chap, " said Bob. "He can't help beingbrown. I took him down to the gun-room, and we smoked and talked; hecan speak English like fun. "

"Indeed!"

"Yes, indeed; and I tell you what it is, he's worth knowing. He's quitea prince, and as jolly as can be. He says there's out-and-out shootingin the jungle, and if we'll go ashore and have a turn with him, he'lltake us where we can have a regular good day. "

"What does the young savage shoot with, " said Long, disdainfully, "a bowand arrow?"

"Bow and arrow be hanged! Why, don't I tell you he is quite a prince?and he's regularly English in his ways. Some one made him a present ofa Purdey breechloader, and he uses Eley cartridges. What do you thinkof that?"

"Very disgusting that men should take to such adjuncts to civilisationbefore they leave off wearing those savage plaid petticoats. "

"I believe they are a tribe of Scotsmen, who came out here in the yearone and turned brown, " said Bob, laughing. "Those sarongs are just likekilts. "

"Yes, " said Tom Long, "and the krises are just the same as dirks. "

"Well, bother all that!" cried Bob. "I told him we'd both cometo-morrow, and bring guns, and he's going to get some prog, andhalf-a-dozen beaters; and we'll have a jolly day. "

"But, " said Tom Long, dropping his official ways, and speakingexcitedly, "he didn't ask me!"

"He said he'd be delighted to know you. He likes Englishmen. "

"But we can't get leave. "

"Can't we?" cried Bob. "I can. If the skipper says no, I think I canwork him round; and I'm sure you can manage it. Look here, you askDoctor Bolter to manage it for you, and say we'll bring him all thespecimens we can shoot. "

"By Jove, Bob, what a jolly idea!" cried Tom Long--an officer no longer, but a regular boy again. "We'll get leave to-night, and start early. "

"That we will. "

"But are you sure that young Tumongong would be glad to see me too?"

"Ali Latee, his name is, and I've got to call him Al already, and hecalled me Bob. Glad? of course he will. I said you'd come too; and Itold such a whopper, Tom. "

"What did you say?"

"I told him you were my dearest friend. "

"Well, so I am, Bob; only you will get so restive. "

"Yes, I always was a restive little beggar, " said Bob. "To-morrowmorning then, and--"

"Captain coming, sir. "

"Landing-place at daybreak, Tom. Cut, " whispered Bob; and the youngensign rose and leaped ashore, buttoning up his little golden-pillbuttons, as Captain Horton came down the path, and answered his salutewith a friendly nod. 

The next minute the water was flashing like fiery silver from the bladesof the oars, and the gig returned to the steamer's side, where Bob beganto prepare for the next day's trip, taking it for granted that he couldget leave. 

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

HOW BOB ROBERTS AND TOM LONG ASKED FOR LEAVE. 

Very great things come from very small germs, and for a long timeafterwards Captain Horton bitterly regretted that he had been in so easyand amiable a frame of mind that he had accorded Bob Roberts the holidayhe desired. 

He had dined well, and was in that happy state of content that comesupon a man who is not old, and whose digestion is good. 

It was a glorious night, and the captain was seated on deck at a littletable bearing a shaded lamp and his cup of coffee, when Bob respectfullyapproached, cap in hand. 

"If you please, sir--"

"Who's that? Oh! Roberts. Here; go down to the cabin, Roberts, andfetch my cap. I don't want to catch cold. "

"Yes, sir. "

"Hi! stop, my boy! Here; lend me your cap till you come back. "

It was a very undignified proceeding, but Captain Horton had a horror ofcolds in the head, and would far rather have been undignified than catchone. So he took the little, natty gold-laced cap held out to him, andstuck it upon his pate. 

"Bless my soul!" he exclaimed. "What a stupid little head you've got, Roberts. "

"Yes, sir, " said the lad sharply, "very; but it will grow, sir. "

"Then I hope it won't grow more stupid, boy. There, be quick!"

Bob ran down to the captain's cabin, and obtained the required piece ofheadgear, with which he returned to the quarter-deck, where the captainwas sipping his coffee, apparently oblivious of the fact that he hadsent for his cap. 

"Your cap, sir. "

"Oh, ah! to be sure! yes, of course. Thank you, Roberts. Exchange isno robbery, as we used to say at Harrow. You needn't wait. "

"Thank you, sir; no, sir, but--"

"Now what is it, Roberts? You know I don't like to be troubled afterdinner. "

"Yes, sir; but I beg your pardon, sir. Might I have leave to go ashoreto-morrow?"

"Yes--no. What, in the name of goodness, do you mean, Mr Roberts, bycoming and asking me? Go to the first lieutenant. "

"Please, sir, I'm very sorry to trouble you, but he's dining at theresidency. "

"Then why didn't you wait till he came back?"

"Because, sir, please sir, Mr Wilson's always cross when he has beenout to dine. He's not like you, sir. "

The captain started up in his chair, and gazed full in the lad's face. 

"You're a nice boy, Roberts, " he said; "but don't you try any of thatimpudent flattery on with me again. "

"No, sir. I beg pardon, sir, but may I go?"

"Wait till the first lieutenant comes back, sir, and ask him. "

"But please, sir, it's important. "

"What is?"

"That I should have leave to-morrow, sir. "

"Where are you going, then?"

"Please, sir, I _was_ going shooting. "

"Oh!" said his captain, laughing; "then that's what you call important, eh? Well, I don't know what to say. Have there been any complaintsagainst you lately?"

"Two or three, sir, " said Bob; "but I have been trying very hard, sir, "he added earnestly, "to do my duty. "

"Humph!" said the captain. "Well, I was a youngster myself once. Isuppose you'd be very much disappointed if I said _no_?"

"Yes, sir; very much. "

"Humph! Who's going with you?"

"Ensign Long, sir, if he can get leave. "

"Well, Roberts, you can go; but be careful with your guns. And lookhere, don't do anything to annoy the Malays. Don't go near theirreligious places, or get trespassing. "

"No, sir, I'll be very careful. "

"Any one else going?"

"Ali Latee, sir, the Tumongong's son. "

"Very well. Be off!"

"Yes, sir, thank you, sir, " cried Bob joyously, and he hurried away. 

Ensign Long felt perfectly sure that if he went direct to the major, andasked for leave to go ashore shooting, it would be refused. He wouldhave gone and asked Captain Smithers to intercede for him, but thecaptain was always short, and ready to be annoyed at nearly everythingsaid; so he concluded that Bob Roberts' idea was the best, and he wentstraight to Doctor Bolter, who was in his room, in his shirt andtrousers, both his sleeves rolled up, busily pinning out some gorgeousbutterflies that he had secured. 

"Ah, Long!" he said, as the youth entered; "how are you? just hand methat sheet of cork. "

"Quite well, sir, thank you. "

"Oh! are you? I'll look at your tongue directly. Hand me one of thoselong thin pins. "

The pin was handed. 

"Now put a finger on that piece of card. Gently, my dear boy, gently;the down upon these things is so exquisitely fine, that the least touchspoils them. Look at that Atlas moth by your elbow. Isn't it lovely?"

"Magnificent, sir, " said Long, taking up a shallow tray, and reallyadmiring the monstrous moth pinned out therein. 

"Ah, my lad! I wish I could see you turning a little attention tonatural history, now we are in this perfect paradise for a collector. How much better for you than lounging about all day under the trees. Now then, put out your tongue. "

"But I'm quite well, Doctor Bolter. "

"Put--out--your--tongue--sir. Confound it all, sir, I've no time towaste!"

As he spoke he took up the lamp, and held it close to Tom Long's face, so that the light might fall upon the protruded organ. 

"Hah!" ejaculated Doctor Bolter, resuming his seat. 

"But I really am quite well, sir, " remonstrated Tom Long. 

"Don't tell me, sir, that you are quite well. Do you think I don't knowwhen a man's well, and when he is not? You are just a little wee bitfeverish. "

He felt the youth's pulse, and nodded his head sagely. 

"Too much idleness and good living is what is the matter with you, sir. Why don't you collect?"

"How can I, sir, " said Tom, "when I'm shut up in this island?"

"Go ashore. Here, I'll give you some collecting boxes, and lend you avasculum and a net. Go and get me some butterflies. "

"Well, sir, if it's all the same to you, " said Tom, taking advantage ofthe wind blowing in the right direction, "shooting's more in my way. Suppose I shot you some birds?"

"Better still, " said the doctor, enthusiastically. "Nothing I shouldlike better. I want a few trogons, and the blue-billed gaper. Then youmight get me the green chatterer, and any new birds you could see. "

"Yes, sir. "

"And look here, Long; the woods here are the chosen resort of the greatargus pheasant. I don't suppose you would be able to come across one, but if you do--"

"Down him, " said Tom Long. 

"Exactly, " said the doctor. "There, my lad, I won't give you anymedicine, but prescribe a little short exercise. "

"Thank you, sir, " said Tom, trying hard to restrain his eagerness. "Might I have a run to-morrow? I have felt very languid to-day. "

"To be sure. I'll see the major, and get leave of absence for you. Becareful, though. Don't overheat yourself; and mind and not get into anyscrape with the Malays. "

"I'll mind, sir, " said Tom. 

"That's right. Be very careful not to spoil the plumage of the birds. You can make a Malay boy carry them tied by the beaks to a stick. Stopa minute; as you are here, you may as well cut up these cards for me inthin strips. I'll go and ask the major the while. "

Tom set to work at the cards with a pair of scissors, and the doctordonned his undress coat, went out and returned with the requisitepermission. 

"By the way, look here, Long; if you'll promise to be very careful, I'lllend you my double gun. "

"I'll take the greatest care of it, sir, " was the reply. 

"Good! There it is; so now be off; and to-morrow night I shall expect anice lot of specimens to skin. "

So Tom Long went off with the gun, and the doctor helped to turn theresidency into an abode where danger usurped the place of safety, andpeace was to be succeeded by the horrors of war. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

A JAUNT IN THE JUNGLE, WITH AN AWKWARD END. 

Tom Long rather overslept himself, but it was pretty early when hestarted from his quarters, to encounter Captain Smithers soon after, looking anxious and annoyed. He nodded shortly, and the young ensignwent on through what was quite a wilderness of beauty, to meet, next, Rachel Linton and Mary Sinclair, who had been flower-gathering, and whostopped for a few minutes' conversation with him, the former nearlyspoiling the expedition, by turning the foolish youth's thoughts inquite a contrary direction from collecting or shooting. 

But Rachel Linton quietly wished him success, and Tom went off tellinghimself that it would look foolish if he did not go. 

He had not far to go to the landing-place now; but in the little spaceclose by the resident's garden he encountered Private Gray, who salutedhim, and sent Tom on thinking that he wished he was as old, andgood-looking, and as manly, as the young soldier he had just passed. And then he felt very miserable and dejected, and wished he was anythingbut what he was, until he saw Bob Roberts, sitting in the "Startler's"dinghy by the landing-place, and forgot all about everything but theshooting excursion. 

"Come along! You are a chap, " shouted Bob. "I've been waiting overhalf an hour. "

"Met the ladies, " said Tom, "and was obliged to speak. "

"Oh, you met the ladies, did you?" said Bob, looking at himsuspiciously. "Well, never mind; jump aboard. Got plenty ofcartridges?"

"Yes, heaps; and some food too. "

"So have I, " cried Bob. "Now, then, pull away, Dick. Set us ashoreunder those trees. Hooray, Tom; look! There's young Bang-gong there, waiting with a couple of niggers. "

Dick pulled steadily at the sculls, and the little dinghy breasted thewater like a duck, soon crossing the intervening space, when the twolads landed with their ammunition and stores, shook hands with thehandsome dark young chief who confronted them, and at once started offfor the jungle, while Dick stood refilling his right cheek with tobacco, before rowing the dinghy back to the steamer. 

"Ah!" he said, as he once more took the sculls, "they never asked me togo, too. Now you see if by the time they get back to-night they hain'tbeen in about as pretty a bit o' mischief, as was ever hatched. "

Old Dick had no intention of setting himself up as a prophet of evil, for his remark was made more out of spite than anything else, it havingstruck the old fellow that a good idle ashore would be very pleasant, especially with plenty to eat and drink, and a fair supply of tobacco. 

"It wouldn't be very hard work to carry all the game they shoot, " hesaid, chuckling; "and one might get a good nap under a shady tree. "

But Dick's hopes were blighted, and instead of shade under trees, he hadto row back to where the "Startler" was blistering in the hot sunshine, and take his part in the regular duties of the day. 

Meanwhile the two lads with their companion were striding along beneaththe shade of the trees, with the naval and military services of her mostgracious Majesty completely forgotten, and their elastic young mindsbent entirely upon the expedition. They looked flushed and eager, andthe Tumongong's son, Ali, was just as full of excitement. 

The latter was about the age of the young English officers, and theircoming was to him delightful. For his father was wise enough to foreseethe course of events--how the old barbarism of the Malay was dying out, to give place to the busy civilisation taught by the white men from thewest; and he felt sure that the most civilised and advanced of the youngchieftains would occupy the best positions in the future. Hence then hehad sent his son for long spells at a time to Singapore and Penang, tomingle with the English, and pick up such education as he could obtain. 

Ali, being a clever boy, had exceeded his father's expectations, havingarrived at the age of eighteen, with a good knowledge of English, inwhich tongue he could write and converse; and in addition he had imbibeda sufficiency of our manners and customs to make him pass muster verywell amongst a party of gentlemen. 

Bob Roberts and he were sworn friends directly, for there was somethingin their dispositions which made them assimilate, Ali being full of lifeand fun, which, since his return to Parang, he had been obliged tosuppress, and take up the stiff stately formality of the Malays abouthim, of whom many of the chiefs looked unfavourably at the youth who hadso quickly taken up and made friends with the people they looked upon asso many usurpers. 

No sooner were the three lads out of sight of the attap-thatched roofsand the island, the fort and steamer, than all formality was thrown tothe winds, and they tramped on chattering away like children. Tom, however, walked on rather stiffly for a few minutes, but the sight of agood broad rivulet was too much for him; drill, discipline, the strictdeportment of an officer and a gentleman, whose scarlet and undressuniforms had cost a great deal of money, and in which, to tell thetruth, he had been very fond of attiring himself when alone with hislooking-glass, all were forgotten, and the bottled-up schoolboy vitalitythat was in his breast, seethed up like so much old-fashioned gingerbeer. 

"Follow my leader!" he cried, handing his gun to one of the Malays, whose eyes rolled with pleasure as he saw sentimental Tom Long take asharp run, leap well from the near bank, and land on the other side ofthe stream, but he had to catch at some bamboos to save himself fromfalling back into the water. 

"With a cheerly hi ho, " shouted Bob Roberts, dropping his gun on a bush. "Look out, soldier. "

The words were on his lips as he ran, and in his leap alighted on theother side, in so bad a place that he had to catch at Tom, to savehimself from falling, and for a few seconds there was a sharp scuffleamongst the bamboos before they were safe. 

"Look out, Ali, " shouted Bob, on seeing their companion coming; "it'sbad landing. "

But Ali was already in full career; as light and active of foot as adeer, he made a quick rush and a leap, and landed in safety quite a yardbeyond the young officers. 

"Well done! Hooray!" cried Bob, who had not the slightest objection toseeing himself surpassed; while the two Malays in charge of the guns andimpediments on the other side stared at each other in astonishment, andin a whisper asked if the young chief had gone out of his mind. 

"Now then, Sambo-Jumbo, " cried Bob, "over with those guns. Come along, they are not loaded. "

The two Malays stared, and Ali said a few words to them in their nativetongue, when they immediately gathered up the guns, and, beingbare-legged, waded across the stream, which was about four yards wide. 

The last man came over with a rush as he neared the bank, for suddenlyfrom a reed-bed above them there was a wallow and a flounder, with atremendous disturbance in the water, as something shot down towards themain stream. 

"A crocodile, " said Ali, as the young Englishmen directed at him awondering gaze. 

"Crocodile!" cried Bob, snatching his gun from the attendant, andhastily thrusting in cartridges, after which he ran along the streamtill checked by the tangled growth. 

"No good, " said Ali, laughing at his eagerness. "Gone. "

The reptile was gone, sure enough, and it was doubtful which was themore frightened, it or the Malays; so they went on along a narrowjungle-path, that was walled up on either side by dense vegetation, which seemed to have been kept hacked back by the heavy knives of theworking Malays. To have gone off to right or left would have beenimpossible, so tangled and matted with canes and creepers was theundergrowth, Bob waking up to the fact that here was the natural home ofthe cane so familiar to schoolboys; the unfamiliar part being, that, keeping to nearly the same diameter, these canes ran one, two, and eventhree hundred feet in length, creeping, climbing, undulating, nowrunning up the side of some pillar-like tree to a convenient branch, over which it passed to hang down again in a loop till it reached someother tree, in and out of whose branches it would wind. 

As they went on farther they were in a soft green twilight with at rareintervals the sharp bright rays of the sun, like golden arrows, dartingthrough the dense shade, and a patch of luxuriantly growingpitcher-plants or orchids, more beautiful than any that had previouslymet their eyes. 

"Mind the elephant-holes!" cried Ali, who was behind. 

"All right, " said Tom Long, who was leading the way. "Oh, my gracious!"

There was a loud _splash_ and a wallowing noise, followed by a loud suckas of some one pulling a leg out of thick mud; and this proved to be thecase, for on Bob running forward, and turning a corner of the windingpath, there was Tom, just extricating himself from an elephant-hole. 

For they were in a land where wheeled carriages were almost unknown, allportage being done either by boats on the many streams, or on the backsof elephants and buffaloes, by the former of whom the few jungle-pathswere terribly cut up, partly by the creatures' weight, but moreparticularly from the fact that, no matter how many passed along atrack, or how wet and swampy it might be, the sagacious creaturesbelieved in the way being safe where any of their kind had been before, and invariably placed their great round feet in the same holes; theeffect being that these elephant-holes were often three or four feetdeep, and half full of mud and water. 

The two Malays were called into requisition, and by means of greenleaves removed a good deal of the mud, but the mishap did not add muchto the lad's comfort. However, he took it in very good part, and theywent on for some distance, to where a side track, that was apparentlybut little used, turned off to the left, and the Malays, drawing theirheavy knives, went first to clear away some of the twining creepers thathung from side to side. 

So beautiful was the jungle that for a time the two English lads forgotall about their guns, as they stopped hard by some watercourse to admirethe graceful lace-fronded fern, or the wonderful displays of mosshanging from the more ancient trees. 

But at last the weight of their guns reminded them that they had come toshoot, and they drew Ali's attention to the fact. 

"Wait a little, " he said, smiling. "We shall soon be in a clearer part. You can't shoot here. "

As he said--so it proved, for after another half-hour's walking, duringwhich they had become bathed in perspiration from the moist heat, therewas less tangled growth, and the magnificent trees grew more distant onefrom the other. They were of kinds quite unknown to the little party, who, though seeking birds, could not help admiring the vast monarchs ofthe primeval forest. 

"This looks more hopeful, " cried Bob, who so far had only heard theoccasional note of a bird which was invisible. Now he saw one or twoflit across the sunny glade in advance. 

"Yes, there are birds here; but take care, there are serpents too. "

Tom Long winced a little at this last announcement, for he had a honourof the twining creatures; and as his memory ran back to the narrowescape of Adam Gray, from the sea snake, he asked with some littletrepidation, --

"Poisonous?"

"Oh, yes, some of them! But you need not be alarmed, they hurry off assoon as they hear our steps. "

"But, " said Tom, to Bob's very great delight, for he could see hiscompanion's alarm, "how about the boa-constrictors?"

"Pythons, your people call them, " said Ali. "Yes, there are plenty ofthem in the wet places. "

"Dangerous?"

"No, " said Ali, "I never knew them to be--only to the little pigs. "

"But ain't they very large?"

"Oh, yes, " was the reply, "big as my leg, and so long. "

He made a mark on the soft earth with one foot, and then took sevenpaces, where he made a fresh mark, indicating a length of about eighteenfeet. 

"But they attack men sometimes, don't they?" said Tom, importantly. 

"No, I never knew of such a thing, " said Ali. "They steal the chickens, and swallow them whole. "

Tom felt somewhat reassured, but all the same he walked delicately overthe thick herbage and amongst the scrub, not knowing but that he mightplant his foot at any time upon some writhing creature, whose venomousfangs would be inserted in his leg before he could leap aside; but nosuch accident befell him, neither had one of the party had a singleshot, when Bob declared that he was too hungry to go farther, and goingon alone to where a huge prostrate tree stretched its great trunk formany yards, he was about to sit down, when he stopped short, held outone hand to indicate silence, and beckoned with the other. 

Ali ran softly up, and on seeing at what his friend pointed, hesignalled to one of the Malays to come. 

The man came up without a sound, caught sight of Bob's discovery--ablack snake about five feet long, and going gently up, he, to the lad'shorror, suddenly seized it by the tail, and with a rapid snatch drew thereptile through the left hand up to the neck, which the Malay graspedtightly, while the reptile writhed, hissed, and angrily twined itselfround the man's bare brown arm. 

"It isn't poisonous, then?" said Tom Long, coolly. 

"Yes, " replied Ali; "it is a cobra, one of our most dangerous snakes. "

The Malay held it close for the lads to examine, which, after learningits deadly character, they were not particularly eager to do; but thenative laughed, and seemed to think very little of the danger, ending byplacing the reptile's neck upon the fallen tree, and decapitating itwith one clean cut of the knife. 

A halt was made here, and a hearty lunch was disposed of; after which, feeling rested and comparatively cool, they started once more, andbefore long the first shot was had at a blue-billed gaper, a lovelybird, with azure and golden bill, and jetty-black, white, and crimsonplumage. 

"One for the doctor!" exclaimed Tom Long; and the beautiful bird wassafely stowed away. 

Ali next brought down a paroquet, with long delicate tail, and delicioussunset hues blushing upon its plumage of pearly grey green. 

Bob followed, with a shot at a green chatterer, a lovely little bird, all rich green and black, with a handsome crest. 

Next followed sundry misses, and then with varying fortune they secureda dozen really beautifully-plumaged birds for the doctor. 

"And now, " exclaimed Bob, "I think we ought to get something for thepot. "

"For the pot?" said Ali, looking puzzled, for anything verging onsporting slang was to him as so much Greek. 

"I mean for cooking and eating. "

Ali laughed, and said something to his followers, who led the way on toa more densely wooded part nearer the river, whose proximity wasindicated by the change in the character of the vegetation. 

"Stop a minute, though, " exclaimed Tom Long. "I can't stand this anymore. Here's something been biting me ever so!"

He made a halt, and began to examine his ankles and legs. 

"Why, look here?" he cried; "I'm bleeding like fun!"

Like fun or no, he was certainly bleeding freely, and the cause was notfar to seek. In fact, as he turned up the legs of his trousers fourbloated little leeches, satiated with their horrid repast, dropped offhis skin, and he caught a couple more feasting upon him right royally. 

"You should have tied your trousers round your ankles, and put on yourboots outside them, " said Ali; "but it won't hurt you. "

"Won't hurt!" exclaimed Tom Long, indignantly; "but it does hurt. Why, I'm bleeding horribly. "

At a stream close by, however, his wounds were bathed, the bleedingchecked, and then a few shots were had at the jungle-fowl, two brace ofwhich, a little bigger than ordinary bantams, were secured before thelittle party halted in a clearing, close to the river. 

Here were half-a-dozen native houses, one and all built upon bamboopiles, so as to raise the dwellers well above the damp ground, thepossibility of flood, and out of the reach of any wild creatures thatmight be wandering by night. 

There was something exceedingly homelike in the appearance of theplaces, each with its scrap of garden and fruit-trees; while theoccupant of the principal hut insisted upon the whole party coming topartake of rest and refreshment before continuing their way. 

"Oh! we don't want to go in, " said Tom Long, peevishly. 

"Well, no, I don't want to go in, " said Bob, "but the old fellow will beoffended if we do not; and we want to make friends, not enemies. "

Ali nodded, and they sat down in the bamboo-floored hut, through whoseopen door they saw their host busy sending a Malay boy up one of hiscocoa-nut trees, the boy rapidly ascending the lofty palm by means ofnicks already cut in the tree for the purpose. 

Three great nuts, in their husk-like envelopes, fell directly with athud, and these the friendly Malay opened and placed before hisvisitors. 

"This is very different to the cocoa-nut we boys used to buy at school, "said Bob, as he revelled in the delicious sub-acid cream of the nut, andthen partook of rice, with a kind of sugary confection which was verypopular amongst the people. 

Homely as the outside of the huts had appeared, both the lads could nothelp noticing how similar the habits of these simple Malays in thisout-of-the-way part of the world were to those of people at home. 

For instance, beneath the eaves hung a couple of cages, neatly made ofbamboo, in one of which was a pair of the little lovebird paroquets sideby side upon a perch; and in the other a minah, a starling-like bird, that kept leaping from perch to perch, and repeating with a very clearenunciation several Malay words. 

Thoroughly rested at last, the little party set off again--their hostrefusing all compensation, and once more they plunged into the thickestof the jungle, though very little success attended their guns. 

This was hardly noticed, though, for there was always something fresh tosee--huge butterflies of wondrous colours flitting through the more openglades, strange vegetable forms, beautifully graceful bamboos, clustering in the moister parts, where some stream ran unseen amidst thedense undergrowth, while at last they reached a river of such surpassingbeauty, with its overhanging ferns, in the deep ravine in which it ran, that both the strangers paused to admire, while the Malays looked onwith good-humoured wonder at their enthusiasm. 

But very little of the sluggish stream was seen for the dense emeraldgrowth, and the water itself was more like a chain of pools, whichseemed to be likely haunts of fish; and forgetting heat and weariness, both the young Englishmen began to divide the reeds and long grass andferns with the barrels of their guns, so as to peer down into the water. 

Ali, evidently to please them, displayed quite as much interest as they;while the two Malays squatted down, and taking out sirih leaves, spreadupon them a little lime paste from a box, rolled in them a scrap ofbetel-nut, and began to indulge in a quiet chew. 

The lads were only a few yards apart, and Bob Roberts cautiouslyapproached a deep still pool, when he heard upon his right a splash anda rush, accompanied by a wild cry for aid. 

For the moment he was paralysed by the strange horror of the cry; but, recovering himself, he rushed through the long reeds and ferns, to lookupon a sight which, for the time, almost robbed him of the power to act. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

HOW BOB AND TOM BAGGED STRANGE GAME. 

The young midshipman saw at a glance what had happened, and the sight ofthe deadly struggle going on roused him from the stupor that hadassailed him. 

It was evident that Ali had been holding by one hand to the branch of atree, and was leaning over just such a pool as that which had caught theattention of Bob, when a crocodile, taking advantage of his unguardedapproach, had seized him by the leg just above the knee. 

Ali had at once dropped his gun, seized the branch with the other hand, and clung for life as he uttered the cry for help, while the reptiletugged viciously, and shook him violently, to make him loose his hold. 

Had the creature succeeded, the young Malay chief's fate had beensealed, for in another moment he would have been drawn down into thedeep pool, with a few bubbles ascending through the agitated water toshow where he lay. 

The time seemed long to the brave young fellow as he held on for dearlife; and it seemed long to Bob Roberts before he could act; but it wasbut a matter of moments before he had reached Ali's side, with his guncocked; and placing the piece close to the reptile's eye as it glaredsavagely at him, and seemed about to leave one victim to seize another, he fired both barrels in rapid succession. 

There was a tremendous splash as the smoke hung before him for a fewmoments, then as it rose the young middy saw nothing but the troubledwater before him, and Ali lying panting, and with his eyes starting, close by his side. 

By this time Tom Long and the two Malays had come up, eager withquestions, to which Ali answered faintly, and gladly partook of a littlespirits from the young ensign's flask. 

"I ought to have known better, " he said, "but I did not think of thedanger. It will be a warning for you both. These rivers swarm with thebrutes. "

"But your leg?" cried Bob, kneeling down. 

"A little torn; that's all, " said the young Malay, stoically. "Mysarong and the trousers have saved it, I think. "

All the same, though, it was bleeding freely, and with a rough kind ofsurgery Bob's handkerchief was used to bind it up. 

"I'm not much hurt, " said Ali then; and to prove his words he rose, limped a step or two forward, and picked up his gun, while Bob proceededto slip a couple more cartridges in his own, gazing once more eagerlyinto the pool, but seeing nothing but a little blood-stained water. 

He turned sharply round, for something touched him, and there stood Ali, looking at him in a peculiar manner, and holding out one hand, which Bobtook, thinking the other felt faint. 

"I can't talk now, " said Ali, hoarsely; "but you saved my life. I shallnever forget it. "

"Oh, nonsense, old fellow, " cried Bob. "But, I say; what a brute! Hemust have been twenty feet long. "

"Oh, no, " said Ali, smiling faintly, "not ten. The small ones are themost vicious and dangerous. Let us go. "

"But can you walk?" said Bob. "Have a cigar. "

"Yes; I will smoke, " said the young Malay, as he walked bravely on, though evidently in pain; and lighting a cigar, he talked in the mostunconcerned way about the creature's sudden attack. 

"Such things are very common, " he said. "Down by the big river theyseize the women who go for water, and carry off the girls who bathe. There are monsters, ten, twenty, and twenty-five feet long; but we areso used to them that it does not occur to us to take care. "

They were now walking over the ground they had that morning traversed, Ali seeming so much at ease, and smiling so nonchalantly, that hiscompanions ceased to trouble him with advice and proposals that heshould be carried. 

At last they came to a spot where a fresh track turned off, and Alipaused. 

"You will not think me rude, " he said, speaking with all the ease of apolished gentleman, "if I leave you here? Ismael will take you thenearest way down to the island. Yusuf will go with me. My leg is bad. "

"Then let us carry you, " cried Bob. "Here, we'll soon cut down somebamboos and make a frame. "

"No, no, it is not so bad as that, " cried the young man, firmly; "and Iwould rather walk. This is a nearer way, and you will do as I ask, please. "

The two youths hesitated, but Ali was so firm, and his utterances sodecided, that although unwillingly, they felt constrained to obey hiswishes. 

"No, no, " exclaimed Bob, "let me go with you, old fellow. Let us bothcome. "

"Do you wish to serve me more than you have already done?" said Ali, quietly. 

"Yes, I do, 'pon my word, " replied Bob. 

"Then please say `good-bye. ' I am very nearly at home. "

There was nothing more to be said, so the young Englishmen shook handsand parted from their companion, after he had promised to send word byYusuf the next day how he was. 

"I don't half feel satisfied, " said Bob, trudging along behind the Malaywho was their guide. "I think we ought to have gone with him, Tom. "

"I feel so too, " was the reply, "but what could we do? Perhaps he wasnot so very much hurt after all. "

They were tired now, and the heat of the afternoon seemed greater thanever, so that they longed to get out of the stifling forest to the openbanks of the river. But they were as yet far away, and their guide madea cut along the side of a patch of marshy ground, looking back from timeto time to see if they followed. 

"Snipe, by all that's wonderful!" cried Bob, firing two barrels almostas he spoke, and bringing down four birds out of a flock that bore someresemblance to, but were double the size of, snipes. 

Tom raised his piece for a shot, but he was too late; and Yusuf smiledand showed his teeth as he ran and picked up the birds, tied their legstogether with some grass, and added them to the jungle-fowl he wascarrying. 

"Well, they won't be able to laugh at us, " said Bob. "We shan't go backempty. Hallo! what the dickens now?"

For a couple of scantily clad Malay girls, their sarongs torn and raggedwith forcing their way through the bushes, came panting up, utteringloud cries, and, flinging themselves down at the astonished youths'feet, clung to their legs, while Yusuf began to abuse them angrily, andkicking one, was about to thrust away the other with his foot. 

"You leave them alone, will you?" said Bob, giving him a rap on the headwith his gun-barrel. "I wish to goodness I knew what was the Malay for_cowardly beast_, and you should have it, young fellow. "

The Malay's hand flew to his kris as he threw down the birds, and itflashed in the sunshine directly. 

"Ah! would you bite?" cried Bob, presenting his gun at the other'sbreast, when the man shrank away, with his eyes half-closed, and apeculiarly tigerish aspect about him as he drew his lips from his whiteteeth, but kept at a respectful distance, knowing as he did how ably theyoung sailor could use his gun. 

Just then the girls renewed their cries and lamentations, clingingwildly to the youths as if for protection, as half-a-dozen Malays, armedwith krises and the long limbings, or spears, that they can use withsuch deadly force, came running up, and made as if to seize upon the twogirls. 

"Keep off, will you! Confound your impudence, what do you mean?" roaredBob, slewing round his gun to face the newcomers. "I say, Tom, whatfools we do seem not to be able to speak this stupid lingo! What arethey jabbering about?"

"Hang me, if I know, " said Tom, whose face was flushed with heat andexcitement. "All I can make out is that they want these two Malayladies who have come to us to protect them. "

"Then, as my old nurse used to say, `want will be their master, '" saidBob, angrily; "for they're not going to have them. "

The leader of the Malay party volubly said something to the two English, and then said some angry words to the two girls, who clung more tightlyto their protectors, as he caught each by her shoulder. 

Bob brought the barrel of his gun down heavily on the Malay's head, inthe same fashion as he had served Yusuf, who was now missing, havingsuddenly glided away. 

The Malay leaped back, tore out his kris, and made at his assailant; butthe presented barrels of the two guns kept him back, as they did hiscompanions, who had presented their limbings as their leader drew hiskris, while now the girls leaped bravely up, and interposed their bodiesbetween the two youths and the threatened danger. 

"That's very prettily done, my dears, " said Bob; "but you are both ofyou horribly in the way if we should shoot, and it isn't the fashion inEngland. Place aux Messieurs in a case like this. There, you standbehind me. "

He gently placed the girl behind him, keeping his gun the while pointedat the Malays, and Tom Long followed his example. 

"Shall we shoot, Bob Roberts?" said the ensign, hoarsely. 

"No, " said Bob, whose voice sounded just as hoarse. "Not unless theytry to do us mischief. This is the time for a strategical retreat, asthey are three to one, and we may at any time be cut off. I say, Tom, Ifeel in such a horrible state of squirm; don't you?"

"Never was so frightened in my life, " replied Tom, "but pray don't showit. "

"Show it?" replied Bob sharply; "hang 'em, no; they should cut me topieces first. But I say, old fellow, I never thought I was such acoward before. "

"More did I, " replied Tom. "Suppose they understand what we're saying!"

"Not they; no more than we can them. I say, I have it! These are twoslaves trying to escape, and these chaps want to get them back. "

"Then we'll take them right away to the fort, " cried Tom. "Look out!"he added, as, after speaking to his followers, the chief Malay madeanother angry advance with the men. 

"Now look here, Mr Cafe-au-lait, " said Bob, raising his gun this timeto his shoulder, as he spoke aloud, "if you don't sheer off, I'll letfly at you a regular broadside. Be ready, Tom. "

"Ready!" was the sharp reply, "when you say Fire. "

"Right, " replied Bob. "Now then, old check-petticoat, are you going tocall off your men?"

For answer the Malay pointed to the two trembling girls, and signed tohis men to advance with their spears. 

"I'm horribly alarmed, Tom!" cried Bob, "but retreating now is showingthe white feather, and we shall be whopped. Now then, don't fire, butlet's make a dash at them. "

The Malays were only about three yards off, having before retreated fiveor six, but now they had diminished the distance, when the two lads, with their pieces at their shoulders, stepped boldly forward, with theresult that the Malays broke and fled, their leader first; and out ofbravado Tom Long fired a shot over their heads to quicken their steps, while Bob burst into a hearty fit of laughter. 

"Look here!" he said. "Here's a game! Only look, sojer!"

"What is it!" cried Tom, drawing out the empty cartridge case andputting in a new one. "Why, you don't mean to say--"

"But I just do mean to say it!" cried Bob, stamping about and laughingas he opened the breech of his gun, and drew out two empty cases, toreplace with full. 

"Not loaded!"

"No, " cried Bob, "That moment, you know, I shot at the snipes, andhadn't time to load again. Did you ever see such a game, keeping thosechaps off with an empty gun? Oh, I say, don't!"

This last was in consequence of the energetic action taken by the twopoor girls, who, seeing themselves now safe, began to demonstrate theirgratitude by hysterical cries and sobs, seizing and kissing the lads'hands, and finally placing their arms round them and kissing theircheeks. 

"Oh, this is awful!" cried Tom Long, who was blushing like a girl. 

"I shall be compelled to tell my mamma!" said Bob. "There, there, it'sall right. Come, give me your hand, Semiramis, or Cleopatra, orwhatever your name is, and let us make haste down to the river before itis too late. "

The girl seemed to understand him, and ceased sobbing as she prepared tocontinue the flight, the other clinging to Tom Long's left hand. 

"I say, though, let's have the birds, " said Bob, stooping to pick themup; but the girl snatched them from him, to carry them herself. 

"Yes, Tom, old fellow; no doubt about it, they're slaves. Come along, or we shall be cut off. It's not polite to let the ladies carry thebaggage, but as we are the escort we must be prepared to fight. "

"I say!" cried Tom Long, "do you know the way?"

"Not I, " said Bob; "don't you?"

"Not the ghost of an idea!" cried Tom. 

The girls were watching them, and evidently in a state of greatexcitement were trying to comprehend their words; but as soon as theysaw their indecision, and their bold start off in the direction theyimagined to be correct, then the slave girls understood their dilemmaand stopped them, gesticulating and shaking their heads as they pointedin a quite fresh direction. 

"They know where the ship lies, see if they don't, " said Bob. "Let'strust them. "

"But suppose they lead us wrong?" replied Tom. 

"Not they, " cried Bob. "They'll lead us right away. Come along, myfair specimens of chocolate a vanille; and the sooner we are safe underthe British flag, the better I shall like it. "

The girls started off at a sharp walk, and then made signs that theyshould run. 

"All right, " said Bob, nodding his head. "Double there, in the infantrybrigade! Naval brigade to the front! Forward!"

He broke into a trot, and the little party ran sharply on, to the greatdelight of the two escaped slaves, who, as Bob had prophesied, led themstraight away to the side of the river, which they reached withoutencountering a soul. 

"I'm about knocked up, " said Bob, panting. "It's disgusting to findthese girls can beat us hollow at running. "

"The doctor's specimens are all shaken up into a regular mash!" said TomLong, peeping into the vasculum hung by a strap from his shoulder. 

"Never mind, " replied Bob. "Here's the boat coming. I shall come withyou straight; or no: let's take them on board the `Startler'?"

"No, no!" said Tom, "they must come to the fort. "

"No, no, to the `Startler, ' I tell you. "

"No, no, to the fort. "

"Then we'll split the difference, and take them to the residency, " saidBob; and as the boat touched the shore they stood back for the girls toleap in, and then crouch down with their arms around each other's neck, sobbing with joy as they felt that now they were safe. 

There was no little excitement as the two girls were landed, and MrLinton seemed puzzled as to what he should do; but the poor creatureswere safe now under the protection of the British flag; and Bob Robertsand Tom Long proceeded to the doctor's quarters for a thorough wash andchange, having fully verified old Dick's prophecy that they would be inmischief before the day was out. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

HOW THE TWO COMPANIONS WERE KNOCKED OFF THEIR PERCH. 

If they had not been English, the probabilities are that Bob Roberts andTom Long would have hugged each other. As it was they seemed to thinkit quite the correct thing to shake hands over and over again, and thenwalk up and down under the palm-trees of the enclosure, flushed, excited, and as full of swagger as they could possibly be. 

"Blest if they don't look like a couple o' young game cocks who havejust killed their birds, " said old Dick to Billy Mustard. "My word, they are cocky! But where are you going, old man?"

"To fetch my instrument, " said Billy. 

"What, yer fiddle? What do you want that 'ere for?"

"The young gents wants it, " said Billy. 

So with a nod he went into his quarters, to return with his belovedviolin in its green baize bag, which he bore to where Bob and Tom werenow seated at one of the tables beneath a shady tree. 

On the strength of their adventure they were indulging themselves withbitter beer, into which they dropped lumps of ice, and as soon as BillyMustard came, the violin was brought out, tuned, and the harmonioussound produced had the effect of soon gathering together an audience inthe soft mellow hour before sunset. 

Several officers seated themselves at the table, and followed theyoungsters' example; soldiers and sailors gathered at a little distancebeneath the trees; and unseen by the party below, Rachel Linton and MarySinclair appeared at a mat-shaded window. 

"Tom Long's going to sing `The Englishman, '" shouted Bob Robertssuddenly, and there was a loud tapping upon the rough deal table. 

"No, no, I really can't, 'pon honour, " said the ensign, looking verymuch more flushed than before. 

"Yes, yes, he is, " said Bob, addressing those around. "He is--in honourof the occasion; and gentlemen, let's sing out the chorus so loudly thatthose niggers in the campong can hear our sentiments, and shiver intheir shoes, where they've got any. "

"Hear! hear!" said a young lieutenant. 

"But really, you know, I hav'n't a voice, " exclaimed the ensign inexpostulation. 

"Gammon!" cried Bob. "He can sing like a bird, gentlemen. Silence, please, for our national song, `The Englishman'!"

"I can't sing it--indeed I can't, " cried the ensign. 

"Oh, yes, you can; go on, " said the young lieutenant who had previouslyspoken. 

"To be sure he will, " cried Bob Roberts. "Heave ahead, Tom, and I'llhelp whenever I can. It's your duty to sing it, for the niggers to hearour sentiments with regard to slavery!"

"Hear, hear!" cried several of the officers, laughing; and the men gavea cheer. 

"Slavery and the British flag!" cried Bob Roberts, who was gettingexcited. "No man, or woman either, who has once sought protectionbeneath the folds of the glorious red white and blue, can ever return toslavery!"

"Hear, hear, hear!" shouted the officers again, and the men threw uptheir caps, cried "Hoorar!" and the sentry on the roof presented arms. 

"Now then, play up, Private Mustard--`The Englishman, '" cried BobRoberts. "Get ready, Tom, and run it out with all your might!"

"Must I?" said the ensign, nervously. 

"To be sure you must. Wait a minute, though, and let him play theintroduction. "

Billy Mustard gave the bow a preliminary scrape, and the audience grewlarger. 

"What key shall I play it in, sir?" said Billy. 

"Any key you like, " cried Bob, excitedly. "Play it in a whole bunch ofkeys, my lad, only go ahead, or we shall forget all the words. "

Off went the fiddle with a flourish over the first strain of thewell-known song, and then, after a couple of efforts to sing, Tom Longbroke down, and Bob Roberts took up the strain, singing it in a cheeryrollicking boyish way, growing more confident every moment, and provingthat he had a musical tenor voice. Then as he reached the end of thefirst verse, he waved his puggaree on high, jumped upon the table to theupsetting of a couple of glasses, and led the chorus, which was lustilytrolled out by all present. 

On went Bob Roberts, declaring how the flag waved on every sea, andshould never float over a slave, throwing so much enthusiasm into thesong that to a man all rose, and literally roared the chorus, endingwith three cheers, and one cheer more for the poor girls; and as BobRoberts stood upon the table flushed and hot, he felt quite a hero, andready to go on that very night and rescue half-a-dozen more poor slavegirls from tyranny, if they would only appeal to him for help. 

"Three cheers for Mr Roberts, " shouted Dick, the sailor, as BillyMustard was confiding to a friend that "a fiddle soon got outer toon inthat climate. "

"Yes, and three cheers for Mr Long, " shouted Bob. "Come up here, Tom, old man; you did more than I did. "

Tom Long was prevailed upon to mount the table, where he bowed again andagain as the men cheered; when, as a lull came in the cheering, BillyMustard, whose fiddle had been musically whispering to itself in answerto the well-drawn bow, suddenly made himself heard in the strain of"Rule Britannia, " which was sung in chorus with vigour, especially whenthe singers declared that Britons never, _never_, NEVER should beslaves; which rang out far over the attap roofs of the drowsy campong. 

So satisfied were the singers that they followed up with the NationalAnthem, which was just concluded when the resident sent one of hisservants to express a hope that the noise was nearly at an end. 

"Well, I think we have been going it, " said Bob Roberts, jumping down. "Come along, Tom. I've got two splendid cigars--real Manillas. "

Tom Long, to whom this public recognition had been extremely painful, was only too glad to join his companion on a form beneath a tree, wherethe two genuine Manillas were lit, and for a quarter of an hour theyouths smoked on complacently, when just as the exultation of the publicsinging was giving way to a peculiar sensation of depression andsickness, and each longed to throw away half his cigar, but did notdare, Adam Gray came up to where they were seated, gradually growingpale and wan. 

"Ah, Gray, " said the ensign, "what is it?"

"The major, sir, requests that you will favour him with your companydirectly. "

"My company?" cried the ensign; "what's the matter?"

"Don't know, sir; but I think it's something about those slave girls. And Captain Horton requested me to tell you to come too, sir, " hecontinued, turning to Bob Roberts. 

"We're going to get promotion, I know, Tom, " said the middy. 

"No, no, " said the ensign, dolefully, "it's a good wigging. "

Bob Roberts, although feeling far from exalted now, did not in anywisebelieve in the possibility of receiving what his companion euphoniouslytermed a "wigging, " and with a good deal of his customary independent, and rather impudent, swagger he followed the orderly to a cool lamp-litroom, where sat in solemn conclave, the resident, Major Sandars, andCaptain Horton. 

"That will do, Gray, " said Major Sandars, as the youths entered, andsaluted the three officers seated like judges at a table, "but be withinhearing. "

"Might ask us to sit down, " thought Bob, as he saw from the aspect ofthe three gentlemen that something serious was afloat. 

But the new arrivals were not asked to sit down, and they stood beforethe table feeling very guilty, and like a couple of prisoners; though ofwhat they had been guilty, and why they were brought there, they couldnot imagine. 

"It's only their serious way, " thought Bob; "they are going tocompliment us. "

He stared at the shaded lamp, round which four or five moths and a bigbeetle were wildly circling in a frantic desire to commit suicide, butkept from a fiery end by gauze wire over the chimney. 

"What fools moths and beetles are!" thought Bob, and then his attentionwas taken up by the officers. 

"Will you speak, Major Sandars?" said the resident. 

"No, I think it should come from you, Mr Linton. What do you say, Captain Horton?"

"I quite agree with you, Major Sandars, " said the captain stiffly. 

"What the dickens have we been doing?" thought Bob; and then he staredhard at the resident, and wished heartily that Rachel Linton's fatherhad not been chosen to give him what he felt sure was a setting down forsome reason or another. 

"As you will, gentlemen, " said the resident firmly, and he then placedhis elbows on the table and joined his fingers, while the light from thelamp shone full upon his forehead. 

"Mr Ensign Long--Mr Midshipman Roberts, " he began. "He might haveplaced me first, " thought Bob. "I wish someone would catch thosewretched moths. "

"You have been out on an expedition to-day?"

He waited for an answer, and as Tom Long had been placed first, Bobwaited, too; but as his companion did not speak, Bob exclaimed quickly--

"Yes, sir, snipe shooting;" and as the resident bowed his head, Bobadded, "two brace. "

"Confound you--you young dogs!" cried Captain Horton, "and you brought abrace of something else. I beg your pardon, Mr Linton; go on. "

Mr Linton bowed, while Bob uttered a barely audible whistle, andglanced at his companion. 

"Then it's about those two girls, " he thought. 

"It seems, young gentlemen, " continued the resident, "that while youwere out, you met two young Malay girls?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Who had run away from their master?"

"From their owner, as he seemed to consider himself, sir, " said Bob, who, to use his own words, felt as if all the fat was in the fire now, and blazed up accordingly. "You see, sir, " he said quickly, "we werewatching for something that we saw in the reeds, close to the boggyground, you know, and Tom here thought it was pig, but I thought itmight be a deer. So we stood quite still till we heard sounds in thedistance, when out jumped two dark creatures, and I was going to fire, when we saw that they were girls. "

"And they ran up to us, " said Tom Long. 

"Like winking, " said Bob, "and threw themselves on their knees, andclung to our legs, and wouldn't let go. Then up came half-a-dozen ofthe niggers--"

"I think, Mr Roberts, we will call people by their right names, " saidthe resident, quietly; "suppose we say Malays. "

"Yes, sir, Malays; and laid hold of the girls to drag them away. Theyscreamed out, and that roused us, and we sent the nig--Malays staggeringback. For you see, sir, as Englishmen--"

"English what--Mr Roberts?" said Captain Horton. 

"Men, sir. I'm a midshipman, sir, " said Bob, sharply; and the captaingrunted out something that sounded like "impudent young puppy!" but hedid not look angry. 

"Go on, Mr Roberts, " said the resident. 

"Well, sir, being English--boys--big boys, who felt like men justthen--" said Bob, rather sarcastically. 

"That's not bad, Mr Roberts, " said Major Sandars, with a glance at thenaval captain. 

"Well, sir, as the poor girls had regularly appealed to us to protectthem, and the nig--Malays, sir, whipped out their krises, we presentedarms, and would have given them a peppering of snipe shot, if theyhadn't sheered off when we brought the two poor weeping slave girlsunder the protection of the British flag, and set them free. Didn't we, Tom?"

"Yes, " said Tom Long, looking nervously at the resident, and wonderingwhat Rachel Linton thought about their feat. 

There was a dead silence for a few moments, during which Bob Robertswiped his streaming forehead, for he felt uncomfortably hot. Then theresident began--

"I think I am speaking the sentiments of my friends here, younggentlemen, when I say that you both behaved just as two brave Britishlads would be expected to behave under the circumstances. "

"Yes, " said Major Sandars, "Ensign Long, I felt sure, would not bewanting, if called upon. "

Tom Long's face grew the colour of his best uniform. 

"Very plucky act, " said Captain Horton; and he nodded in so friendly away at the middy, that Bob felt quite beaming. 

"But, " continued the resident, speaking very slowly, and as if weighingevery word he said, "what is very beautiful in sentiment, and very braveand manly if judged according to our own best feelings, young gentlemen, becomes very awkward sometimes if viewed through the spectacles ofdiplomacy. "

"I--I don't understand you, sir, " faltered Bob. 

"Let me be explicit then, young gentlemen. You both were, it seems, granted leave of absence to-day, for indulging in a little innocentsport, but by your brave, though very indiscreet conduct, you have, Ifear, completely overset the friendly relations that we have been tryingso hard to establish with these extremely sensitive people. "

"But, sir, " began Bob, "the poor girls--"

"Yes, I know all that, " said the resident quietly; "but slavery is adomestic institution among these people, and to-morrow I feel sure thatI shall have a visit from some of the sultan's chief men, demanding thatthese poor girls be given up. "

"But they can't be now, sir, " said Tom Long. 

"No, Mr Long, we cannot return the poor girls to a state of slavery;but do you not see into what an awkward position your act has broughtus?"

"I'm very sorry, sir. "

"Yes, but sorrow will not mend it. We have been, and are, living on theedge of a volcano here, young gentlemen, and the slightest thing maycause an eruption. This act of yours, I greatly fear, will bring theflames about our heads. "

Bob Roberts turned pale, as he thought of the ladies. 

"But they'd never dare, sir, " he began. 

"Dare? I believe the Malays are quite daring enough to attack us, should they feel disposed. But there, we need not discuss that matter. You young gentlemen have, however, been very jubilant over your rescueof these poor girls, and you have been summoned here to warn you, whileyour respective officers take into consideration what punishment isawarded to you, that your noisy demonstrations are very much out ofplace. "

"Punishment, sir!" said Bob, who looked aghast. 

"Yes, " said the resident sharply, "punishment. You do not seem torealise, young gentleman, that your act to-day has fired a train. Besides which, it is a question of such import that I must make it thebasis of a special despatch to the colonial secretary at Whitehall. "

Bob Roberts turned round and stared at Tom Long, but the latter wasstaring at Major Sandars. 

"I don't think I need say any more, young gentlemen, " said the residentquietly, "and I fervently hope that I may be able to peaceably settlethis matter; but it is quite on the cards that it may be the cause of adeadly strife. And I sincerely trust that whatever may be the upshot ofthis affair, it may be a warning to you, as young English officers, tothink a little more, and consider, before you take any serious step inyour careers; for sometimes a very slight error may result in the lossof life. In this case, yours has not been a slight error, but a graveone. "

"Though we all own as quite true, " said Captain Horton, "that we don'tsee how you could have acted differently; eh, Sandars?"

"Yes, yes, of course. But, hang it all, Long, how could you go and getinto such a confounded pickle? It's too bad, sir, 'pon my soul, sir; itis too bad--much too bad. "

"Are we to be under arrest, sir?" said Bob Roberts, rather blankly. 

"Not if you'll both promise to keep within bounds, " said Captain Horton. "No nonsense. "

"No, sir, " said Bob glumly. 

"Of course not, sir, " said Tom. 

"That will do then, young gentlemen, " said the resident gravely; and thetwo youths went blankly off to their several quarters. 

"Poor boys! I'm sorry for them, " said the resident sadly. 

"Yes, it's a confounded nuisance, Linton, " said Major Sandars, "but youmust diplomatise, and set all right somehow or another. "

"That's a fine boy, that Roberts, " said Captain Horton. "I'll try mybest, gentlemen, " said the resident, "for all our sakes; but we have acurious people to deal with, and I fear that this may turn out a veryserious affair. "

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

HOW DIPLOMACY WORKED IN A MALAY STATE. 

The Parang river looked like a belt of damasked silver studded withdiamonds the next morning, while the waving feathery palms were of thebrightest green. Mingled with these, on the shore farthest from thetown, were the dadap trees, whose ripe scarlet blossoms stood out inrich relief as they gave colour to a landscape already dotted with theblooms of the chumpaka, both yellow and white, shedding a sweet scentthat Doctor Bolter said was like Cape jasmin, but which Bob Robertsdeclared to resemble tea made with lavender water. 

The "Startler, " with her deck as white as hands could make it, laylooking smart and bright in her moorings below the island, her yardsperfectly square, her sides glistening with fresh paint, her brassrails, bell, and guns flashing back the sun's rays, and the awningsspread over the deck almost as white as snow. 

Here and there the Jacks, in their duck frocks and straws, were paddlingabout barefooted in the sunshine, giving the last touches to the railsand glass of the skylights. 

On the island the resident's house and the barrack fort looked more likesome ornamented set of buildings for summer pleasure, than a couple ofplaces designed as a stronghold and retreat in case of danger. For theditch and the earthwork were now carpetted with verdant growth, whilethe abattis, having been made of green wood, was putting forth freshshoots. 

Both the resident and Major Sandars had been desirous of retaining allthe shade possible, for the protection of the men; therefore, save wherethey were likely to afford harbour to the enemy, trees and bushes hadbeen spared. The men too, having plenty of time at disposal, had beenencouraged to take to gardening, and with Doctor Bolter for headinstructor, the place had been made to present the appearance of anursery ground, where one bed rivalled another in the perfection of itsgrowing vegetables. Neat, well-kept walks led up to the fort and theresident's house, which daily grew brighter and more picturesque, withits ornamented reed-woven walls, and carefully thatched roof of attap. The broad verandah, with its punkahs, was made gay with beautifulcreepers, climbing the pillars of palm and bamboo, and festooning theedges, some of these being jasmines of great size and beauty; whilerough rotan baskets hung at intervals, full of moss and dead wood, onwhich flourished the wonderful orchids and pitcher-plants that were thedelight of the ladies of the residency. 

By the help of Doctor Bolter and Adam Gray, a large cask had been cut inhalf, and decorated on the outsides and edges with rough bark, in whoseinterstices were planted orchids, and the pretty maiden-hair fern; whileupon these being both mounted upon a short rough stump, they formed acouple of rustic vases of huge size, standing just inside the broadverandah, on either side of the entrance door, and looked, when filledwith water, and supplied with aquatic plants, no slight additions to thebeauty of the place. 

Upon one of his excursions with net and can, Doctor Bolter had succeededin capturing several of the beautiful little chaetadons, orshooting-fish; tiny little broad fellows, beautifully banded, whosepeculiarity was the adroitness with which they would lie in wait for anyunfortunate fly that settled on the edge of an aquatic leaf, and thenfire--or rather, water--off at it a tiny globule, with such unerringaim, that the insect was generally brought down into the water andswallowed. Three or four would sometimes sail round one after the othershooting at a fly in turn till it was knocked off, when a rush tookplace for the dainty prize. 

But the river and the little jungle streams abounded with miniature fishof great beauty, their peculiarity being the way in which they werecoloured, some being of a most gorgeous scarlet, with broad bands ofvivid blue across their sides. 

All on board the "Startler" was the perfection of neatness, and from afriendly rivalry the residency and fort were as smart and neat; perhapsnever did they look to greater perfection than on the day after theadventure of Bob Roberts and Tom Long. 

The morning drill was over, and the sun was growing intensely hot, whenthere was heard the sound of a gong in the distance, and one of thesentries announced the coming of a boat. 

As it drew near it was seen to be one belonging to the sultan, with acouple of his principal officers therein. 

They landed, each in his gay silken sarong, in whose folds the handle ofthe kris was carefully wrapped, to indicate that they were bound on afriendly mission, and leaving their men at the bamboo landing-stagefitted up by the sailors, they made their way to the residency. 

No sooner had the news been given to Mr Linton of the approach of thesultan's boat than a signal was hoisted, whose effect was that thecaptain's gig was lowered down, and he arrived at the stage directlyafter, joining Major Sandars who had been fetched by an orderly, bothofficers being in full uniform. 

"I say, Tom, " said Bob Roberts to his companion, who had come across tothe ship a short time before, "if I were you I'd go back and fig myself. I shall put on my best duds, for you see if we ar'n't sent for to meetthose two coffee-coloured swells. "

Tom Long, who was rather low-spirited about the matter, took the middy'sadvice, and went back to the island, where the visitors had already beenushered into the resident's reception room, the captain and majordropping in directly after as if by accident. 

It was the most friendly of visits. The two officers were thetumongong, or chief magistrate, and the muntri, or chief adviser, of thesultan; and nothing could have been more amiable than their demeanour asthey conversed with Mr Linton, who from time to time interpreted to thetwo British officers. 

Was there anything the sultan could do in the way of providing bettersupplies of rice, fruit, and meat? A great fish expedition was about tobe set afoot, and more would be brought down the river and kept infloating tanks. If the resident would only speak, everything possibleshould be done. 

Nothing was required, so thanks were returned; when the tumongong smiledmost agreeably, and said that he must now come to the chief object ofhis visit. The fact was, the sultan had decided to have a greattiger-hunt. Much mischief had of late been done by tigers. Severalpoor fellows, especially Chinamen, had been carried off from therice-fields, and the sultan had decided to get together all hiselephants, with a large number of beaters, and have a great hunt. Wouldthe British officers bring their rifles and help? Elephants should beplaced at their disposal, the largest the country produced, and everything done to make the hunt a success. 

"Then it's a mare's nest after all, Sandars, " said Captain Horton. "They're not going to take any notice of those boys' tricks. What doyou say; shall we go?"

"I should enjoy it immensely, " said the major. "I long for a shot at atiger. "

"Wait a little, gentlemen, " said the resident, smiling; "the interviewis not at an end. What shall I reply about the hunting-party?"

"Oh, we shall be delighted to go. You'll go too?" said Captain Horton, answering for both. 

"If matters are pleasantly settled, " said Mr Linton. Then turning tothe two Malay officers, whose dark restless eyes had been scanning thefaces in turn, he said that they would be most happy to accept thesultan's invitation. 

The officers were delighted, and declared that the sultan's joy wouldknow no bounds. 

They had previously declined all refreshments, but now that theirbusiness was at an end they accepted cigars, and laughed and chatted, evidently enjoying the visit immensely, and accepting a proposal to walkround the grounds, with alacrity. 

As they went into the verandah, the resident found a couple of thesultan's men waiting, with a present of the choicest fruit the countryproduced; huge durians, and fine mangosteens, with the most select kindsof plantain, known for the delicacy of their flavour. 

The visitors took an almost childish delight in the fish in the twofonts, and smiled with pleasure at the sight of the large selection offlowers; but a keen observer would have noticed that as they walkedround the fort and earth-works, the muntri eagerly scanned everypreparation for defence, though apparently more attracted by theuniforms of the sentries than anything else. 

As they were crossing the little parade ground, with its well-trampledsoil, on their way back to their boat, Tom Long was encountered, on hisway to the mess-room. 

He started, on coming upon the little party so suddenly, but saluted andwent on. 

Oddly enough that brought to the muntri's memory a little affair thathad happened on the previous day. Two young officers of the ship hadbeen ashore shooting birds, and they found a party of the country peoplebehaving rather ill to a couple of slave girls, and naturally enough, like all young men would, they took the girls under their protection, and brought them to the residency. Was it not so?

"Yes, " the resident replied; "and they are now with the ladies. "

That was so good and kind, and so like the English, who were a great andgenerous nation. The sultan had been terribly annoyed at his peoplebehaving so ill to the poor girls, the muntri continued, and they hadbeen punished, which was quite right--was it not?

The resident perfectly agreed with the muntri, who smiled content, whilethe tumongong looked hurt and sad. 

He was so glad that Rajah Linton was satisfied at what the sultan haddone, and the sultan would be greatly happy at his acts meeting suchapproval from the chief of the great queen. So that was settled. Hethanked the resident more than he could tell, and he would give him nomore trouble about the two poor girls, but take them back in the boat. 

This was very cleverly done, but the sultan's officers had to deal withan equally clever man, one who was well versed in oriental wiles anddiplomacy. Mr Linton was in no wise taken aback, since he had beenwaiting for this, and therefore was quite prepared to reply firmly thatsuch a proceeding was impossible. The two girls had been broughtbeneath the British flag, and hence were slaves no longer. He could nottherefore give them up. 

Of course the resident meant that he could not send them back then, themuntri observed, smiling. Perhaps the poor girls were ill with theirfright, and the rajah resident would send them back when they werebetter. 

The resident assured his visitors that such a course was impossible, foraccording to the British laws the girls were now free, and could not beforced to go back. 

The two officers did not press the matter, but began to ask questionsabout a breech-loading cannon, and were greatly surprised at the easewith which it was charged. 

They had by this time finished their cigars, and being near thelanding-stage, they took a most effusive leave of the three officers, entered their boat, and were rowed away. 

"Well, then, " said Captain Horton, as soon as he heard the parts of theconversation that he had not understood, "that game's over, and they arebeaten at diplomacy?"

"Yes, " said Major Sandars. "I envy you your command of countenance, andknowledge of the language, Linton. "

"Game? over?" said Mr Linton, smiling sadly. "No, my dear sirs, thatis only the first move our adversaries have made--king's pawn twosquares forward; to which I have replied with queen's pawn one squareforward. "

"And that's a bad move, isn't it, Horton?" exclaimed Major Sandars. 

"So the chess books make one think, " said the captain. 

"It all depends upon your adversary and your game, " said the resident, smiling. "Gentlemen, I hope I have done right. "

"And what are you going to do now?" said Captain Horton. 

"Wait to see our adversary's next move. Meanwhile, gentlemen, extracaution will do no harm, for we have touched the Malays in one of theirmost sensitive places. "

"We? You mean those young scamps of boys, " said Captain Horton. 

"Oh, it's _we_ all the same, " said Major Sandars. "Well, what's to bedone?"

"I should, without seeming to do anything, put on a few extra sentries, Major Sandars, " said the resident; "and, Captain Horton, I should beready for action at a moment's notice, and be cautious about who came onboard, and what prahus anchored near. "

"Quite right--quite right, Linton, " said Captain Horton. "You had nobusiness to be a civilian. You ought to have been in the service. "

The resident smiled, and they separated, as Mr Linton said, to wait forthe enemy's next move. 

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

HOW SULTAN HAMET VISITED HIS FRIENDS. 

The enemy, as the resident termed the sultan's party, made no move for acouple of days, during which all went on as usual. There was the usualmorning parade in the fort, and the soldiers gardened, idled, smoked, and told one another it was "jolly hot"--a fact that needed no telling. On board the "Startler" the men were beat to quarters, and went throughtheir drill in the cool of the morning, before hammock rails, thesentries' rifles, and the breeches of the glistening guns grew too hotto be touched with impunity. So hot was it, that, like the burnt childwho fears the fire, Bob Roberts was exceedingly cautious about placinghis hands in any spot where they were likely to be defiled by the pitchthat cannot be touched without those consequences; for from betweenseams, and the strands of well-laid cables, it oozed, and even bubbledout, beneath the ardent wooing of the tropic sun. 

It was a listless life, but a pleasant one, for such strict disciplinewas observed, and stringent rules laid down by the medical officer ofthe corvette and the detachment, that the men kept in excellent health. They had plenty of amusements; fruit was abundant, and they had takenquite a taste for the coarse country tobacco, which many of the soldierssmoked after the Malay fashion, rolled up a la cigarette in the roko, orouter sheath of the palm leaf or the plantain. Some, too, adopted theMalay's plan of rapidly cutting a pipe from a short joint of bamboo, which, with a hole bored in the side for the insertion of a thin reed orquill, formed a pipe much affected by the Jacks when they took theirtobacco in smoke, instead of by the unpleasantly moist masticatingprocess. 

At the residency all went on as usual; sometimes the ladies received, and there was the sound of music and singing in the pleasantly lit-upverandah; sometimes Captain Horton sent his gig, and the agreeablelittle reunions were held on board the "Startler, " in an improvisedtent, draped with the ship's colours, while the lights were reflected onthe smooth surface of the hurrying stream, and the Malays on shorewatched the figures that passed to and fro till the party was over. 

Captain Horton and Major Sandars both thought the rajah's party hadforgotten the affair; but the resident held to his opinion, which wasstrengthened by the imploring manner in which the two girls, who hadattached themselves as attendants on Rachel Linton and her cousin, begged him not to let them be fetched away. 

"Suppose I did let them have you back, " said the resident to them oneday in their native tongue, "what would happen?"

One of the girls, a tall, dark, graceful creature, but with theprotruding lips, high cheekbones, and flat distended nose of the Malay, rose with contracted eyebrows, took her companion, forced her upon herknees, and then drawing an imaginary kris, she placed the point on thegirl's shoulder, and struck the hilt with her right hand as if drivingit perpendicularly down into her heart. 

"They would kill us--so!" she exclaimed, "and throw our bodies in thewater to the crocodiles!"

The other girl shuddered, and raised her frightened eyes to the faces ofthe ladies as if imploring them to intercede--and not in vain. 

"But they will not trouble about you now;" said the resident, tentatively. 

"Yes, yes, " they both exclaimed, "they will send a naga and many men, but you will not let us go?"

"No, " said the resident, quietly. "_We_ shall not give you up, " and hewent away thoughtfully to his room, to continue writing the despatch hehad commenced some days before. 

That same evening the two principal officers came to have a chat, andover their cigars Major Sandars introduced the subject of the doubledsentries. 

"There is no longer any need for this, " he said. "Let's see, Linton, itis now a week since those two fellows came. Don't you think, Horton, itis an unnecessary precaution?"

"Well, to be frank, " said Captain Horton, "I do; and I shall be glad togive up our strict discipline on board. "

"What do you think, Captain Smithers?" said the resident to thatofficer, who was present. 

"I cannot help agreeing with the major, " he replied. "I see no reasonfor these extra precautions. "

"Then I am in the minority, " said the resident, smiling. 

"Look out there, gentlemen, " he said, pointing through the open window. "What do you see?"

"You tell him, Smithers, " said the major, "I'm too hot and tired to domore than breathe. "

"I can see the bright river with the lights of the steamer glistening onits surface; the fire-flies are darting amongst the trees; the starslook soft and mellow; altogether it is a delightful picture, thatreminds one of being in some delicious summer retreat on the banks ofdear old Father Thames. "

"Captain Smithers, " said the resident, gravely, "it is indeed abeautiful picture; the river flows peacefully on with the lightsreflected from its bosom; but you know as well as I, that if a manattempted to breast those treacherous waters, he would, before he hadswum many yards, have been drawn down by one of the hideous reptilesthat swarm in the Parang. That river is to my mind a type of the Malayfeeling towards us--the intruders upon his soil. So little am Isatisfied with what seems to me to be a deceitful calm, that I haveserious thoughts of asking you to increase the sentries. "

"Nonsense, my dear Linton, " said Captain Horton; "we shall hear no moreof the affair. "

"We shall hear more, " said the resident. "Wait and see. "

The resident was right; for the next day the sultan's principal naga, ordragon-boat, with its uncouth figure-head, was seen coming swiftly downthe stream, propelled by about thirty rowers, all clad in rich yellowjackets--the royal colour--and nattily-made scarlet caps. Their lowerlimbs were bare, save where covered by their scarlet and yellow sarongs. The men rowed well together; and as the word was passed by the sentriesthe officer on duty could plainly make out beneath the matting awning, reaching nearly from end to end of the boat, the figures of the sultanand several of his officers. 

The sultan was easily distinguishable; for while his chief officersstrictly adhered to their native costume, he wore a gorgeoussemi-military uniform, that had specially been built--so Bob Robertstermed it--for him in England. It was one mass of rich embroidery, crossed by a jewelled belt, bearing a sabre set with precious stones, and upon his head he wore a little Astrakhan fur _kepi_, surmounted byan egret's plume, like a feathery fountain from a diamond jet. 

Orders were given for the guard to turn out, and the resident and MajorSandars hurriedly prepared to meet their distinguished guest, who, however, did not stop at the island, but went straight on to thecorvette, where he was received by a guard of marines, the captainawaiting his visitor upon the quarter-deck. 

The visit was but short, for at the end of a few minutes Captain Hortonaccompanied the sultan on board the naga, and the long low vessel wasswiftly turned, and rowed with no little skill to the islandlanding-place, where a sufficiently imposing military force, underCaptain Smithers, was ready to receive him, the sultan walking up to theresidency verandah, between a double line of infantry with bayonetsfixed. 

The eastern potentate's opal eyeballs rolled from side to side as, looking rather awkward in his ill-fitting European dress, he tried hardto emulate the dignity of his bronze followers in baju and sarong, eachman with the handle of his kris carefully covered by a silken fold. 

On landing here, the sultan was followed by his kris and sword-bearers, each having his appointed station behind the monarch, holding theweapons by the sheath, with the hilt against the right shoulder, so thata very respectable procession, full of colour and glow, was formed fromthe landing-place to the residency. 

The most incongruous part of the following was the appearance of theofficer who bore an umbrella to keep the rays of the sun from hisliege's head; but as in place of one of the gorgeous, gold-fringed, scarlet-clothed sunshades generally used for that purpose, this was anunmistakeable London-made chaise gingham, with a decidedly Gampish look, it robbed its master of some of his dignity, though he was so busilyemployed in trying to carry his richly-jewelled sabre with the ease ofthe English officers, and at the same time to show the splendid weaponto the best advantage, that he saw not the want of dignity in hisumbrella, and walked awkwardly to where Mr Linton received him incompany with Major Sandars, and such officers as could hurry on theuniforms they so scrupulously avoided in that torrid clime. 

Tom Long, who paid more attention to the embellishment of his personthan any man in the detachment, was one of the officers present, andalthough nervous about the Sultan's visit, and feeling certain that ithad to do with the rescue of the slave girls, he could not help a smileat the umbrella, and a congratulatory sensation that Bob Roberts was notpresent, for he would have been sure to laugh, when an extension of therisible muscles might have been taken as an insult not to be endured. 

The august visitors were received in the wide verandah on account oftheir number, where the sultan took the seat placed for him; five of hisprincipal men, including the former ambassadors, stood behind him; therest, sword and umbrella-bearers, carriers of the potentate's goldenbetel-box and spittoon, squatted down on their heels, and were asmotionless as so many images of bronze. 

The various British officers remained with the resident, standing, outof respect to the sultan, whose heavy dark features seemed to expresssatisfaction; and he at once proceeded in a rather forced, excitedmanner to inform the resident that he had only been having awater-excursion, and had thought how much he should like to see his goodfriends at the residency. 

The resident was delighted, of course, at this mark of condescension, and hastened to assure the sultan of the fact. 

The latter then proceeded to announce that his grand tiger-hunt wouldtake place in a fortnight's time, and begged that all the officers wouldaccept his invitation. 

As spokesman and interpreter, the resident assured his august visitorthat as many as possible would be there; when in addition the sultanasked that a great many soldiers might be sent as well, to help keep thetigers from breaking back when the hunt was on. 

To this, Mr Linton, by Major Sandars' permission, readily assented; andthen, knowing of old his visitor's taste in such matters, some champagnewas produced. At the sight of the gold-foiled bottles the rajah's eyesglistened, and he readily partook of a tumbler twice filled for him;after which he walked into the house with the resident, as an excuse fornot being present when his followers partook of some of the wine. 

At length, after a walk round the fort, which was willingly accorded tohim, that he might see that the residency and its protectors were wellon the _qui vive_, the sultan took his departure, begging earnestly thatall who could would come to the hunting expedition. Then the soldierspresented arms, and the little procession, gay of aspect, proceeded downto the bamboo landing-stage, where the visitor embarked with hisfollowing, and seated himself beneath the reed awning of his boat. Wordwas given, and the yellow and scarlet rowers bent to their oars, sendingthe long light naga vigorously up stream, one blaze of brilliant colourin the morning sun, till it disappeared round a verdant point abouthalf-a-mile ahead. 

"Well, Linton, " said Major Sandars, "what do you say to it now?"

"Ah, to be sure, " said Captain Horton. "Isn't the storm blown over?"

"Really, gentlemen, it looks like it, " said the resident, "and I mustconfess that I am heartily glad to find that I have been wrong. "

"Wrong? yes, " said the Major. "Those fellows are no more fools than weare, and knowing what they do of the strength of our guns, and thediscipline of our men, they would as soon think of measuring force withus, as of flying. Smithers, march the men back into quarters out ofthis raging sunshine, and to-night only put on the usual guard. Whatshall you do, Horton?"

"Only have the customary watch, " was the reply. 

Tom Long conveyed to Bob Roberts an account of what had taken place, andthe reduction of the guard at night; to which that sage young midshipmanreplied, that the British Lion was only going to withdraw his clawswithin their sheaths, but the claws were there still; and that it wouldbe exceedingly uncomfortable for any Malay gentleman on shore if thesaid BL was to put his claws out once more. 

"But I say, Tom, " he exclaimed, "get the major to let you go to thetiger-hunt. "

"Do you think you can get leave?" said the ensign. 

"I mean to try it on, my boy. The cap is sure to be huffy, on accountof our last affair; but nothing venture, nothing gain, and I mean to go, somehow or another, so tigers beware. What are you laughing at?"

"The idea of you shooting a tiger, " said Tom Long. "That's all. "

"I daresay I could if I tried, " said Bob shortly. 

"I daresay you could, " said Long, "but we'll see. We have to get leavefirst. "

"That's soon got, " said Bob Roberts. "Depend upon it, I shall bethere. "

"And I, too, " said Tom Long; and the young fellows parted, each of themin secret vowing that he would have the skin of the tiger he meant toshoot, carefully dressed, lined with blue satin and scarlet cloth, andpresent it to Rachel Linton as a tribute of respect. 

But the tiger had first of all to be shot. 

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

HOW ALI FELL INTO A TRAP. 

They were very delightful days at the residency for the English party. The heat was certainly great, but the arrangements made as soon as theywere settled down, warded that off to a great extent. The men enjoyedthe life most thoroughly, especially as for sanitary reasons DoctorBolter forbade that either the soldiers or the Jacks should be exposedto too much exertion. 

The days were days of unclouded sunshine as a rule, and when this rulewas broken, the change was to a heavy thunder-storm, with a refreshingrain, and then the skies were once more blue. 

Fruit and flowers, and various other supplies, were brought now inabundance, especially since Dullah had been allowed to set up a tradingstation at the island. He monopolised the whole business, the variousboats that came rowing straight to him; but he did it all in so pleasanta manner, that no one could complain. To the English people he wassuavity itself. His courtesy--his gentlemanly bearing was the talk ofthe whole place; and regularly every morning one of his Malay slaves orbond-servants used to carry up and lay in the residency verandah a largebunch of deliciously fresh orchids, or pitcher-plants, or a great branchof some sweet-scented flowering shrub, for which he always received theladies' thanks in a calm, courteous way that quite won their confidence. 

Dullah's reed hut, with its bamboo-supported verandah, became quite afavourite resort, and he very soon provided it with a frontage each way. In the one verandah he arranged to supply the resident, the ladies, andofficers; and in the other the soldiers and sailors, and received hissupplies from the boats. 

Sometimes the ladies walked down to buy fruit, sometimes it was theofficers; but the two best customers were Tom Long and Bob Roberts, theformer spending a great deal in flowers, to send to the residency--avery bad investment by the way--for the rapid rate at which they fadedwas astounding. Once his duty--as he called it--done, in sending abunch of flowers, Tom Long used to indulge himself with fruit. 

Bob Roberts had given up sending flowers, so he had more money to spendupon his noble self in fruit, and he spent it where he was pretty wellsure to encounter Tom Long, whenever he could get leave to run across tothe island. 

Bob's way of addressing Dullah was neither refined nor polite, for itwas always, "Hallo, old cock, " and at first Dullah looked very serious;but as soon as his aide and companion interpreted to him the words, hesmiled and seemed perfectly satisfied, always greeting the youngmidshipman with a display of his white teeth, for he considered hiscomparison to a fighting-cock, of which birds the Malays arepassionately fond, quite a compliment. 

The result was that for a small sum Bob was always sure of a choicedurian, which he feasted upon with great gusto, while Tom Long came andtreated himself to mangosteens. 

Dullah always behaved to the young ensign with the greatest politeness, that young gentleman returning it with a sort of courteous condescensionwhich said plainly enough that Dullah was to consider himself a being ofan inferior race. 

But Dullah accepted it all in the calmest manner, smilingly removing themalodorous durians which Bob maliciously contrived to place near theseat Tom Long always occupied, and waiting upon the ensign as if he werea grandee of the first water. 

And here, as a matter of course, the subject of the approachingtiger-hunt was discussed, Dullah, by means of his companion, becomingquite animated about the matter, and enlarging as to the number andbeauty of the tigers that would be shot. 

Both Tom Long and the middy were having a fruit feast one day, when Ali, who had been off to the steamer, and then came on to the island, madehis appearance in search of his two friends, Dullah quietly disappearinginto the back of his hut, to attend to some of the sailors who had comein, while his companion waited upon the young officers. 

Of course the tiger-hunt was the principal subject of discussion, andAli promised to arrange to have one of the largest of the sultan'selephants fitted with a roomy howdah, so that they three could betogether. 

"I can manage that, " he said, "through my father, and we'll have a grandday. "

"But shall we get any tigers?" asked Bob. 

"No fear of that, " was the reply. "I'll contrive that we shall be inthe best part of the hunt. "

"That will be close to the sultan, of course?"

Ali's dark eyes were raised inquiringly to the speaker's face, butseeing that this was not meant sarcastically, he said drily, --"No; Ishall arrange to be as far away from the sultan's elephant as I can. "

Bob looked at him keenly. 

"What, isn't he fond of tigers?" he said sharply. 

"My father is the sultan's officer, and greatly in his confidence, " saidthe young man quietly. "I don't think the sultan is very fond ofhunting, though. "

Just at this moment, unseen, of course, by the three young men, Dullahwas whispering to a rough-looking, half-naked Malay, into whose hands heplaced a little roll of paper, which the man secured in the fold of hissarong, dropped into a sampan, and then hastily paddled to the mainland, where he plunged into the wood and disappeared. 

Meanwhile the three friends sat chatting, and Ali expressed his sorrowabout the adventure the two young Englishmen had had with the slavegirls. 

"Where are they now?" he quietly asked. 

"Oh, Miss Linton and her cousin have quite adopted them, " said Bob. "But surely you don't think we did wrong. "

"Speaking as the son of the Tumongong, I say yes, " replied Ali; "but asone who has imbibed English notions and ideas, I am bound to say thatwhat you did only makes me feel more thoroughly how it is time we had acomplete revolution in Parang. "

"I say, " said Bob, "you'll get stuck-up for high treason, young fellow, if you talk about revolution. "

"No fear, " said Ali, laughing quietly. "My ideas are pretty well-known;but I am too insignificant a fellow for what I say to be noticed. Nowif it was my father--"

"Yes--if it was your father, " said Bob, "I suppose they would kris him?"

Ali nodded, and after a quiet cigar under the trees, during which hecomplained more than once of the wrench the seizure by the crocodile hadgiven to his muscles, he bade them good-bye, promising to haveeverything ready for the tiger-hunt, and, leaping into his boat, wasrowed away. 

Ali had about a mile to walk along one of the jungle-paths to reach hisfather's house, and he was going along very thoughtfully under thetrees, quite alone--for he had left his men behind, to look after andsecure the boat. It was comparatively cool in the shade, and he beganthinking about the two young men he had left, and contrasting theircivilised life with his. The savagery and barbarism by which he wassurrounded disgusted him; and knowing well as he did, how the sultan andthe various rajahs of the little states lived by oppressing and grindingdown the wretched people around, he longed for the time when a completechange should come about, bringing with it just laws, and a salutaryrule for his country. His own life troubled him in no small degree, forhe saw nothing in the future but the career of a Malay chief, a rulerover slaves, living a life of voluptuous idleness, and such an existencehe looked upon with horror. 

Could he not enter the British service in some way? he asked himself, and rise to a life of usefulness, in which he might do some good for thehelpless, ground-down people amongst whom he was born?

Such a life, he told himself, would be worth living, and--What was that?

His hand involuntarily flew to his kris, as he heard a rustle amidst thetangled cane just ahead, and he advanced cautiously lest it should besome beast of prey, or one of the great serpents that had theirexistence amidst the dense undergrowth. 

There it was again; a quick sharp rustle amidst the trees, as ofsomething hastily escaping, and his hand fell to his side, and hewatched eagerly in advance, not hearing a cat-like step behind him, as aswarthy Malay came in his tracks, sprang upon the young man's back, andpinioned his arms in an instant. 

Ali uttered a hoarse cry, and strove to draw his kris, but the effortwas vain. Three more Malays darted from their hiding-places, and in afew minutes he was securely bound, with a portion of his sarong thrustinto his mouth to keep him from crying for help; another Malay, who hadbeen pulling a long rattan on ahead to imitate the sound of an escapinganimal, coming from his hiding-place and smiling at the success of theruse. 

"What does it mean?" Ali asked himself; but he was puzzled andconfused, and his captors gave him no opportunity for further thought, but hurried him right away into the depths of the jungle through a longnarrow winding track that was little used. 

"Why, this leads to the sultan's old house, where the inchees werekilled!" thought Ali. "Surely they are not going to kill me?"

A shudder ran through him, and a strange sense of horror seemed tofreeze his limbs as he was half thrust half earned along through thejungle, his captors having at times to use their heavy parangs to cutback the canes and various creepers that had made a tangle across theunfrequented track. 

It was as the young chief had surmised. They were taking him to thedeserted house that had been formerly occupied by former inchees orprincesses of the Malay people, who, for some political reason, had beencruelly assassinated by order of the present sultan, they having beenkrissed, and their bodies thrown into the river. 

Was this to be his fate? he asked himself; and if it was, in what wayhad he offended?

The answer came to him at once. It was evident that the intercourse hehad held with the English was not liked, and now in his own mind hebegan to have misgivings about the resident and his party. Sultan Hametwas, he knew, both cruel and treacherous. Was the position of theEnglish people safe?

Yes, he felt they were safe. He was the offender; and once more ashudder of fear ran through him at the thought of his young life beingcrushed out so soon; just, too, when he was so full of hopeful prospectsand aspirations. 

His manhood asserted itself, though, directly. He was the son of achief, he told himself; and these treacherous wretches who had seizedhim should see that he was no coward. 

Then he began to think of his father, and wondered whether it would bepossible to communicate with him before he was killed. 

Then he felt a little more hopeful, for perhaps, after all, theinstructions to his captors might not be to slay him. If it was, and hecould only get his hands free, their task should not be so easy as theythought for. 

For two long hours was he forced through the tangled jungle, and everyminute he became more convinced that his captors were bound for theplace, of whose existence he knew, having once come upon it during ashooting expedition, and, in spite of his followers' horror, persistedin examining the ruins nearly choked even then with the rapid junglegrowth. 

At last they reached the place, and the young man's searching eye atonce saw that some attempts had been made at cutting down the tangledtrees. 

But very little time was afforded him to gratify his curiosity. He wasrudely thrust forward, and then half dragged, half carried up the roughsteps, some of which were broken away, and then pushed into the greatcentre room of what had been a large Malay house. 

It was very dark, for the holes in the roof had become choked withcreepers, which had formed a new thatch in place of the old attap top. The bamboos that formed the floor were slippery here and there with dampmoss and fungus, and in several places they were rotted away; but therewas plenty to afford a fair space of flooring, and in a momentary glanceAli saw that the inner or women's room of the house was dry, and not somuch ruined as the place where he stood. 

"Did they kris the poor prisoners here?" he asked himself; and then histhoughts flew to the bright river upon which his boat had so oftenskimmed; to the clean, trim corvette, with its bright paint, smartsailors, and Bob Roberts, the merry, cheery young English lad. Then hethought of the residency, with the sweet graceful ladies, the pleasantofficers, always so frank and hospitable; of Tom Long, whom he liked inspite of the ensign's pride and stand-offishness; and lastly he askedhimself what they would think of him for not keeping faith with themabout the hunt, and whether they would ever know that he had beentreacherously krissed in that out-of-the-way place. 

A grim smile crossed his lip as he wished that he might be thrownafterwards in the river, and his body float down to be seen by theEnglish people, so that they might know why he had stopped away. 

And then a thrill ran through him, for a couple of his captors seizedhim, and in the dim green light of the place, with a few thin pencils ofsunshine striking straight through like silver threads from roof tofloor, he saw a third man draw his deadly kris. 

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

HOW PRIVATE GRAY PROVED SUSPICIOUS. 

Adam Gray left the men in the mess-room that night, chatting about thecoming tiger-hunt, and wondering who would be selected to accompany theexpedition. He could not help thinking, as he shouldered his rifle, andwas marched off by a sergeant with half-a-dozen more, to relieve guard, that he should like to be one of the party himself. In happy bygonedays he had been fond of sport, and in a trip to North America werewell-remembered perils and pleasant adventures. And now this talk ofthe tiger-hunt had roused in him a strong interest, and set himrecalling days, when he was very different to what he was now. 

"It's no good to sigh, " he said to himself, and the measured tramp, tramp of the marching men sounded solemn and strange in the darkness, rousing him once more to a sense of his position. 

"If I'm to go, I go, " he said bitterly. "That will be as my superiorsplease; and if I do go, it will not be as a hunter. "

In spite of himself; however, as soon as guard had been relieved, and hewas left in charge of a post not far from Dullah's hut, his thoughtswent back to his early career, and he grew at times quite excited as hecompared it with the life he was living now. 

Then his thoughts wandered to the residency, and from thence back to theday when he was bitten by the sea snake, and lay there upon the decktended by Miss Linton. 

These thoughts agitated him, so that he set off pacing briskly up anddown for a couple of hours, and then, his brain calmed by the exercise, he stood still under the shadow of a great palm, with whose trunk, as hestood back close to it, his form so assimilated in the darkness that, ata couple of yards distance, he was invisible. 

His post was close to the river, so close that he walked upon the veryedge of the bank, which was in places undermined by the swift current. This post had been cleared from the thick jungle. It was but a narrowpiece, some two yards wide, and forty long, and this it was his duty topace during his long watch, to guard that side of the island from alanding foe. 

Midnight had passed, and all was very still. There was a splash fromtime to time in the stream, telling of the movement of some reptile orgreat fish, and now and then, from the far-distant parts of the jungleacross the water, he could hear the cry of some wild beast. Now andthen he watched the fire-flies scintillating amidst the leaves, andthought of how different life was out in this far-off tropic land tothat in dear old England. 

He had been thinking quite an hour without stirring; but though hismemory strayed here and there, his eyes were watchful, and he scannedfrom time to time the broad smooth surface of the stream in search ofpassing boats. 

At last he fancied he detected something dark moving along, but it wentby so smoothly that it might have been the trunk of some tree, or eventhe back of a great crocodile, for there was no splash of oars. 

He had almost forgotten the incident, when he started slightly andlistened, thinking he could hear a whispering, and this was repeated. 

He listened intently, but though he felt sure that he could hear voices, still that need not mean danger, for sound passes so easily across thewater, that the noise might have come from down lower in the island, oreven from the shore across the river. 

The whispering ceased, and then he listened in vain for a time, and atlast he was just thinking of pacing up and down once more, whencertainly there was a faint splash, and on looking in the direction hecould see on the dark water what seemed like a dim shadow gliding along. 

It might have been a boat or the shadow of a boat, he could not be sure. In fact, there were moments when he doubted whether it was not someocular illusion, brought about by too intently gazing through the gloom. 

And there he stood, hesitating as to whether he should fire and give thealarm. 

But the next moment he reasonably enough asked himself why he should doso, for there was nothing alarming in the fact of a tiny sampan glidingover the river. It might be only a fisherman on his way to somefavourite spot, or perhaps one of the Malays bound up the river, orpossibly after all a mere deception. 

There seemed to be nothing to merit the alarm being raised, and he stoodwatching once more the spot where the boat had disappeared. Still hedid not resume his march up and down, but recalled the night of theattack, and began to consider how easy it would be for a crafty enemy toland and take them by surprise some gloomy night. Dark-skinned, andlithe of action as cats, they could easily surprise and kris thesentries. In his own case, for instance, what would be easier than foran enemy to lurk on the edge of the thick jungly patch, by which thepath ran, and there stab him as he passed?

"It would be very easy, " he thought. "Yes; and if I stand here muchlonger, I shall begin to think that I am doing so because I dare notwalk beside that dark piece of wood. Still I dare do it, and I will. "

As if out of bravado, he immediately began to pace his allotted postonce more, and he had hardly gone half-way when a sharp sound upon hisleft made him bring his piece down to the present, and wait with bayonetfixed what he looked upon as a certain attack. 

Again he hesitated about firing and giving the alarm, for fear ofincurring ridicule and perhaps reprimand. He knew in his heart that hewas nervous and excitable, being troubled lest any ill should befall theoccupants of the residency, and being in such an excited state made himready to imagine everything he saw, to mean danger. 

So he stood there, ready to repel any attack made upon him, and as heremained upon his guard the rustling noise increased, and he momentarilyexpected to see the leaves parted and some dark figure rush out; butstill he was kept in suspense, for nothing appeared. 

At last he came to the conclusion that it was some restless bird oranimal disturbed by his presence, and told himself that the noise madewas magnified by his own fancies; and, rather glad that he had not giventhe alarm, he continued to march up and down, passing to and fro inclose proximity to a dark Malay, whose hand clasped a wavy, dull-bladedkris, that the holder seemed waiting to thrust into his chest the momentan opportunity occurred, or so soon as the sentry should have given thealarm. 

At last the weary watch came to an end, for the tramp of the relief washeard, and Sergeant Lund marched up his little party of men, heardGray's report of the rustling noise, and the dark shadow on the river;said "Humph!" in a gruff way; a fresh man was placed on sentry, and AdamGray was marched back with the other tired men who were picked up on theround into the little fort. 

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

HOW SOME COULD GO AND SOME MUST STAY. 

The day of the tiger-hunt was at last close at hand. A vast deal ofcommunication and counter communication had taken place with the sultan, whose people were making great preparations for the event. 

The sultan was constantly sending messengers, and asking that storesmight be given him with plenty of ammunition. Not, though, in any meanbegging spirit, for whenever a couple of his chiefs came with somerequest, they were accompanied by a train of followers bearingpresents--food, supplies of the finest rice, sugar-cane, and fruit;buffaloes and poultry; slabs of tin, little bags of gold dust, specimensof the native work; an abundance, in short, of useful and valuablethings, all of which were accepted; though there was a grim feeling inthe mind of Mr Linton that pretty well everything had been taken byforce, from some of the sultan's miserable subjects. 

Still the policy was, to be on the best of terms with the sultan, and tohope to introduce reforms in his rule by degrees. The resident took theold school copy-book moral into consideration, that example was betterthan precept, and knowing full well that any sweeping code of rules andregulations would produce distaste, certain hatred, and perhaps a risingagainst the English rule, he determined to introduce little improvementsby degrees, each to be, he hoped, tiny seeds from which would grow grandand substantial trees. 

The tiger-hunt was being prepared for evidently with childlike delight, and instead of its being a few hours' expedition, it proved that it wasto be an affair of a week. Tents were to be taken, huts to be formed, and quite a large district swept of the dangerous beasts. For as thesultan informed the English officers, the tigers had been unmolested forquite two years, and saving one or two taken in pitfalls, they hadescaped almost scot free. The consequence of this was, that severalpoor Malays had been carried off from their rice-fields, and at least adozen unfortunate Chinamen from the neighbourhood of some tin mines afew miles away. 

"I never meant to enter into such an extensive affair, gentlemen, " saidthe resident to Major Sandars and Captain Horton after dinner one day, when they had all been entertained at the mess-room. "I almost think weought to draw back before it is too late. "

"Well, I don't know, " said Major Sandars. "It will please the sultan ifwe take a lot of men, and this is rather a stagnating life. I franklytell you I should be very glad of the outing, and I am sure it would dogood to the men. "

"I quite agree with you, Sandars, " said Captain Horton; and Bob Robertsand Tom Long, who were opposite one another at the bottom of the table, exchanged glances. "I want a change, and I should be glad to give mylads a turn up the country. Drill's all very well, but it getswearisome. What do you say, Smithers?"

"I must confess to being eager to go, " was the reply. "It seems to methe only gentleman who does not care for the trip is Mr Linton. "

"My dear fellow, you never made a greater mistake in your life, " saidMr Linton, laughing. "Nothing would please me better than to be offfor a couple of months, with a brace of good rifles, and an elephant, with plenty of beaters. I could even manage to exist for three monthswithout reading a report, or writing a despatch. "

Here there was a hearty laugh, and Mr Linton went on, --"There is onevoice silent--the most important one, it seems to me. Come, doctor, what do you say? may we all go up the country and live in tents?"

"Hah!" said Doctor Bolter, "now you have me on the hip. I want to gomyself; horribly. "

"Ha, ha, ha, ha!" laughed every one in chorus. 

"I want to see those black monkeys like our friend Mr Bob Roberts hasfor a pet. I say I want to see them in their native state. I want toget a specimen of the pink rhinoceros, and some of the _Longicorns_. _Nymphalis Calydonia_ is to be found here, and I must shoot a fewspecimens of _Cymbirhynchus Macrorhynchus_, besides supplying my _hortussiccus_ with a complete series of _Nepenthes_. "

"For goodness' sake, doctor, don't go on like that, " cried CaptainHorton. "If you want to be cheerful to that extent, give us arecitation in pure Malay. "

"Ah, you may all laugh, " said the doctor; "but I'm not ashamed of beinga modest naturalist. "

"Modest!" said Major Sandars. "Do you call that modest, to talk biglike that? But come, tell us, may we go safely?"

"That's what I can't quite settle, " said the doctor. "I don't know whatto say to you. A week's hunting picnic would be very nice. "

"Splendid, " said everybody. 

"And you'd have a good supply of tents? I can't have my men sleeping inthe open air. "

"Abundance of everything, " said Major Sandars. "Regular commissariatstores--mess tent, and the rest of it. "

"Stop a minute, " said the doctor, "not so fast. You see, what I'mafraid of is fever. "

"We all are, " said Captain Horton. "Never mind, take a barrel and keepa strong solution of quinine always on tap for us. Now then, may we go?You see if it was on duty we shouldn't study a moment, but as it's acase of pleasuring--"

"And keeping up good relations with the sultan, " said the resident. 

"And freeing the country from a pest, " said Captain Horton. 

"Tigers are pests enough, " said the doctor, "but intermittent or junglefever is to my mind the pest of the country. "

"Yes, of course, doctor, " said the resident; "but what do you think, maywe go?"

The doctor sat tapping the table with a dessert knife. 

"Will you all promise me faithfully not to drink a drop of water thathas not been filtered?" he said. 

"_Yes_, yes, yes, " came from all down the table. 

"I'll promise, doctor, not to drink any water at all, " said Bob Robertsin a low voice, that was heard, though, by the doctor. 

"It strikes me, young gentleman, that you won't get anything stronger, "he said. "Well, gentlemen, if you'll all promise to abide by my rules, I'll say _yes; you may go_. "

A long quiet conversation was afterwards held, and finally it wasdecided that quite half the men should go, and on the eve of theexpedition the final preparations had been made, tents and stores hadbeen sent ashore ready for a start at daybreak. 

The river had been scoured by the corvette's boats, and no trace ofRajah Gantang's prahus found; in fact, nothing had been heard of him orthem for many days; and all being esteemed satisfactory and safe on thatscore, what remained to do was to settle who should stay and protect theresidency and the corvette, and who should go. 

As far as the men were concerned, this was soon settled; for the orderwas given to fall in, and they were soon ranged in line, every mananxious in the extreme as to his fate. The next order was for the evennumbered to take two paces back, and the next for the rear-rank men tofall out; they were the lucky ones, and in a high state of delight. 

With the officers it was more difficult. However, that was soonsettled. Captain Horton said that he should go; and gave the corvettein charge of Lieutenant Johnson. Major Sandars followed his example byappointing Captain Smithers to the task of taking command of the fort;and to his great disgust Tom Long found that he was not to be of theselect. 

The resident had not intended to go, but so pressing a request that hewould come had arrived from the sultan, that he felt bound to make oneof the party. On the eve of the start the principal talk was of thequalities and powers of the various rifles and shot guns that had beenbrought out to be cleaned and oiled. 

Tom Long was solacing himself out in the open air with a strong rankcigar that had been given him by a brother officer, and very poorly itmade him feel. But he put that all down to the major's account fordepriving him of his treat. 

"I'll be even with him, though, " he said, breaking out into the habit oftalking aloud. "I won't forget it. "

The night was very dark and starless, and he stood leaning up against atree, when he heard the splash of oars from the landing-place, a shortsharp order, and then the rattling of a ring-bolt. 

"Some one from the steamer, I suppose, " he growled. "Gun borrowing, I'll be bound. They don't have mine, whoever wants it. "

"Here you, sir, " said a familiar voice, as a figure came up through thedarkness. "Where's Major Sandars--at the officers' quarters or theresidency? Do you hear? Why don't you speak?"

"That path leads to the officers' quarters, Mr Robert Roberts, and theother leads, as you well know, to the residency. Now go and find outfor yourself, and don't air your salt-junk bluster on shore. "

"Salt-junk bluster be bothered, " said Bob sharply. "How the dickens wasI to know it was you standing stuck-up against that tree like two tentpoles in a roll of canvass? Here, I've come from the skipper to see ifthe major's got any spare leggings, for fear of the noble captaingetting any thorns in his legs. "

"Hang the captain!" growled Tom. 

"Hang the major, then!" said Bob sharply. 

"You may hang them both, if you like, " said Tom. 

"I should like to kris them all over, till they looked like skeweredchickens ready for the spit, " said Bob. "I say, ain't it an awfulshame?"

"Shame, yes, " said Tom Long, slightly mollified by his companion'ssympathy. "I don't see why one of us two should be left out of theparty. It isn't much pleasure we get. "

"No, " said Bob sharply; "but I think if one of us was to go it ought tohave been this young person. "

"Well, but you are going, aren't you?" said Tom Long. 

"Not I, " said Bob. "I'm second officer on board HMS `Startler' tillthey come back, that's all. "

"But, my dear Bob, I thought you were going. Old Dick, who was ashorean hour ago, told me you were. "

"Then old Dick told you a cram, " said Bob. "He said you were going, though. "

"I'll kick old Dick first time I see him, " cried Tom Long. "I'm notgoing. Smithers and I are to be in charge of the fort. "

"You are not going?" cried Bob incredulously. 

"No!"

"Oh, I am glad. "

"Thanky, " said Tom. 

"No, I don't mean that, " said Bob. "I mean I'm glad I'm not going, nowyou are not. "

"I say, Bob, do you mean that?" said Tom Long excitedly, and droppingall his stiffness. 

"Of course I do, " said Bob. "What's the fun of going without a friend?"

"Bob, you're a regular little brick, " said Tom Long. "Shake hands. 'Pon my word I shall end by liking you. "

Bob shook hands, and laughed. 

"Oh, I say, though, " he exclaimed. "Poor old Ali! Won't he be cut up, just?"

"Yes, he won't like it, " said Tom Long thoughtfully. "And he was tohave a big elephant all ready for us. "

"Yes, " said Bob. "But I say, I wonder we haven't heard from him sincethat day he was here. "

"Yes, he might have sent a message of some kind. "

"He's been up the country with a butterfly net to catch an elephant forus, " said Bob, laughing. 

"And now he'll have it all to himself, " said Tom. 

"I'll bet half a rupee that he don't, " said Bob. 

"Oh, yes, he will, " said Tom. "I rather like him, though. He isn't abad sort of nigger. "

"Don't call the fellows _niggers_, " said Bob impatiently; "they don'tlike it. "

"Then they mustn't call us _giaours_ and _dogs_, " said Tom impatiently. 

"Look here, " cried Bob, "I must go on after these leggings for theskipper; but, I say, Tom, as I said before, I'll bet half a rupee thatAli don't go to the hunt when he finds we are to stay. "

"Stuff!"

"Well, it may be stuff; but you see if he don't stop behind, and, assoon as they are all off, come across here. "

"I wish he would, " said Tom. "It'll be dull enough. "

"If he does, we'll have a good turn at the fish, " said Bob. "Goodnight, if I don't see you again. "

"I say, " said Bob, turning round and speaking out of the darkness. 

"Well?"

"I don't wish 'em any harm; but I hope they won't see a blessed tigerall the time they're away. "

"So do I, " said Tom. "Good night!"

"Good night!" And Bob found the major; borrowed the pair of canvasleggings, with which he returned to the boat, and was rowed back to thecorvette, where he had the pleasure of going over the captain's shootinggear, and helping him to fill his cartridge cases, and the like. 

"You'll have to go on a trip yourself Roberts, by-and-by, " said thecaptain. 

"Thank-ye, sir, " said Bob. "When, sir, please?"

"When the soreness about rescuing those slave girls has worn off, MasterBob Roberts, " said the captain, smiling. "I can't afford to have one ofmy most promising young officers krissed. "

"All soft soap and flam, " said Bob to himself, as he went out on deck. "Promising officer, indeed. Well, he's a promising officer, and I'llkeep him to his promise, too; and old Ali, and Tom, and I will haveanother day to ourselves. "

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

HOW MR. LINTON BELIEVED IN A PRECIPICE. 

It was a grand sight, and a stranger to the scene might have imaginedthat a little army was about to set off, for the conquest of some pettyking, instead of to attack the striped tiger in his stronghold. 

The two parties from the steamer and the island were ashore beforedaybreak, to find an imposing gathering of the sultan's people comingdown to meet them. There were over thirty elephants, large and small, with their attendants, and the beasts were furnished with showy clothsunder their rattan basket howdahs. 

The sultan was there in English dress; and his chiefs made a gaudymuster, wearing showy silken sarongs and bajus, as if it were to be areview day instead of a hunting trip, while the following, to the extentof several hundreds, were all armed with spear and kris. Here and therea showily clad Malay was seen to be armed with a gun or rifle, but forthe most part their means of offence were confined to the nativeweapons. 

The meeting was most cordial; but the sultan and his followers seemedsomewhat taken aback to see the various officers in rough sportingcostume, and the soldiers and sailors in anything but stiff, ordinarytrim. 

One thing, however, had been rigidly adhered to. Every man waswell-armed, and carried a good supply of ball cartridge. 

The sun was shining brightly, when at last the hunting-party was dulymarshalled, and moved off right through the jungle by a well-beatenpath, one which took them straight away from the river; and veryeffective the procession looked, with the great lumbering elephantsmoving so silently along, the gaily-dressed Malays forming brightpatches of colour amidst the clean white duck frocks and trousers of thesailors, and the dull grey of the soldiers' linen tunics. There was, ofcourse, fraternisation, and a disposition on the part of the Malays tofreely mix with the Englishmen then; but the order had been that acertain amount of formation was to be maintained, so that, if necessary, the men might be ready to gather at any time round their officers. Notthat any difficulty was apprehended, but it was felt to be better tokeep up discipline, even when only engaged upon a shooting-trip, thoughevery act that might be interpreted by the Malays into a want ofconfidence, was carefully avoided. 

The morning was sufficiently young as yet to enable a good march to bemade without difficulty; but as the sun began to make his power feltwherever there was an opening amidst the trees, a halt was called in abeautiful park-like patch of ground, with huge spreading treessufficient to shelter double their number. Here a capital lunch wasserved by the sultan's cooks, one that no doubt an English _chef_ wouldhave looked upon with contempt, but which, after a long morning trampthrough the steaming heat of the jungle, was delightful. 

Every one was in excellent spirits, the sultan having set aside a greatdeal of his formality, and smiling apparently with pleasure as he gazedaround at the gratified countenances of his guests. 

Then followed a siesta while the sun was at its greatest height, DoctorBolter impressing upon all the officers that a quiet rest during theheat of the day was the one thing needful to make them bear the exertionof the journey; and then, as soon as he saw every one following hisadvice, he arranged his puggaree around his pith helmet, put somecartridges in his pocket, and went off into the jungle to shootspecimens, with no little success. 

Ten miles were got over that evening, and then camp was pitched on theedge of an opening, close by a curious rounded mountain, which toweredup in front of the setting sun, looking massive and grand, with itssmooth outline thrown up, as it were, against the saffron sky. 

The scene was lovely in the extreme, and every touch given by thehunting-party seemed to add thereto, for white tents sprang up likemagic against the dark green foliage; fires began to twinkle here andthere; the large mess tent, that had been carried by one of theelephants, was well lit with lamps; and a white cloth spread with ampleprovisions and no few luxuries, ornamented by the freshly-cut flowerswhich grew in profusion, as if waiting to be cut by the servants, addedno little to the brightness of the interior. 

Outside all was apparently picturesque confusion, though in realityeverything was in due order, from the men's tents to the ranging of theelephants, who, relieved of their loads, were quietly lifting up greatbunches of grass and tucking them into their capacious jaws. Over allrose a loud hum of many voices, and soon to this was added the click ofknives and forks from the English mess and the rattle of plates. Amongst the Malays great leaves did duty for the latter, and all wasquieter. 

Later on, watch was set, the sultan and his officers smiling gravely atthe precautions taken by the English, assuming though that it wasagainst the wild beasts of the jungle, and hastening to assure allconcerned that they need have no fear, for no tiger would approach sobusy a camp, especially as there were fires burning, which would be keptup all night. 

"Let them think it's the tigers, and that we are afraid of them, if theylike, " said the doctor; "but I wouldn't slacken discipline in theslightest degree. Keep everything going just as if we were goingthrough an enemy's country. "

"I support that motion, " said the resident quietly. 

"But why?" said Captain Horton. "Surely we may relax a little now. "

"No, Doctor Bolter is right, " said the major, nodding. "It's anuisance, Horton, of course, but you would not let your ship go withouta good watch being set?"

"Well--no, " said the captain thoughtfully, "I suppose not. We shouldkeep that up even if we were in dock. Thank goodness, though! I havenot any watch to keep to-night, for I'm tired as a dog. "

"It has been a tiring day, " said Major Sandars. "I wonder how Smithersis getting on. I hope he's taking care of the ladies. "

"Yes, " said Mr Linton gravely, "I hope he is taking care of theladies. "

"They're in good hands, " said Captain Horton. "Johnson is a sternishfellow, and, " he added laughing, "if any dangerous parties go near theisland, Mr Midshipman Roberts will blow them right out of the water. "

"Yes, " said Major Sandars, indulging in a low chuckle, "he and MrEnsign Long between them would be a match for all the rajahs on theriver. "

Mr Linton was the only one who did not smile, for just then, like aforeboding cloud, the dark thought came across his mind that it would bevery, very terrible if advantage were taken by the Malays, of theabsence of so large a portion of the force; and try how he would tosleep that night, the thought kept intruding, that after all they weredoing wrong in trusting themselves with the Malay sultan, who might, under his assumption of hospitality, be hatching some nefarious schemeagainst them all. 

Through the thin canvas walls of the tent he could hear the lowbreathing of some of his friends, the snort of some elephant, and closeby him there was the monotonous hum of the mosquitoes, trying hard tofind a way through the fine gauze of the net; now and then came too animpatient muttering of a sleeper, or the distant cry of some creature inthe jungle. 

The only solacing thing he heard in the heat of those weary sleeplesshours was the steady beat of some sentry's pace, and the click of hisarms as he changed his piece from shoulder to shoulder. 

He was the only unquiet one, for the others fell asleep almost on theinstant, and several of them gave loud signs of their peacefuloccupation. 

At last Mr Linton could bear it no longer, and rising, he went softlyto the tent door and peeped out, to pause there, wondering at the beautyof the scene, as the moon was just peering down over the jungle trees, and filling the camp with silvery light and black shadows. What wasthat glint of some arm?

He smiled at his uneasiness directly after, for there was the sharpsteady beat of feet, a sergeant's guard came out of the black shadow, and he saw them relieve sentry, the glint he had seen being themoonbeams playing upon the soldier's piece. 

He went back and lay down once more, feeling relieved, and falling offinto a restful sleep, little thinking how that deadly peril was indeedhovering round the island he had left, and that he and his companionswere going to march on and on, not to encounter tigers alone, but meneven more cruel in their nature, and quite as free from remorse whendealing with those whom they looked upon as dogs. 

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

PRIVATE GRAY HAS HIS ORDERS. 

The men on the corvette, with those who rowed back the empty boats, gavea loud cheer, which was answered from the island, as the hunting-partymoved off in procession. 

"Give them another, my lads, " cried Bob Roberts excitedly; and thesailors, with whom he was a special favourite, responded heartily. 

"Just another, my lads, to show them we are not a bit envious, " criedBob; and then another prolonged "Hurrah!" went up in the morning skies, the middy shouting with the best of them; and it was amusing to seeBob's calm, consequential ways as he stood there, completely ignoringLieutenant Johnson, and taking upon himself the full command of theship. 

He glanced up aloft, and his look threatened an order to man the yards, when the lieutenant interfered. 

"I think that will do, Mr Roberts, " he said quietly, and Bob was takenrather aback. 

"Yes, of course, sir, " he said, "but the men are already loaded with acheer, hadn't they better let it off?"

Lieutenant Johnson gazed full in the lad's face, half sternly, halfamused at his quaint idea, and then nodded. Then there was anotherstentorian cheer, and what seemed like its echo from the island, whenBob smiled his satisfaction, strutting about the quarter-deck as heexclaimed, --"We can beat the soldiers hollow at cheering, sir, can'twe?"

"Yes, Mr Roberts, " said the lieutenant quietly; and then to the warrantofficer near him, "Pipe down to breakfast, Mr Law; the men must wantit. "

"I know one man who wants his, " said Bob, half aloud; and then he staredwistfully after the tail of the departing expedition, as the sun glintedon the spears, and a very dismal sensation of disappointment came overhim. 

"You'll make a good officer some day, Roberts, " said the lieutenant, andBob started, for he did not know he was so near. 

"Thank you, sir--for the compliment, " said Bob. 

"But at present, my lad, you do imitate the bantam cock to such anextent that it irritates grown men. "

"Do I, sir?" said Bob. 

"You do indeed, my lad, " said the lieutenant kindly. 

"But I don't want to, sir, for nothing worries me more than to seeEnsign Long coming all that strut and show off. "

"Well, we won't quarrel about it, Roberts, " said Lieutenant Johnsonkindly. "You'll grow out of it in time. As it is, I'm captain for afew days, and you are my first lieutenant. So first lieutenant, " hecontinued, clapping the lad on the shoulder, "come down and breakfastwith me in the cabin, and we'll talk matters over. "

Bob flushed with pleasure, and if the lieutenant had asked him to jumpoverboard just then, or stand on his head on the main truck, Bob wouldhave tried to oblige him. 

As it was, however, he followed his officer into the cabin, and made ahearty breakfast. 

"I tell you what, " said the lieutenant, who was a very quiet stern youngofficer--and he stopped short. 

"Yes, captain, " said Bob. 

Lieutenant Johnson smiled. 

"I tell you what, " he said again, "nothing would give me greaterpleasure than for Mr Rajah Gantang to bring down his prahus some timeto-day, Lieutenant Roberts. I could blow that fellow out of the waterwith the greatest pleasure in life. "

"Captain Johnson, " said Bob, solemnly, "I could blow him in again withgreater pleasure, for I haven't forgotten my swim for life. "

"You feel quite a spite against him then, Roberts?"

"Spite's nothing to it, " said Bob. "Didn't he and his people force me, a harmless, unoffending young fellow--"

"As ever contrived to board a prahu, " said the lieutenant. 

"Ah, well, that wasn't my doing, " said Bob. "I was ordered to do myduty, and tried to do it. That was no reason why those chicory-brownrascals should cause me to be pitched into the river to the tendermercies of the crocodiles, who, I believe, shed tears because theycouldn't catch me. "

"Well, Roberts, " said the lieutenant, "you need not make yourselfuncomfortable, nor set up the bantam cock hackles round your neck, andyou need not go to the grindstone to sharpen your spurs, for we shallnot have the luck to see anything of the rajah, who by this time knowsthat it is his best policy to keep out of the way. Will you take anymore breakfast?"

"No, thank you, sir, " said Bob, rising, for this was a hint to go abouthis business; and he went on deck. 

"Mornin', sir, " said old Dick, pulling at his forelock, and giving oneleg a kick out behind. 

"Morning, Dick. Don't you wish you were along with the hunting-party?"

Old Dick walked to the side, sprinkled the water with a little tobaccojuice, and came back. 

"That's the same colour as them Malay chaps, sir, " he said, "nasty dirtybeggars. "

"Dirty, Dick? Why they are always bathing and swimming. "

"Yes, " said Dick in a tone of disgust, "but they never use no soap. "

"Well, what of that?" said Bob. "You don't suppose that makes anydifference?"

"Makes no difference?" said the old sailor; "why it makes all thedifference, sir. When I was a young 'un, my old mother used to latherthe yaller soap over my young head till it looked like a yeast tub in abaker's cellar. Lor' a mussy! the way she used to shove the soap in myeyes and ears and work her fingers round in 'em, was a startler. She'dwash, and scrub, and rasp away, and then swab me dry with a roughtowel--and it was a rough 'un, mind yer--till I shone again. Why, I wasas white as a lily where I wasn't pink; and a young lady as come to stayat the squire's, down in our parts, blessed if she didn't put me in apicter she was painting, and call me a village beauty. It's the soap asdoes it, and a rale love of cleanliness. Bah, look at 'em! They'rejust about the colour o' gingerbread; while look at me!"

Bob looked at the old fellow searchingly, to see if he was joking, andthen finding that he was perfectly sincere, the middy burst into ahearty roar of laughter. 

For long years of exposure to sun and storm had burned and stained Dickinto a mahogany brown, warmed up with red of the richest crimson. Infact, a Malay had rather the advantage of him in point of colour. 

"Ah, you may laugh, " he growled. "I dessay, sir, you thinks it's werryfunny; but if you was to go and well soap a young Malay he'd comeprecious different, I can tell you. "

"But somebody did try to wash a blackamoor white, " said Bob. "Tom Hoodsays so, in one of his books. "

"Well, and did they get him white, sir?" asked Dick. 

"No, I think not, " said Bob. "I almost forget, but I think they gavehim such a bad cold that he died. "

"That Tom Hood--was he any relation o' Admiral Hood, sir?"

"No, I think not, Dick. "

"Then he wasn't much account being a landsman, I s'pose, and he didn'tunderstand what he was about. He didn't use plenty o' soap. "

"Oh yes, he did, Dick; because I remember he says, a lady gave some:--

 "Mrs Hope, A bar of soap. "

"Then they didn't lather it well, " said Dick decisively. "And it showshow ignorant they was when they let's the poor chap ketch cold arter it, and die. Why, bless your 'art, Mr Roberts, sir, if my old mother hadhad the job, he'd have had no cold. He'd have come out red hot, all ofa glow, like as I used, and as white as a lily, or she'd have had allhis skin off him. "

"And so you really believe you could wash these Malay chaps white?"

"I do, sir. I'd holystone 'em till they was. "

"It would be a long job, Dick, " said Bob laughing. "But I say, don'tyou wish you had gone with the hunting-party?"

"Yah!" said Dick, assuming a look of great disgust and contempt, although he had been growling and acting, as his mates said, like a bearwith a sore head, because he could not go. "Not I, sir, not I. Why, what have they gone to do? Shoot a big cat all brown stripes. I don'twant to spend my time ketching cats. What's the good on 'em whenthey've got 'em? Only to take their skins. Now there is some sense ina bit of fishing. "

"Especially when your crew in the boat goes to sleep, and let's you besurprised by the Malays. "

"Ah, but don't you see, sir, " said Dick, with his eyes twinkling, "that's a kind o' moral lesson for a young officer? Here was the caseyou see: the skipper goes to sleep, and don't look after his crew, who, nat'rally enough, thinks what the skipper does must be right, and theydoes the same. "

"Oh! all right, master Dick, " said the middy. "I'll take the lesson toheart. Don't you ever let me catch you asleep, that's all. "

"No, sir, " said the old sailor, grinning, "I won't. I've got too muchof the weasel in me. But as I was saying, sir, there's some sense in abit o' fishing, and I thought if so be you liked I'd get the linesready. "

"No, Dick, no, " said Bob, firmly, as he recalled Lieutenant Johnson'swords over the breakfast-table. "I've no time for fishing to-day. Andbesides, I'm in charge of the ship. "

"Oh! indeed, sir, " said Dick. "I beg pardon, sir. "

"Look here, Dick, " said Bob sharply, "don't you sneer at your officerbecause he makes free with you sometimes. "

The middy turned and walked off, leaving Dick cutting himself a freshplug of tobacco. 

"He'll make a smart 'un by-and-by, that he will, " muttered the oldfellow, nodding his head admiringly; "and I'm sorry I said what I did tothe high-sperretted little chap, for he's made of the real stuff, afterall. "

On the island, Tom Long was feeling quite as important as the middy. Akeen sense of disappointment was troubling him, but he would not showit. He had several times over been looking at his gun, and thinkingthat it would carry a bullet as well as a rifle, and wishing that hecould have game to try it. But soon afterwards he encountered pleasantMrs Major Sandars. 

"Ah! Mr Long, " she cried, "I've just been seeing Miss Linton and MissSinclair. Now you know you have these deserted ladies and the whole ofthe women under your charge, and I hope you'll protect us. "

"I shall do my utmost, madam, " said Tom Long importantly. "You ladiesneedn't be under the smallest apprehension, for you will be as safe asif the major and Mr Linton were here. "

"I shall tell Miss Linton so, " said Mrs Major, smiling; and she noddedand went away, leaving the young ensign uncomfortable, as he felt a kindof suspicion that he had been speaking very consequentially, and makinghimself absurd. 

"I wish I was either a man or a boy, " he said to himself pettishly. "Ifeel just like a man, and yet people will treat me as if I were a boy. That Mrs Major was only talking to me patronisingly, and half-laughingat me. I can see it now. Oh! here's Smithers. "

Captain Smithers came up, looking rather careworn and sad, and nodded ina friendly way at his junior. 

"Well, Long, " he said, "so we are commanders-in-chief just now. Atleast, I am. You'll have to be my colonel, major, and adjutant, all inone. "

"I shall do my best to help you, Captain Smithers, " said Tom Longstiffly. 

"I know you will, my lad, " was the reply; "but it will be no child'splay, for we must be extra strict and watchful. "

"Do you think there is anything to fear, Captain Smithers, " said theensign eagerly. 

"To fear? No, Mr Long, " said the captain. "We are English officers, and, as such, never mention such a thing; but there is a good deal to beanxious about--I mean the safety of all here. "

"But you have no suspicion, sir--of danger?"

"Not the slightest. Still we will be as careful as if I felt sure thatan enemy was close at hand. "

There was something about that _we_ that was very pleasant to the youngensign; and his heart warmed like a flower in sunshine. 

"Of course, sir, " he said eagerly. "I'll do the best I can. "

"Thank you, Long, I am sure you will, " said Captain Smithers. "By theway, you know, of course, that the ladies are coming to stay with MrsMajor, so that there will not be much cause for anxiety about theresidency. Suppose we now take a quiet look round together; there isreally no necessity, but we will go as a matter of duty. "

Tom Long's self-esteem was flattered, the more especially as he couldsee that Captain Smithers was perfectly sincere, and looked to him, inall confidence, for aid in a time when a great responsibility was thrownupon his shoulders. 

"If I don't let him see that I can act like a man, my name's not Long, "he muttered to himself, as they walked on together. 

"There's only--"

Captain Smithers, who was speaking, stopped short, and the ensignstared. 

"I do not want to offend you, Long, " he said, "but all I say to you isin strict confidence now, and you must be careful what you repeat. "

"You may trust me, Captain Smithers, " said the ensign quietly. 

"Yes, I am sure I may, " was the reply. "Look here, then. I was goingto say that the only weak point in our arrangements here seems to bethat!"

He nodded his head in the direction in which they were going, and theensign stared. 

"I mean about allowing that Malay, Abdullah, to set up his tent amongus. He has such freedom of communicating with the banks of the river onboth sides. He is a man, too, whom I rather distrust. "

"Indeed?" said Long. 

"Yes, I don't know why. But unless for some good and sufficient reasonit would, I think, be bad policy to attempt to oust him. "

"Yes, " calmly said Long. "He is a violent fellow, too;" and he relatedthe incident about their first meeting. 

"If the major had known of this, " said Captain Smithers, "he would neverhave allowed the man to settle here. You did wrong in not speaking ofit, Long. "

"He was so apologetic and gentlemanly afterwards, " said the ensign, "that I did not care to speak about it, and upset the fellow's plans. "

"Well, it is too late to talk about it now, " replied Captain Smithers;"but I shall have his actions quietly watched. Let me see, who will bethe man?"

"There's Private Gray yonder, " suggested the ensign. 

"I hate Private Gray!" exclaimed Captain Smithers, with a sudden burstof rage, of which he seemed to be ashamed the next moment, for he saidhastily, --"It is a foolish antipathy, for Gray is a good, staunch man;"and making an effort to master himself, he made a sign to Gray to cometo them. 

"You are right, Long; Gray is the man. He is to be trusted. "

The private came up, and stiffly saluted his officers, standing atattention. 

"Gray, " said Captain Smithers, "I want you to undertake a little taskfor me. "

"Yes, sir. "

"You will be off regular duty; another man will take your place. I wantyou, in a quiet, unostentatious manner, to keep an eye on Abdullah thefruit-seller. Don't let him suspect that you are watching him, forreally there may be no cause; but he is the only native here who hasfree access to the island, and during the major's absence I wish to beespecially strict. "

"Yes, sir. "

"You understand me? I trust entirely to your good sense anddiscrimination. You will do what you have to do in a quiet way, andreport everything--even to the least suspicious proceeding--to me. "

"Yes, sir. "

"You shall be furnished with a permit, to pass you anywhere, and at alltimes. "

"Thank you, sir. "

"I'd go in undress uniform, and apparently without arms, but have abayonet and a revolver under your jacket. "

"Do you think there is danger, sir?" exclaimed the private hastily, forgetting himself for the moment. 

"Private Gray, you have your orders. "

Gray drew himself up stiffly and saluted. 

"Begin at once, sir?"

"At once, " said Captain Smithers. "I trust to your silence. No one butMr Long knows of your mission. "

Gray saluted again and went off, while the two officers continued theirwalk towards Dullah's hut. 

The Malay came out as they approached, and with a deprecating gestureinvited them to take a seat beneath his verandah, and partake of fruit. 

This, however, they declined to do, contenting themselves with returninghis salute, and passing on. 

There were two sampans moored close to Dullah's hut, each holding fourMalays, but the boats themselves were filled with produce piled high, and the owners were evidently waiting to have dealings with theirsuperior, the man who had been appointed to supply the English garrisonof the island and the ship. 

There was nothing suspicious to be seen here, neither did anythingattract their attention as they continued their walk right round theisland, everything being as calm and still as the sleepy shore which laybaking beneath the ardent rays of the sun, while the various houseslooked comparatively cool beneath the shade of the palms and duriantrees, with here and there a great ragged-leaved banana showing a hugebunch of its strange fruit. 

Tired and hot, they were glad to return to their quarters, whereSergeant Lund was writing out a report, and occasionally frowning atPrivate Sim, who was lying under a tree fast asleep. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. 

A HOT NIGHT ON BOARD THE "STARTLER. "

The young officers were pretty busy over their duties throughout theday, Bob Roberts to his great delight being left in sole charge of thesteamer, while Lieutenant Johnson went to have a short consultation withCaptain Smithers; and two hours later, when Captain Smithers accompaniedthe naval officer back, Ensign Long was in full command at the island. 

The hot and sleep-inviting day had rolled slowly by; never had the riverlooked brighter and clearer, or more keenly reflected the rays of thesun. Far down in its pure depths the middy had watched the dartingabout of the fish, which seemed to seek the shadow beneath the steamer'shull for their playground. 

This was noticed at stolen moments, for Bob was generally too full ofhis duties to think of the fish, or to do more than cast a longingglance at the dark shadows beneath the trees. For on board the heat wasterrible, the pitch was oozing out of the seams, and blistering thepaint; every piece of tarry cordage was soft and pliant, and very beadsstood out upon the strands; while beneath the awnings there was a stuffysuffocating heat that was next to unbearable. 

On the island the heat was less hard to be borne, the thick grove ofpalms and other trees whose roots were always moist, throwing out agrateful shade. Still the heat was severely felt, and the generalimpression was that the hunting-party had by far the worst of it. 

The day glided by, and the sultry tropic night set in, with the greatmellow stars glistening overhead reflected in the clear stream, andseeming to be repeated in the low undergrowth that fringed the shore. The watches were set, every precaution taken against surprise, andthough no danger need be apprehended, Captain Smithers had the littlefort quite ready to resist attack. 

It was the same on board the steamer, the watch being visited atfrequent intervals by the lieutenant and his subordinate, to the greatsurprise of the men, who wondered what made the "luff" so fidgety. 

That night passed off without anything to disturb them; and the next dayall was so dull and uniform that Bob Roberts, as he could not go ashore, was fain to amuse himself with his monkey, which he fed till it couldeat no more, and then teased till it got into a passion, snapped at him, and took refuge in the rigging till its master's back was turned, when, to the great delight of the men, it leaped down on the middy's shoulder, and there seized the back of his jacket-collar and shook it vigorously, till, seeing its opportunity, it once more leaped up into the rigging, chattering fiercely, and showing its teeth as Bob threatened it andcalled it names. 

Evening came on again, not too hot, but quite bad enough to make themiddy glad to walk the deck in the loosest jacket he possessed. Thewatch had been set, the lights hung up, and all was very still; for, having had but little sleep the night before, Bob was too tired to talk, and now sat in the coolest place he could find, hitting out occasionallyat a mosquito, and alternating that exercise with petting the monkey, which had made its submission by creeping down from the rigging atdinner-time, and approaching its master in a depressed mournful way, asif declaring its sorrow for its late sin, and readiness to do anything, if its master would forgive it. In fact, when the middy rose as if tobeat it, the animal lay down on the deck, grovelling and whiningpiteously, as it watched his actions with one eye, that said as plainlyas could be, "You don't mean it. I'm such a little thing that you wouldnot hurt me. "

Bob did not hurt it, but gave it one of Dullah's mangosteens instead, and peace was made. 

Lieutenant Johnson joined the middy soon after he had given up seeking anap on account of the heat, and came and leaned over the bulwark by hisside, talking to him in a low voice, both feeling depressed and subdued. 

"I wonder how our party is getting on?" said the lieutenant at last. "They'll have a storm to-night, and soaked tents. "

"Yes; there's a flash, " exclaimed Bob, as the distant forest seemed tobe lit-up to its very depths by a quivering blaze of sheet lightning. 

This was repeated, and with increased vividness, the pale blue lightplaying about in the horizon, and displaying the shapes of the greatheavy clouds that overhung the mountains in the east. 

"It's very beautiful to watch, " said the lieutenant; "but suppose wetake a walk forward. "

They strolled along the deck, and on going right to the bows found thewatch every man in his place; and returning aft spoke to the marine, whostood like a statue leaning upon his piece. 

They sat down again, feeling no inclination to seek the cabin; and thisfeeling seemed to be shared by the men, who were sitting about, talkingin low whispers, and watching the distant lashing lightning, whoselambent sheets seemed now to be playing incessantly. 

"Is there anything the matter with you, sir?" said Bob at last. 

"No, Roberts, only that I feel so restless and unsettled that I shouldlike to jump overboard for a cool swim. "

"That's just what I feel, sir, " said Bob, "with a dash of monkey in it. "

"A dash of monkey!"

"Yes, sir; as if I must run and jump about, or climb, or do something. It's the fidgets with this heat. Let's walk forward again, if you don'tmind. I think it's cooler there. "

"Cooler, Roberts? It seems to me as if the deck is thoroughly hot, andas if one's clothes were baking. I quite envy the lads, with their barefeet and open necks. "

They strolled forward again, with the monkey softly following them; andwhen they stood leaning over the bulwarks, listening to the ripple ofthe water under the vessel's stem, the animal perched itself on one ofthe stays just above their heads. 

They could almost have fancied they were at sea, gazing down at thephosphorescent water, so beautiful was the reflection of the stars inthe smooth, dark current, as it glided swiftly along, rippling a littleabout the large buoy to which they were moored, and breaking the starsup, as it were, into a thousand tiny points, that divided into a doublecurrent and swept by the steamer's bows. 

"What a night for a couple of prahus to come down and board us, sir!"said Bob. 

"Rather unlucky for them, if they did, " said the lieutenant quietly. "One good shot at them, or one of our biggest shells dropped into theirhold, would crash through, and send them to the bottom. There's no suchluck, Roberts. "

"I suppose not, sir, " said Bob; but, all the same, he could not helpfeeling that this was a kind of luck which he could very well dispensewith, on a dark night. He did not venture to say so, though. 

"How quiet they seem on the island!" said the lieutenant at last. "Heigh-ho! ha hum! I wish we were there, Roberts, along with theladies; a cup of tea and a little pleasant chat would be veryagreeable. "

"And some music, " said Bob. 

"And some music, " said the lieutenant. "What's the matter with yourmonkey?"

"What's the matter, Charcoal?" said Bob; for the little animal hadsuddenly grown excited, chattering, and changing its place, coming downthe stay, and then leaping on to the bulwark. 

"He sees something in the water, " said the lieutenant. 

"Crocodile, " said Bob; "they like monkey. Look out, Charcoal, or you'llbe overboard. "

This was on dimly seeing the monkey run along the bulwark, chatteringexcitedly. 

"Help!" came in a hoarse tone from somewhere ahead. 

"There's a man overboard, " cried the lieutenant. "Pass the word there. Lower down the gig. "

There was the sharp pipe of a whistle, and a scuffling of feet, for thehail had electrified the men; but meanwhile the cry was repeated. 

"It's some one from the island swimming down to us, " said thelieutenant. "Hold on, my lad, " he cried, as the cry was repeated nearerand nearer, and then just ahead. 

"Quick, sir, " cried Bob, "he's holding on by the hawser, whoever he is;"and fully satisfied in his own mind that one of the soldiers had beenbathing, and had been swept down by the current, he called out to theswimmer to hold on, but only to hear once more the one hoarse cry, "Help!" and with it a gurgling noise where the bright stars were brokenup into a forked stream of tiny points. 

So eager was he to cry out to the drowning man that help was coming, that he missed the chance of going himself, but leaned over the bows asthe captain's gig, manned with a ready little crew, kissed the water, was unhooked, and ran swiftly along the side; then the oars splashed, and the little, light boat was rapidly rowed to where the great hawserwas made fast. 

It was so dark that Bob could only dimly make out the round buoy, towards which the gig passed over the water like a shadow. 

"Can you see him?" cried the lieutenant, who was once more by BobRoberts' side. 

"No, sir; there's no one here, " said the bow-man. 

"Help! help!" came in a hoarse whisper just then, exactly below wherethe two officers leaned over; and they saw that a dark face, that hadrisen to the surface, was being swept quickly along by the steamer'sside. 

"Quick, my lads, here he is! Stern all!" cried the lieutenant; and thelight gig was backed rapidly in quest of the drowning man; while Bob ranaft as hard as he could go, and climbed out into the mizzen chains, tostare down into the swift current, holding on by one hand. 

But he could see nothing, and he was beginning, with throbbing heart, tobelieve that he was too late--that the wretched man had been swept awaybefore he climbed over, when he caught sight of something just below thesurface. 

"Here, boat, quick!" he cried; and the bow-man struck his hook into theside, and sent the gig flying through the water. 

"Where, sir? where?" cried he in the hoarse voice of Dick. 

"There, just below there; I saw him. "

For answer Dick leaned over the gig's bows, and thrust down hisboat-hook. 

"Give way, my lads, " he cried, and again and again he thrust down hishook. Then a strange, choking feeling of horror seemed to seize uponthe middy, and he felt dizzy as he gazed after the boat in the midst ofthat weird darkness, which made the event ten times more terrible thanif it had been by day. 

Just as his heart sank with dread, and he in fancy saw the dead bodyseized by one or other of the terrible reptiles that swarmed in theriver, wondering the while which of the poor men it was, and why theyhad heard no alarm at the island, Dick's hoarse voice was heard somedistance astern, exclaiming in triumph--

"I've got him, my lads! Give way!"

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. 

HOW ALI MADE HIS PLANS. 

There is a strange kind of stoicism about a Mohammedan that seems togive him an abundance of calmness when he comes face to face with death. He is a fatalist, and quietly says to himself what is to be will be, and he resigns himself to his fate. 

The young chief Ali was imbued with all the doctrines of his people; butat the same time he had mixed so with the English that he had learned tolook upon life as of too much value to be given up without a desperatestruggle. One of his compatriots would have made a fight for his life, and when he had seen all go against him he would have given up without amurmur and looked his slayers indifferently in the face. Ali, however, did not intend to give up without another effort, and though he seemedindifferent, a terrible struggle was going on within his breast. Thoughts of his father, of his new friends, of the bright sunshine ofyouth, and the future that had been so full of hope, and in which he hadmeant to do so much to improve his country--all rose before hiswandering eyes, and he had meant to seize the first opportunity toescape. 

The approach of the kris-armed Malay, though, had been so sudden thatall his calculations had been upset, and he had had no time to design ameans of escape. He was tightly bound, held by two others, and this manwas evidently under orders from the sultan to slay him. 

It was useless to struggle, he knew--just as vain to waste his strength, and rob himself of his calmness; so that he felt bound to call up allhis fortitude, and with it the fatalistic theories of his race, so thathe might die as behoved the son of a great chief. 

He drew himself up then, and stood gazing at the man with the kris ascalm and motionless as if he had been made of bronze, and awaited thedeadly stroke. 

This, however, did not come; for in place of delivering a deadly thrust, the Malay roughly seized him by the shoulder, and began to saw awaythrough the prisoner's bonds. 

He was so firmly secured that this process took some time, during whichAli, by the strange revulsion that came upon him, felt as if he mustfall prone upon his face from sheer giddiness; but by an effort he stoodfirm till his limbs were set free. 

His wrists were painfully marked, and his arms felt numb and helpless, but his first thought, as soon as the ligatures that had held him wereoff, was how to escape. 

His captors read this and smiled, each man drawing his kris and showingit menacingly, while their leader told him that he was a prisoner untilthe sultan's wishes were known. 

"Are you not going to kill me?" said Ali passionately. 

"Not yet, " was the reply, "unless you try to escape, when we are to killyou like a dog, and throw you into the river. "

"But why?" asked Ali; "what have I done?"

"I know nothing, " was the surly reply. 

"Does my father know of this?" cried Ali. 

"I know nothing, " said the Malay. 

"But you will tell me what your instructions are, and where you aregoing to place me. "

"I know nothing. I tell nothing, " said the Malay. "Be silent. That isyour prison. If you try to escape, you die. "

Ali burned to ask more questions, but he felt that it would be useless, and that he, a chief's son, was only losing dignity by talking to theman, whom he recognised now as being the sultan's most unscrupulousfollower, the scoundrel who did any piece of dirty work or atrocity. This was the man who, at his master's wish, dragged away any poor girlfrom her home to be the sultan's slave; who seized without scruple ongold, tin, rice, or any other produce of the country, in his master'sname, and for his use. His hands had been often enough stained withblood, and while wondering at his life being spared so far, Ali had nohesitation in believing that any attempt at escape would be ruthlesslypunished by a stab with the kris. 

Obeying his captors, then, Ali went into the inner room of the ruinedhouse, and seated himself wearily upon the floor, thinking the while ofthe hunting expedition, and of the light in which his conduct would beviewed by his friends. 

Then he wondered whether his father would send in search of him; but hisheart sank as he felt that, in all probability, the Tumongong would becarefully watched by the sultan's orders, and that any movement upon hisson's behalf would result in his own death. 

Then he began to feel that, if he was to escape, it must be through hisown efforts; for he had so little faith in Hamet's nature, that he knewthat his existence trembled upon a hair. 

He was in an inner room of the house, little better in fact than abamboo cage. The place was old, but he could see that here and therehis prison had been mended with new green bamboos, especially about theflooring, through which he could see down to the earth, some twelve feetbelow, the sunlight shining up between the short bamboos, just as a fewgleams of sunshine came through the attap roof. 

There had been a window, but this had been filled in with stout bamboocross-pieces, through and between which were woven long lengths ofrattan; but the weak places had been made strong, and from oldexperience he knew that, unless armed with a heavy knife, it would beimpossible to force a way through the tough wall of bamboo and wovencane. 

The place was very gloomy, from the closing of the window; and as heglanced round he could see that his guards had been joined byhalf-a-dozen more, and that they were making themselves comfortable inthe outer place, but in such a position that they could command a fullview of his room. 

Judging from appearances, they were preparing for a lengthened stay, forsome of them were arranging cooking utensils; others placing pieces ofdammar, a sort of fossil gum, of a pale blue tint, and very inflammable, ready for lighting up the part of the house where they were assembled. 

After a time one of the number made ready the meal, for which hiscompanions seemed to be impatiently waiting; and first of all a portion, consisting of broiled fish, some fruit, and sago, was brought to theprisoner, who, before partaking thereof, was rigorously searched, to seeif he still bore any arms about his person. Satisfied upon this point, the Malays left him with his food, and proceeded to feast themselves, after which some began smoking, and some betel-chewing. 

It was evident to Ali that he was to be kept a close prisoner; and as helay there upon the bamboo floor, with his untouched food before him, hebegan to think out his position, and to calculate as to the possibilityof escape. 

How was it to be done?

His guards were so watchful that his slightest movements drew two orthree pairs of eyes upon him, and he knew of old how quick they were ofhearing. He felt assured that they would take it in turns to sleep, andhence he would have no opportunity of eluding their vigilance. Still hewas hopeful, for there is an elasticity in the mind of youth which somethings dash, when the spirit of middle or old age would be broken. 

If he stayed where he was, sooner or later he felt sure that Hamet wouldbe weary of the trouble he caused, and give orders for his death. Soescape he must. But why should Hamet give orders for his death? Whyshould he wish him to be kept a close prisoner?

It was a puzzle that he could not solve; but at last, as he lay therethinking, the light broke more and more into the darkness of his mind. 

It would be, he was sure, something to do with his intimacy with theEnglish; and if so, Hamet's friendship was false. 

Ali had suspected him for some time; and as he lay thinking, it seemedto him that he was correct in surmising that though Hamet was sincereenough, perhaps, when he made his first arrangements for the receptionof a resident, the act had given such annoyance to several of theneighbouring Malay princes, notably to Rajah Gantang, that in his fearfor his personal safety the sultan had repented of the arrangement, orhad been coerced by those who might, he knew, in spite of the Englishbeing at hand, secretly have him assassinated. 

This being the case, then, what should he do?

It was still a hard problem to solve, but as he went on thinking, Ali'sbrow grew damp, for he started upon a strange current of reasoning. 

Sultan Hamet knew little of the English power. Certainly, they had goodfighting men and guns; but they were small in number, and he mighteasily overcome them, and the people at Singapore or Penang would notdare to send more. If they did, the new contingent could be served thesame as the old. 

Ali's blood turned cold. Certain little things, which had only slightlyroused his curiosity, now assumed an ominous significance; and as hethought, he started hastily into a sitting position. 

This movement caused his guards to turn upon him; and seeing that he hadexcited their curiosity, he bent down over the supply of food placed forhim, and began to eat as calmly as if nothing whatever troubled hisspirit. But all the same, he was wet with perspiration, and his heartbeat painfully; for the light had come, and he saw plainly enough thatsomething was wrong. 

This was why he was a prisoner. Hamet knew of his intimacy with theyoung Englishmen, and feared that he would learn his plans andcommunicate them at the residency, perhaps to their defeat. 

There was danger, then, threatening those whom he had made his friends. Hamet had yielded to the taunts of Rajah Gantang and others, and alsogiven up to his own desire for revenge. 

The resident had offered him a deadly insult in refusing to listen tothe matrimonial proposal, and also in refusing to give up the slaves whohad taken refuge with him. 

Here was plenty of cause for hatred--a hatred that had been concealedunder a mask of smiles; and now it was evident that Hamet meant tostrike a blow at the English, destroying them, gaining possession oftheir arms and stores, and--the thought made him shudder as he pretendedto be eating--get the two tenderly-nurtured ladies into his power. 

How and when would this be done? Ali asked himself, and again came aflash of light, and he saw it all plainly enough. A trap had been laidfor the English, and they were walking into it--that hunting-party!

It was all plain enough; the English force would be divided. A partwould be marched to some suitable part of the jungle, miles away, andbeyond the reach of their friends, where even the sounds of firing couldnot be heard, and then they would be set upon, and butchered in coldblood, most likely during their sleep. 

This was the tiger-hunt, then, with the unfortunate English party beingled directly into the tiger's lair!

It was terrible! The young man's face became convulsed with horror ashe thought of the massacre that must ensue, and then of the surprise ofthose on the island and on the ship. Treachery, he knew, would bebrought to bear in both cases, and here was he, knowing all, and yetunable to stir. 

At all hazards, even that of death, he must make the venture, and warnthose in peril; but where must he go first?

A moment decided that. 

To the steamer and the island, and afterwards to the hunting-party;which would be easy enough to follow by their track, if they had gone. 

In the eager impulse of the determination, he sprang to his feet to go, but as he did so three Malays sprang to their feet, and each man drewhis kris. 

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. 

AT THE PRISON IN THE WOODS. 

The menacing act on the part of his captors brought Ali back to a senseof his position, and he stood there, gazing from one to the other, thinking what he should do. 

Unarmed as he was, any attempt at violence was utter madness, and thathe knew; so after a few moments' thought he made a sign for the chiefman of the party to advance, which he did cautiously, and with hisweapon held ready to strike. 

Seeing his suspicion, Ali smiled, and threw himself on the floor, where, resting on one elbow, he began to appeal to the man to let him go, butonly to find his words listened to in solemn silence. 

The young chief then began to offer him bribes, one after the other, making the man's eyes glisten when he promised him his double gun; butdirectly after the man made a negative sign, merely told him to finishhis meal, and returned to the outer room. 

What was he to do? The more he thought of the suspicions that hadentered his mind, the more certain did he become that he was right; andhis sufferings became terrible, as in imagination he saw a treacherousattack made upon those he esteemed as friends, and the whole party putto death. 

Could he not escape? It would not take him so very long to make his wayto the river, where, if he could not seize upon a boat, he might swimdown to the island, risking the crocodiles; though, somewhat unnerved byhis late adventure, he felt a shudder run through him at therecollection of the grip of the loathsome beast. 

Yes, he must get away, he said. He must elude the vigilance of thepeople who watched him, and by some means escape. Once in thejungle-path, with anything like a start, he did not feel much fear. 

The hunt was to be on the next day but one, and that would give himample time to devise some plan. He would require all his strength, sohe must eat; and though the act went against him, he set to and ate ofthe food provided, then leaned back and half-closed his eyes, knowingfull well that his every act was still watched by those who had made hima prisoner. 

What should he do?

Bribery with the chief of the party was evidently useless, for though hehad promised any price the man liked to name, he would not listen;though that was no cause for surprise, since if the man helped the youngchief to escape, his own life would be forfeit, unless he could escapefrom the country. 

But there were his followers, he might be able to win one of them to hisside, could he get at him, and that could only be achieved by throwingthe leader to some extent off his guard. 

Even if he could enlist the sympathy of one of the others, Ali felt inno wise sure of success. Better, he thought, to trust to himself, andtry to escape. 

His anxiety grew momentarily greater, even though he knew thehunting-party would not set off until another day had elapsed, while, try hard as he would, he could devise no scheme that seemed likely tosucceed. 

Through his half-closed eyes he scanned every part of the closely-wovenwalls, to see if he could make out a weak place in his prison, but notone appeared; then turning, as if restlessly, he gazed up at thepalm-thatched roof to see if there was any opening there; but even ifthere had been, he saw the hopelessness of trying, and at last he laystill with a dull feeling of despair creeping over him. 

Night fell at last, and he saw his captors light a couple ofdammar-torches, with whose light they were able to see distinctly hisevery act; and then he noticed that three of the men took up the task ofwatching him, while the others slept. 

The hours rolled on, and, perfectly sleepless himself, Ali lay upon acouple of mats that had been brought him, listening to the heavybreathing of the men in the next room, and to the weird noises in thejungle, where the animals that had lain hidden all day were now prowlingabout, close to the ruined buildings, as if attracted by the presence ofhuman beings in their midst. 

Never had night seemed so long, or day so slow in coming; but at last asAli lay watching he suddenly became aware that the dammar-torches, litby each watching party in turn, were beginning to pale, and that it wasonce more day. 

That day passed away in the most weary and monotonous manner. Sleeplessas had been the young chief's night, he still felt no desire to closehis eyes, but lay watching and thinking. Still no hopeful idea enteredhis head. The men were watched, he found, by their leader, who seemedto sleep so lightly that he was upon his feet the moment any of hisfollowers moved. 

Ali tried him again twice in the course of that day, but found himincorruptible; do what he would, the highest promises having no moreeffect than the lowest. 

"No, " he said once, grimly; "if I let you escape, all you gave me wouldnot save my life. "

"Who would dare to hurt you?" exclaimed Ali. 

The man smiled sourly, and made no reply, but walked away. 

That day glided by, and still no chance of escape. Food was brought, and Ali ate mechanically, feeling that he might need his strength whenhe did make the effort to get away; but still there seemed no chance. Walls, floor, roof, all were slight, and yet too strong for him to makeany impression upon them, unless he could have had a few minutes tohimself; then he would not have despaired of getting through. Sometimeshe resolved to make a bold dash, run by his guards, and, leaping down bythe entrance, trust to his swiftness to escape; but a few minutes'consideration taught him that such a plan must result in failure. Hisonly hope was to elude the men. 

Why did not his father try and save him? he asked himself; and then hesank back despairing again, wondering what he should do. 

Then he tried his guard again upon another tack--would he, if he wouldnot let him escape, bear a message to the residency island?

The man replied by a stern negative; and, as night came on, Alidetermined to escape at all hazards. 

The next morning the party would be starting for the hunt--a hunt fromwhich, he felt sure, they would never return. Then it was certain thata treacherous attack would be made upon the ship and the island, and yethere he lay supine, knowing all this, and yet unable to act. 

Night fell, and with the intention of making a bold rush through theouter room when half the watchers were asleep, Ali lay, watching hourafter hour for an opportunity. 

Time went on, and it seemed as if the leader would never lie down; healways seemed to have something more to say to his followers. But atlast he threw himself on the floor, and seemed to sleep. 

The time had come. 

Three men sat there watching him, their swarthy faces glistening in thelight of the torches. All was dark without, and the low growling noiseof beasts was once more heard in close proximity to the place. Stillthey would not keep him back. He could risk an encounter with one ofthem, even death, sooner than this fearful torture. 

At last he turned softly, and drew up one leg, watching his guards thewhile. 

They did not hear him, and he drew up the other leg. 

Still no notice was taken; and softly rising to his hands and knees, Aliremained motionless, nerving himself for the supreme effort. 

The men were talking in a low voice, the sleepers breathed hard, and nowwas the moment. Rising then to his feet, he was about to make a rushacross the room; he had even stooped to give impetus to his spring, whenthe chief of his guards leaped up, kris in hand, the others followingthe example, and Ali shrank back disheartened, and fully awake now tothe fact that some one had been watching him all the time. 

To struggle with them would only have been to throw away his life; so, with his heart full of despair, Ali allowed himself to be pressed backto his old position, where he lay down, his captor telling him savagelythat the orders were to kill him if he attempted to escape. 

"And we shall, " said the Malay, "sooner than lose you. "

His words were uttered in a tone of voice, that told his hearer of thesincerity of that which was spoken. Ali knew the character of theMalays too well to entertain any doubt. There would not be theslightest compunction in the matter; and knowing this, he lay therewatching the men, as they slowly settled down once more around theblazing dammar-torch they had replenished. 

One coolly replaced his kris, and proceeded to get ready his betel for afresh chew, calmly taking a sirih leaf, spreading upon it a littlecreamy lime from a tiny box, and rolling in it a scrap of nut, hisred-stained teeth looking ogre-like in the torch-light. 

Another set-to and prepared to smoke, making himself a pipe in a veryfew minutes out of a piece of green bamboo, cutting it off close to thejoint, and then a little above it for a bowl, in one side of which hemade a hole, and thrust in a little reed for a stem. In this sylvanpipe he placed some broken leaf of the coarse Malay tobacco, and beganto smoke contentedly; while the third watcher helped himself to a pieceof sugar-cane, and began peeling off the harsh, siliceous envelope, andthen eating the sweet soft interior. 

The leader had at once lain down, and seemed to have gone off to sleep;but of that Ali could not be sure. 

He had failed; but Ali was not yet disheartened, and he lay there, thinking that he would risk life over and over again to warn hisfriends; but still he had to consider that if he lost his life he wouldnot be serving them in the slightest degree, even if they should see hisdisfigured body float down. 

What could he do?

If he had only possessed a little _toobah_, that creeping plant whoseroots the Malays used for drugging the fish, some of that, he thought, infused in the food of his guards, would send them into a state ofstupefaction, and give him time to escape. 

He smiled directly after as he thought of this, and lay back wearily, thinking of what folly it was to form such bubble-like ideas; for ofcourse it would have been impossible, even had he possessed the drug, toget it mingled with his captors' food. 

No, he felt he must wait now, and trust to their dropping off to sleep, when he might still manage to crawl to the doorway, leap down, and dashinto the jungle. 

As he lay thinking, the hard breathing of a couple of the Malays couldbe plainly heard, and his hopes rose, for the others must grow weary, sooner or later, and fall asleep. The noises in the jungle increased;and as he lay with his cheek against the bamboo flooring, the soundscame up very plainly between the interstices. Now it was the heavycrashing of the reeds, the rustling of some animal going through thedense undergrowth, and then, unmistakeably, the low, snarling roar of atiger. Now it was distant--now close at hand, and he knew that one ofthe great, cat-like creatures was answering another. How close itseemed! He could almost fancy that the tiger was beneath the house, hiding in the reedy grass that had sprung up amidst the ruins. 

Two of the Malays moved about uneasily, and they lit a fresh torch, anact that set Ali thinking of cases he had known, in which tigers hadsprung up eight or ten feet to the platform of a house, and seized andborne off its occupants one after the other. 

If only one of the monsters would perform such a good office for himnow, he would be able to escape in the midst of the confusion, perhapsinto the jaws of another. 

Well, if he did; what then? he asked himself. Better trust to chance inthe jungle, than be left to the tender mercies of these men. 

The roars came louder and nearer, close up at last, and the Malaysseized their limbings, and stood with the keen points advanced towardsthe entrance; but their leader sulkily rose, took one of thedammar-torches, made it blaze a little, and going boldly towards thedoor, waited till a snarling roar came close at hand, when he hurled itwith all his might in the tiger's direction. 

There was a savage, deep-mouthed, hollow yell, and the crash of brittlereeds, telling that the tiger had rushed away, alarmed at the fire; whenthe man came slowly back, said something to his companions, who resumedtheir seats, while he seemed to lie down and go off to sleep. 

Seemed, Ali felt; for after his late experience, he was sure that if anyattempt were made to cross the room this watchful Malay wouldimmediately rise to his feet and confront him. 

Ali was intensely agitated. The expedition was to start the nextmorning, and if he did not warn them, they would be marching, he wassure, right into the jaws of death. Still the night was young as yet, and some opportunity might occur. 

The light from the torches flickered and danced in the night air, andcast strange shadows about the place. From where he lay he could seethe forms of his guards, huge and distorted, against the woven reed andbamboo walls, their every movement being magnified and strange. In hisown part, from time to time he could see the bright green growth thathad forced itself through the palm-thatch, and trace every bamboorafter, save where, in places, all was in profound darkness. 

How dreamy and strange it all seemed! There was the distant roaring ofthe tigers, growing more and more faint; the soft sighing of the nightwind, and the rustle of the dry grass as some creature, on its nocturnalhunt for food, brushed through. Time was going by fast, but still thenight was not nearly past, and the opportunity might come. 

Surely, he thought, the leader was asleep now; he had moved uneasily twoor three times, and was now lying motionless upon his back. One of theother men, too--the watchers--had let his chin sink upon his breast, andthe other two looked heavy and dull. 

His heart rose high with hope, for surely the chance of escape was goingto be his. 

The torches were growing dim, and if not soon replenished with freshdammar, they would both be out; but no one stirred to touch them. 

Ali waited, with every nerve drawn tight to its utmost strain, and hewas ready for the rush, but he hung back, for fear too greatprecipitancy should spoil his chance; and he watched and watched, lyingthere till, to his great joy, one of the torches went completely out, and the other was failing. 

Would either of the Malays move?

No, they were asleep; and the second torch gave out but a dim glimmer, as Ali rose, softly as a cat, and going on all fours, began to make whathe felt was his final trial to get free. 

He crept on nearer and nearer, but no one stirred. On he went, till hewas close to his guards--so near that he could have stretched out a handand touched them--but still no one moved. Their leader seemed now to bethe most soundly asleep of the party, and so intensely excited did thefugitive become that it was all he could do to master himself and keepfrom rising up and rushing to the open door, through which the coolnight wind now began to fan his cheeks. 

He kept down the exciting feelings, though, by a mighty effort, andcrawled softly on, as the second dammar-torch burned out, and all wasdarkness. 

He passed the last man, and was now out well in the middle of the greatroom, with the open doorway before him, dimly seen like a square patchof star-lit sky. The hard breathing of the sleepers came regularly, andthere was the low sighing of the wind without, then the softened, distant roar of a tiger, heard again and again, and repeated far moredistantly. Then all was very still: the only noise being the faintrustle of his sarong, as he crept on nearer and nearer to the opening, from whence he meant to lower himself silently and make straight for theriver, and try to find a boat. 

It was hard work to keep crawling along there, inch by inch, lest thebamboos should creak. They bent and yielded to his weight over and overagain, and twice over they gave so loud a noise that Ali paused, listening for the movement of his guards, meaning then to spring up andflee. Still no one moved, and in spite of his intense desire to make abold rush, he crept on, knowing how great would be his advantage if hecould get off without waking his guards, and free from the pursuit of aparty following upon his track like a pack of hungry hounds. 

Not two yards from the door now, and it seemed as if he would neverreach it. His breath came thick and fast, and his heart throbbed sothat he felt the bamboos over which he crawled vibrate, but still no onemoved. 

Another yard gained, and still all was darkness and silence, while thestrain upon his nerves seemed greater than they could bear. 

The last yard, and he grasped the bamboos to lower himself softly down, when there was a rush, a cry, a hurriedly-spoken order, and the Malays, who seemed to have divined that he was there, dashed across the floor inpursuit. 

Ali told himself that he must not be taken, and dropping to the earth, he dashed across the reed and grass-grown space, and made for thejungle-path, meaning to follow it for a certain distance, and thenstrike off at the first opening across to the river. 

To have attempted the jungle at once would have been utter madness, forhe could not have forced his way a dozen yards through the tangledgrowth. All he could do was to trust to swiftness of foot and followthe track, and that was horribly overgrown. Thorns caught and tore hisbaju and sarong, rattan canes tripped him up, or were so woven acrosshis path that he had to leap over them, when the upper boughs beat andlashed his face; but still he tore on, with his pursuers close behind. He could hear their shouts, and almost distinguish their breathing, asthey panted on close behind him. 

It was terrible work, and he felt himself at this disadvantage, that hewas clearing the way down the little-used jungle-path for his pursuers, while every now and then he stepped into an elephant-hole, and nearlyfell heavily. The tracks left by the huge beasts were in places verydeep, but somehow Ali seemed to save himself just as he was on the pointof falling. 

On still through the intense darkness, and his pursuers close behind. The nearest, he seemed to feel, was the leader of the party; and as helistened to his heavy breathing, and fancied that the man was gainingupon him, the keen kris he held in his hand nearly grazed his shoulder. 

A dozen times over, with the desperation of some hunted beast, Ali wouldhave turned at bay and faced this man, but he knew that it meant deathor capture, for the others were close behind, while he was quiteunarmed. 

And what did death or capture mean? The destruction or those whom hewas trying to save. 

Feeling this, he toiled on, with heart throbbing, his breath comingthickly, and his limbs growing more heavy moment by moment. At first hehad bounded along like a frightened deer, but the terrible nature of thejungle through which he was struggling soon began to tell upon him, andthe bounding pace settled down into a weary trot. 

There was this, however, in his favour; the ground was very bad for hispursuers, and though eager to overtake him, they were not moved by thesame intense desire as himself. 

On still, and he was once more nearly down. Something lashed his face, then he tripped again once more, and the jungle, as he staggered up, seemed to grow more intensely dark. That vindictive enemy was closebehind, and he had struck at him twice with his keen weapon. Then, ashe panted on, he came upon first one and then another animal, whichbounded away into close growth, while the poor hunted wretch couldhardly drag one leg before the other. 

Still he struggled on through the darkness, till feeling his pursuerclose at hand, he roused all his remaining strength and leaped forward, caught his foot in a mass of interwoven creeping plants, and fell. Hemade one effort to rise, but his strength was gone, and he had only timeto throw himself over and get his hands at liberty, as his pursuer threwhimself down upon him, clutched him by the throat, and, raising hiskris, was about to plunge it into the prostrate young man's breast. 

But Ali was too quick. In spite of his weakness and the suffocatingsensation caused by his position, he made a snatch at the descendingarm, caught it, and stopped the blow, and then they both lay therepanting and exhausted, chaser and chased, unable to do more than gazeinto each other's eyes, as the jungle now began to grow lighter, and Alicould see the gleam of the deadly kris just above his head. 

They were terrible moments; the oppression was so great that he couldhardly breathe, and at the same time he felt himself growing weaker andweaker. There was the baleful glare of his enemy's eyes, and the gleamof the kris growing each moment nearer, and he powerless to arrest it. Only a few moments, and in spite of his brave resistance all would beover, and those he sought to save would be lost. 

The thought of the friends at the residency nerved him to the finaleffort, and with a wild cry he drew himself up, and tried to throw hisenemy from his chest--his enemy, whose eyes and weapon glared down athim so, and summoning all his strength, he felt that he had succeeded. 

Panting heavily, Ali started up, but the gleam was about him still, forthe bright rays of the morning sun were shining down through the attaproof, and with a moan of misery he sank back once more on finding thathe had been overcome by weariness, and that this last painful episodewas only a dream. 

And his friends that he meant to save--what of them? Ali lay back andclosed his eyes, for his misery seemed greater than he could bear. 

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. 

HOW ALI MADE A DASH FOR LIBERTY. 

As Ali lay back there with closed eyes, it seemed impossible that hecould have slept and dreamed all this, but it was plain enough now. Hehad but to unclose his eyes and see the Malays in the outer room, andlisten to the twittering of the small birds, the screams of the parrots, and the cry uttered from time to time by some monkey. 

Where was his manhood? he asked himself--where his keen desire to escapeand help his friends? He felt half-maddened to think that he shouldhave slept and neglected them, not sparing himself for a moment, andnever once palliating what he called his crime by trying to recall thefact that he had not slept the previous night, and that he had beencompletely exhausted. 

There was the fact staring him in the face; he had been lying therethinking of escaping, and listening to the cries of the prowling tigers, and--"Stop, " he asked himself, "where did the reality end and dreamingbegin? Did he see the Malay get up and hurl a torch out of the opendoor, and then come back and lie down?"

Yes, he felt sure that was true, but where that which he was watchingshaded off into dreamland, he could not tell. 

It was weak, perhaps, but the scalding tears rose and filled his eyes, and when he passionately dashed them away and sat up, he felt ready tomake a fierce rush through his guard, and either escape or die. 

He was on the point of risking all in some such mad attempt when two ofthe men came in, proceeded to make a careful inspection of the placewhere he was, and then sat down just in the opening, getting up soonafterwards, though, to make way for another, who brought in some food onfresh plantain leaves, rice freshly boiled with fowl, and curry madewith freshly-grated cocoa-nut and peppers. There was an abundance offruit, too, but Ali looked at it all with a feeling of disgust. He hadno desire to eat. 

The men left the food on its fresh green leaves before him, and went outto their own meal, while the prisoner sat thinking that the expeditionhad by this time started, for he had slept long in spite of histroublous dream. Then his thoughts turned to the steamer and BobRoberts, whose frank, happy face was always before him, and then somehowhe thought of the steamer and its powerful engine, and how it was keptgoing with fuel and water; and that set him thinking of himself. Howwas he to help his friends if he let himself get weak for want of food. 

The result was, that he ate a few grains of rice, when the want ofappetite disappeared, and he went on and made a very hearty meal. Hefelt annoyed, though, directly after, to find his captors smile as theycame to remove the fragments of his feast. 

Then began once more the terrible hours of anxiety, during which hepaced up and down his prison like some wild beast, his guards squattingoutside, and watching him in the most imperturbable manner, as theychewed their betel, or varied it by smoking. 

So long as he seemed disposed to make no effort to escape they werecivil enough, one offering him, betel, another Java tobacco, an objectmuch-prized by the Malays, but he did not take them, only fixed his eyesjealously upon their weapons, and longed to snatch them away, and insome desperate action to calm the suffering he endured. 

Every now and then he listened, fancying he could hear the distant soundof firing, and he shuddered as he fancied that the massacre had alreadybegun. But he was soon compelled to own that it was all fancy, andwearied out, he laid himself down again to try and scheme a way ofescape. 

The day slowly advanced, and the heat became intense, in spite of theshadow in which he lay. A few light gleams came in through thin placesin the roof, but they only seemed to make the room darker, for a coupleof the Malays had been busy stopping up a small hole or two near theclosed window. Now and then some busy fly or crawling beetle took hisattention, or a nimble lizard in chase of an insect, and he thought ofthe native proverb, as he saw how patiently the lizard crept along afterits intended victim, and waited its time until with unerring certaintyit could make its stroke. 

He told himself that he must take a lesson from the quiet littlereptile, and await his time. 

And so the day wore on, every hour convincing him more and more of theimpossibility of escape, unless some change should take place in thearrangements. 

One gleam of hope came to him, and that was afforded by the restlessnessof his guard. They seemed to be expecting some one, and watch wasevidently kept for his arrival, but as the evening drew near there wasno change, and the hope that the expected messenger might have beenabout to order them to convey him elsewhere--to a place perhapsaffording a better chance of escape, died away. 

True, the hope had been mingled with a sense of dread, for he felt thatif a messenger had come he might have been bearer of an order to put himto death. But no one arrived, the sun was sinking fast, and his agonyon the increase, for night was close at hand, with no prospect of hisbeing able to convey the ill news he had to his friends. 

The heat had been terrible to him in his excited state, and the eveningbreeze that now came whispering through the leaves seemed but littlebetter. The men in the next room had twice over brought him food andwater, and they were now busily preparing their dammar-torches, a coupleof which were soon burning brightly, sending a warm glow like a goldenband right across the prisoner's room, leaving both sides in the shade. 

Worn-out with weariness of mind and body, Ali lay there at last, tellinghimself that he ought to follow the example of his compatriots, andcalmly accept the inevitable. 

But that he could not do, for he lay there fuming with impatience, andwatching the outer room for a chance of escape. That did not come, forthe party were more watchful than ever; and at last he sank back, feeling that all was over, and praying that warning might be given tothose in danger, in some other way. 

For the sake of coolness he was lying away from his mat, on the bamboofloor, between the rough pieces of which the night air came up, mingledwith the sweet odours of the forest; and as he lay there, with his headthrobbing from the mental excitement, while his guards were talkingtogether in a low voice, Ali began to wonder whether he should hear thetiger prowling about the place that night. Then he began to think ofthe midshipman and the ensign, and he tried to comfort himself with theidea that the English were very brave, and might read Sultan Hamet asevere lesson instead of being beaten. 

These thoughts were just crossing his mind, when he started, for itseemed to him that there was something rising close at hand, and then afaint touch. 

This was evidently heard only by himself, for no one in the outer placehad moved. 

Ali felt a strange shudder pass through him, for the noise was just thatwhich a large serpent would make as it forced its way between some oldpieces of woodwork, and this was just the place for some monster to makeits haunt. It had evidently been temporarily driven away, but had nowin the silence of the evening returned to its home in the desertedhouse. 

Ali was as brave as most young fellows of his age, but at the same timehe shrank from contact with such a loathsome beast, and lay motionless, wondering whether it would pass him by, and then half-resolving to callthe men to come with lights. 

He was on the point of shouting to them, but he hesitated as his alarmmight be foolish, and the noise be caused by some inoffensive creature. 

He lay there listening, and as he did so he suddenly felt paralysed, forsomething touched his hand. The contact had such an effect upon himthat he could not move. 

It was a serpent, he was sure, for it felt cold and damp, and--there itwas again, evidently coming up between the bamboos of the floor, andseeking about, and--Why, it was a hand, and it grasped his wrist! Aliwanted to call aloud, but he felt as if suffering from nightmare; toleap up, but he felt helpless, and lay bathed in perspiration. He knewwhat it was now; some miscreant beneath the house, seeking out where helay. 

He knew of plenty of cases where men had been assassinated by an enemyfinding out where they slept in a room, and then quietly going beneathin the night, and thrusting his kris between the bamboos. 

This, then, was the way in which he was to be slain--as if it had beendone by some stranger. One of his guards then must be beneath thehouse, though he had not heard one go out. 

And yet, knowing all this, he could not stir, but lay as if stunned, till the blood that had been frozen seemed suddenly to start in rapidaction, and his veins began to throb, for instead of the blade of a krisbeing thrust remorselessly into his side, the handle was softly pushedthrough against his hand. 

This was a friend then below him, and had he had any doubt before, thesoft pressure of a hand upon his told him that he was right, for therewas a ring upon one finger that touched his, whose form he recognised. It was his father's ring, and he had come at the risk of losing his ownlife to save his son's. 

For a few moments hand pressed hand. Then Ali's was drawn softly downbetween the bamboos, and two hands placed it under one of the long, split canes upon which he was lying, held it there, and then pressed itupwards. 

Ali was puzzled. He dare not speak, neither did the Tumongong belowventure so much as to whisper, but kept on forcing his son's handupwards. 

There was a faint creak, and then the light came into Ali's puzzledbrain. It was plain enough now; this bamboo had been loosened at oneend, for it gave way; and the young man's heart throbbed painfully, ashe felt that the way of escape was open. He had but to wait his time, and then softly raise this one broad, split cane, to make space enoughto let himself slide through into the open space beneath thepost-supported house. Then the jungle was before him, and it was hisown fault if he did not escape in the darkness. 

He left off clasping the broad, split bamboo, and stretched out his handonce more to clasp that of his father, in expression of histhankfulness; but though he reached out in all directions, striving tograsp the loving hand that had brought help, there was nothing near, andAli felt as if in a dream, till his other hand touched the kris that wasnow beneath his chest. 

It was his right arm that was forced down between the bamboos, and hewas consequently lying over upon his chest, when, to his horror, heheard a noise, and saw the principal of his guards seize a torch andenter the room, kris in hand. 

For a moment Ali felt that he must spring up, kris in hand, and fightfor his life. Fortunately he lay still and feigned sleep, his heartbeating heavily, as he hoped to conceal the loosened bamboo with hisbody, as well as the kris. 

The Malay looked curiously round the room, and held his dammar-torch onhigh, as he peered here and there. Not that he had heard a sound, buthe was evidently suspicious, or else extra careful. 

Ali lay motionless and breathing heavily, but with a choking sensationin his breast, as he felt that now, just when escape was open to him, hehad been discovered. He was in such a state of excitement that he wasready to spring up and attack his guard, should he make any sign ofhaving found out what had taken place; but though the man held the torchhere and there, and walked round the room before coming back and bendingdown over Ali, as if to see whether he was asleep, he saw nothing. 

Then a fresh dread assailed the prisoner. Why was this man bending overhim, and did he mean evil against him?

Ali would have given anything to have been able to turn round and facehis enemy, but to have made the slightest movement would have been toshow that he had a kris beneath him, and his arm right through betweenthe bamboos, so the young man lay perfectly still, mastered his emotionas best he could, and waited for what seemed an unreasonable space oftime, till the Malay slowly moved off into the outer room, and stickinghis torch in the floor, seated himself with his companions, and began tosmoke. 

Panting with excitement, Ali lay there in the darkness, and for sometime not daring to move; but at last, watching the effect upon hisguards the while, he made an uneasy movement and muttered a fewunintelligible words. 

The men looked up for a moment, but afterwards paid no heed; and findingthis so, Ali secured the kris in the folds of his sarong, after softlywithdrawing his arm from between the bamboos of the floor. 

To his great delight, he found them very loose; and after waiting areasonable time, and until his guards seemed to be settled, he softlyraised the one that was loose, and rolled it, as it were, over on to theside, leaving a narrow opening through the floor. 

Just as he did so, a low, snarling growl close at hand announced thereturn of the tiger. 

This was terrible; for if he descended now, he was going from one dangerto another, and his position was pitiable. At any moment the Malaysmight come in and see that the bamboo had been moved; and now all he hadto do was to squeeze down through the opening, and glide away into thedarkness. 

There was the snarling growl again. The tiger evidently scented prey, and it came closer and closer. In fact, Ali felt that it was quitepossible that the beast might spring up at the opening to seize him. 

What could he do but wait?

His patience was rewarded; for as the great cat came prowling nearer, one of the Malays, who was uneasy at its presence, seized a torch, ashad been done the past night; the others standing ready with theirspears, advanced, and waiting until the animal seemed ready to make aspring at the door, he hurled the blazing piece of dammar, overturningthe second torch in the act, one of his companions trampling it out, tosave the floor from being set alight. 

There was a snarling yell, once more followed by a loud shout from theMalays, when the tiger was heard to bound heavily away through thejungle, its yell being answered by another tiger some distance away. 

Now was Ali's time. The Malays were talking, and trying to relight thetorch, the place being in total darkness; and without a moment'shesitation the prisoner softly let himself down through the long narrowslit, lower and lower, till he reached his waist, where the kris stoppedhis further descent. 

This was horrible, as he was as it were caught in the narrow hole, andhe could not get the kris out from the folds of his silken sarong. 

The Malays, though, were busy over their light; and freeing the weaponat last, he let himself glide down lower and lower, but not withoutnoise, for there was hardly room for him to pass, and he began totremble, lest his head should refuse to go through. 

At any moment his guards might come in and find him in this helplessstate, for he dared not hurry, but had to literally force his way downtill he had only his head and shoulders above, his eyes glaring wildlyin the direction of the outer room, where the Malays were talking. 

By sheer force of muscle he sustained himself, as he hung at length withhis head only in the room, and to his horror he found that it would notpass through; for he was opposite two of the knots of the bamboo, andstrive how he would, he could not manage to get himself a little wayalong, to where the wood curved in. 

Just then a light flashed upon his face, and he saw that his guards hadsucceeded in re-illumining their room; while to his horror, he now foundthat they were coming in to him. 

With a tremendous effort, and feeling now that it was no time to studyabout noise, Ali forced himself a little way along, but in doing soslipped, and hung by his head, fixed between the bamboos, as the leaderof his captors entered, uttered a shout, and made a bound forward toseize him. 

That did it!

Had he come forward carefully, he could have seized his helplessprisoner; but this leap on the elastic, hollow canes bent one down, andset Ali free, his guard uttering a shout of rage as his captiveliterally slipped through his fingers, Ali's head disappearing from thelight of the torch, and revealing the long narrow slit, looking dark andstrange, in the floor. 

"Quick, the door!" shouted the Malay, as he tried to force himself downthrough the slit--but had to struggle back, giving Ali moments torecover himself from the painful shock he had sustained; and when theman had reached the door, torch in hand, and leaped down to where hismen were hurrying here and there, it was for the light to gleam for amoment on Ali's bright, silken baju, as he plunged into the jungle, forty yards away. 

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. 

A SWIM IN THE NIGHT. 

As has been said, Ali suffered quite a shock from the jerk he receivedin escaping from his prison, and had his captors rushed down directly, his attempt would have resulted in failure; but the effort made by theMalay to follow him afforded the prisoner time to recover a little, tostruggle up from where he had fallen, and to stagger off in a strangeconfused state, feeling all the while as if his head had been wrenchedoff. 

Each moment, however, gave him force; he heard the shouts of the men asthey leaped down from the platform; and as the light of the torchflashed upon his path, he seemed to regain his strength, and ran on withhis guards in full pursuit. 

The young man set his teeth hard, and grasped the weapon supplied to himby his father's hand. He was far from being bloodthirsty; contact withthe English had softened and changed his nature, but in those fiercemoments the feeling was upon him strong that he could slay or be slainsooner than give up his liberty once more. 

He recalled his dream of the early morning as he dashed on, and wonderedwhether the leader was the first man in the pursuit, and whether theytwo would engage in deadly strife. 

He glanced back, but he could not tell; and hurrying on, he keptrecalling the difficulties he had encountered in his dream--elephant-holes--woven undergrowth--trailing canes--the hundred obstaclesof a jungle, and wondered that he kept so well in the darkness to thepath, and was able to progress at so swift a pace. 

Not that it was swift, for he had to proceed very cautiously, but it wasfast enough to enable him to keep well ahead of his pursuers, who had tomake sure that they did not pass him on the way. 

But this easy going was not to last, for he found the jungle track grewworse, and to his horror he found that his pursuers were gaining uponhim rapidly. The light the first man carried enabled them to see a fewyards in advance and make sure their steps, while he had what seemedlike a black wall rising in front of him, into which he had to plunge asit were, and often and often found that he was straying from the track. 

At last he strayed so far from it that his pursuers came up rapidly, their light showing him the path he had lost. He was about to make arush for it, when the thought struck him that they might pass himunseen, and, crouching down, to his great delight he found that they didpass on--the whole party--leaving him to deliberate on what course heshould pursue. 

The simplest plan seemed to be to turn back, but that would be takinghim away from the river, which he felt would be his saving to reach, andto gain that he must pursue the track his guards were upon. 

After all, if he kept at a distance this was the safest plan. Hisenemies carried a light, and he would therefore be able to see them whenthey returned, if return they did; and to his great delight heremembered now that some distance ahead there was a track which ledright away from the present one towards the river, making a shorter cut. 

He did not stop to think, but at once followed the course taken by hisguards, hastening his steps till he was pretty close behind--so closethat he could hear their voices, and see the flaring of the torchthrough the undergrowth. 

This went on for nearly an hour, when the Malays awakened fully to thefact that their prisoner had not gone in that direction, and theyreturned upon their track so suddenly that Ali had barely time to forcehis way in amongst the canes and crouch down, silent and breathless, before they were back, and were passing the place where the young manwas hidden, when the bearer of the torch saw the broken canes andleaves, and drew attention thereto. 

"Tiger!" said the man nearest to him, and he pointed to some footprintswhich were sufficiently recent to satisfy the other, and to Ali's greatrelief they passed on. 

For a few moments he had felt that he was once more a prisoner, and nowhe breathed freely again, and waiting till the last rustle of the canesand undergrowth had died away with the faint gleam of the torch, hecrept painfully out from amidst the thorny undergrowth, and continuedhis retreat. 

He paused from time to time to listen, but all was silent now, andalmost feeling his way through the dark forest, he pressed on, gladdenednow and then by a glimpse of the starry sky, he continued his course, till he reached the edge of the river, rolling swift and dark throughthe midst of the dense forest. 

All had heard the strange sounds on either side of the dark track he hadcome along, more than once shuddering slightly as he heard the cry of atiger or the curious _coo-ai_ of the argus pheasant, but nothing soundedso pleasant to him during his exciting retreat as the strange, low, untiring rush of the great river. 

There was no noisy babbling, but a soft, low, hissing rush, as the swiftstream hurried amidst the stones and water-washed roots of the treesupon the banks. 

He had hoped to find a boat somewhere about the end of the track, wherethere was a wretched campong; but there did not seem to be a singlesampan, and he tramped wearily down the bank, till he came near thehouses opposite the island. 

He dared go no further along the bank, lest he should be seized; and hestood in the shade of a tree at last, thinking of what he should do. 

But one course was open to him, and that was to swim out into the swiftstream, and make for the head of the island, where, to his greatdelight, all seemed perfectly still, and free from alarm. How long itwould keep so, he could not say. 

There was no other way for him, and being a swift swimmer he hesitatedno longer, but throwing off his baju and sarong, he walked out as far ashe could and swam boldly towards the head of the island, where he meantto land. 

To his horror he found a couple of boats in the way, both of them wellfilled with men, and it was only by letting himself float down with thestream that he was able to pass them unnoticed. This, however, completely carried him out of his reckoning, for on striving once moreto reach the head of the island, he was too low down, and was sweptright away. He tried for the landing-place, but he could not near it, and in spite of his desperate efforts he was drawn on lower and lower bythe heavy stream, so that he could not even grasp at the drooping treesat the lower end of the island, but found himself carried right awaytowards the lights of the corvette, where she lay a quarter of a milelower down. 

Knowing that he could not catch at anything on the smooth sides of thesteamer, he made another frantic effort to reach the side of the island, but it was labour in vain, and at last, weak, exhausted, and with thewater rising higher and higher about his lips, he felt that he was beingcarried right away, and that, unless help came, he would be drowned. 

He grew excited and struggled harder, but only to weaken himself. Hewas confused by the darkness, and found that he had miscalculated hispowers. The strain upon him during the past two days, and the effortshe had made that night, had been greater than he was aware of; and now, in spite of the sterling stuff of which he was made, the chill, dreadthought came upon him that he was about to die. 

The lights of the steamer seemed very near, and yet far-distant, for ablinding mist was before his eyes; and though he swam bravely, over andover again the swift current seemed to suck him down. He essayed to cryfor help, but the water choked him; and at last he felt that all wasover, that he should in another minute be swept past the steamer, when, trying to turn over and float, he went under, rose to the surface oncemore, struck against something and clutched at it, to find it slimy andhard to hold; but it enabled him to hold his head above water a fewmoments, while he cried for help--lost his hold, and was swept away oncemore, when all seemed dreamy and strange. The water thundered in hisears, his limbs were helpless, and it was as if he were being waftedinto a strange and troublous sleep, when he knew no more, for all seemedblank. 

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. 

HOW ALI BROUGHT NEWS, AND WAS NOT BELIEVED. 

There was plenty of excitement on board the steamer, as the falls werehooked on and the light gig was run up to the davits, the boat thenbeing swung on board; and as lights were brought, the body of the manthey had tried to save was laid upon the deck. 

"Why, it's a nigger!" exclaimed Bob Roberts; and then, with a cry ofhorror, "Oh, Mr Johnson, it's old Ali! Here, quick! help, brandy! Oh, he's dead! he's dead!"

"No, he aren't, sir, " said Dick gruffly; "leastwise, I don't think so. "

"Carry him into the cabin, " said Lieutenant Johnson sharply; and thisbeing done, the poor fellow was stripped, briskly rubbed, and thecustomary plans adopted to restore respiration, Bob Roberts eagerlytaking his turn, till, to his delight, as he watched Ali's arms beingworked up and down, so as to empty and fill his chest, there was a faintflutter, a sigh, and the doubts as to the young Malay's life beingspared were at an end. 

"Hooray!" cried Bob, who was only in his shirt and trousers, his collaropen, and his sleeves rolled right up to his shoulders. "Hooray!" hecried; and forgetting all his dignity as second officer in command ofHer Majesty's ship, he indulged in a kind of triumphal dance, whichended with a flop, caused by his bringing one foot down flat on thecabin floor. 

"I think that will do, Mr Roberts, " said the lieutenant quietly; andBob coloured up and looked confused. 

"I felt so delighted, sir, to see the poor old chap better, " hestammered. 

"So I see, " said the lieutenant. "There, put on your jacket, and givethe men a glass of grog apiece for what they have done towards savingour friend here. Dick, there, has pretty well rubbed his skin off. "

"Well, sir, " said Dick in an ill-used tone, "I rubbed as hard as ever Icould. "

"That you did, Dick, " said the middy. 

"And he is coming to, sir, " continued Dick. 

"Yes, " said the lieutenant, "a good sleep will set him right, I think. It is a pity the doctor has gone on the expedition; but we must do thebest we can. "

"Expedition!" said Bob sharply, "of course; but I thought Ali here hadgone. He was going. Oh, I know; he has stopped behind because Tom Longand I were not going. "

"Very likely, " said the lieutenant drily; "but had you not better seeabout the men's refreshment?"

"Oh! yes, sir; of course, " said Bob, hurrying on his light jacket; andDick and a couple of men, who had been helping, followed him out of thecabin, smiling and wiping their lips in anticipation of the promiseddrink. 

They had hardly left the cabin when Ali opened his eyes, and lay gazingup at the ceiling, then, in a curious, puzzled way, at the light, hismind struggling to recover itself and master his confusion. 

A sigh and a few muttered words took the lieutenant to his side; and onseeing him Ali started, and said something to him in the Malay tongue. 

"Are you better?" said the lieutenant kindly. 

"Better?" he said, "better? Where am I? what place is this?"

"You are on board the steamer. We found you drowning in the river. "

Ali clasped his forehead with his hands for a few moments, and then allseemed to come back like a flood. 

"Yes, " he said hoarsely, "I know now. I was swimming to the island. "

"I see; and you were swept away, " said the lieutenant kindly. "I thinkyou had better lie down, and have a good sleep, " he continued, as theyoung man struggled up. 

"No, no!" cried Ali excitedly. "I recollect all now. Quick! call yourmen; there is great danger!"

"Come, come, " said the lieutenant gently, "calm yourself. Try andsleep. "

He laid his hand firmly on the young man's arm, but Ali caught hiswrist. 

"What, do you think, " he cried, "that I am speaking no sense?"

"Well, " said the lieutenant, smiling, "I think you are excited and ill. "

"No, no, " cried Ali. "Give me clothes; I will fight for you. There isdanger!"

"Nonsense!" said the lieutenant. "There, lie down; and Roberts, yourfriend, you know, shall come and sit with you. "

"Oh, listen to me!" cried Ali piteously. "I am not as you think. Iswam off to warn you. Hamet has got half your men away by treachery. Iam sure they are going to attack you. Quick! get ready; there is great, great danger! Give me clothes, and I'll fight for you!"

As he spoke excitedly, Bob Roberts entered the cabin, and stoodlistening. 

"Come and speak to him, Roberts, " said the lieutenant quietly. "Poorfellow! he is overdone, and it has flown to his head. "

"Ah! You here?" cried Ali joyfully. "He will not believe me, Bob. Listen; there is going to be an attack made upon you--at the island, andhere. They have got your men and officers away to lead them into atrap. I escaped to tell you. "

"Oh! come, old chap, don't talk like that, " cried Bob, taking his hand. "Don't talk such wild nonsense and bosh. Lie down and have a goodsleep. I say, Mr Johnson, I wish old Bolter was here. "

"You do not believe me!" cried Ali passionately. "What am I, that youtreat me so? Is it that I always lie?"

"Lie? No, old boy, " said Bob kindly; "but it isn't you talking. Yourhead's all in a muddle. "

"Head? muddle? Not I!" cried Ali excitedly. "There! Hark! I told youso!"

As he spoke there was the sharp crack of a rifle, then another, andanother, and a rattling scattered volley. 

"Something wrong at the island, sir, " reported one of the watch. 

"By Jove! he's right!" cried the lieutenant, rushing out of the cabin. "Quick, Roberts!"

"Yes--clothes--my kris!" cried Ali joyfully. "I'll fight with you. "

For answer Bob ran to his own berth, hastily threw the young Malay oneof his spare suits; and then, quickly buckling on his sword, ran ondeck, where the lieutenant was striding up and down, giving his orders. 

"That's right, Roberts, " he cried. "They're hard at work at theisland. "

The next moment Bob was running here and there, seeing that hissuperior's orders were executed. The drums had already beat toquarters, and with the wondrous business-like rapidity with whichmatters are done on board a man-of-war every man was at his place, theports flew open, the magazine was unfastened, and while the mooringswere cast off astern, and those ahead ready to be dropped at a moment'snotice, the furnaces were roaring furiously, and every effort being madeby the firemen to get up steam. 

It was like the turning of a handle. There was no confusion; the wholemachine was ready for action; guns loaded, and marines and sailors armedready for any contingency that might befall the steamer. 

Directly after, Ali came hurrying from the cabin, and made his way towhere the middy was eagerly looking for his next order. 

"Give me arms, " he said; "I have lost my kris. "

"And a good thing, too, " said Bob sharply; "a murderous skewer! May Igive him a sword, sir?"

"Yes, and a revolver, if he means to fight on our side, " said LieutenantJohnson sharply; and Bob hurriedly ordered the armourer to take theyoung Malay and supply what was needed. "They are making no signals atthe island, Roberts, " continued the lieutenant, "and I don't know whatto do. I would man a boat and send on--"

"Under me, sir?" said Bob slowly. 

"Of course, Mr Roberts; but we are so short-handed, I don't know whatto do for the best. Ah! here is your friend. Now, sir; tell us in afew words what this all means. "

Ali rapidly told him of his belief, and the lieutenant frowned. 

"Certainly there is confirmation of what you say, sir, " he said sternly, "but the story sounds wild and strange. "

He gazed suspiciously at the young chief; but Ali did not blench in theslightest degree. 

Just then the firing seemed to become furious on the island, and thelieutenant stamped his foot impatiently. 

"How long is this steam going to be?" he cried. "How I hate being tiedby the leg like this, Roberts. "

"It's horrible, sir!" cried Roberts, who was stamping up and down thedeck, when he was not trying to make out what was going on upon theisland, by means of a small glass. "Let's do something, sir, or thepeople there will think we are not going to help them. "

"What can we do, lieutenant, " said the other, "except send a boat?"

"Let's fire a big gun, captain, " said Bob; "that'll let 'em know we areall alive; and then send the boat. I'll be very careful, sir. "

The lieutenant hesitated as he watched the island through his glass, andcould see the flashes of the pieces as they were fired. In a short timesteam would be up, and the vessel could pass right round the island andengage the prahus, if there were any attacking. Besides, he was veryloth to reduce his already short ship's company. 

"If it were not already so confoundedly dark, " he exclaimed, "we couldsee what to do. Ah! at last, there goes the signal. "

For just then there was a rushing noise, and a rocket went up from theisland, far into the blackness of the night, burst, and the bright bluestars fell slowly, lighting up the palms and fruit-trees upon theisland. 

"Ready there with a rocket, " exclaimed the lieutenant. "Be smart, MrRoberts. "

"Ay, ay, sir, " was the reply; and, with a mighty rush, away on high spedthe answering signal, to burst and fill the air above them with lambentlight. 

"That is better than your big gun, Roberts, " said the lieutenant. 

"No, sir, I don't think it is, " said Bob, "for it won't frighten theniggers, and my gun would. "

The night seemed to have come on darker than ever, and the rocket starsshone with wonderful brilliancy as they descended lower, and lower, andlower, some even to reach the water before they went out, and just asthe last was floating down, Ali, who was close to the two officers, suddenly started, grasped Bob's arm, and exclaimed sharply, --

"Prahus!"

He was pointing with one hand down the stream, but on the middy gazingin the required direction it was too dark to see anything. 

"I can see none, " he said. "Where?"

"Two prahus coming up rapidly, " said Ali; "be ready to fire. "

"Not so fast, young sir, " said the lieutenant. "Will that steam neverbe up? Roberts, " he cried, "touch the trigger of that life-buoy. "

The middy obeyed, and a life-buoy dropped over the side with a splash, aport-fire at the same moment bursting out into a brilliant blue glare, which, as the buoy floated down rapidly with the stream, lit-up thetrees on either shore, made the water flash, but above all showed outplainly to all on board a couple of large prahus coming rapidly up thestream, the many sweeps out on either side making the water foam andflash in the blue light shed by the buoy. 

"There!" said Ali excitedly, "they are Rajah Gantang's prahus. Fire atthem. "

"Not so fast, sir, " said the lieutenant. "I must first be sure thatthey are enemies. "

He was soon assured of that fact, for as the steamer was lit-up by theport-fire as well as the prahus, _bang, bang, bang, bang_, one after theother, came the reports of the brass guns the two long boats had onboard, and a hail of small iron balls came whistling through therigging. 

"There's no doubt about it now, " said the lieutenant grimly; and givingthe orders as the prahus rapidly advanced, evidently with the intentionof boarding, the two big guns on the port-side thundered out a reply, splashing the water all over one prahu, and going through the mattingboarding-screen of the other; but otherwise doing no harm. 

The prahus replied, and for a few minutes there was a sharp duel keptup, at the end of which time the oars were seen being swiftly plied, andthe two boats went on up stream at a rapid rate, the steamer firing atthem as long as they were visible by the lights they had on board. 

"Was anything ever so vexatious?" cried the lieutenant. "Here we lielike a log upon the water. Will that steam never be up?"

Just then the welcome news was given, and the order was passed down tothe engine-room; the screw began to revolve, and the men cheered as thevessel's head was freed from the buoy, to which she had been moored, andthey began to steam rapidly in the wake of the two prahus, whose lightshad evidently passed to the left of the island. 

Meanwhile a sharp engagement had evidently been going on in theneighbourhood of the little fort. Once or twice the nine-pounder theyhad there spoke out, but the principal part of the firing was that ofrifles. Lights were seen from the deck, here and there amidst thetrees, and were moving upon the shore, where the people were evidentlyin a state of alarm. Still the occupants of the island seemed to bemaking a good fight, and the lieutenant felt that he could not be doingthem better service than by disposing of the two prahus, and to this endthe steamer went on, its commander having a sharp look-out kept, and aman busy with the lead in the forepart of the vessel. 

At the end of a few minutes the lights on the prahus were seen; theorder, "Full speed ahead!" given, for they were now in the middle of theopen reach of the river, and Lieutenant Johnson hoped to sink one or theother of his adversaries by using a little energy. 

The shadowy shapes of the two boats were made out at the end of aminute, and a couple of guns were brought to bear upon them, the firingbeing replied to for a time, the flashes from the guns serving to lightup the darkness of the night for a moment, while the roar of the bigguns went rolling along the surface of the water, and was echoed fromthe trees upon the bank. 

"Keep that lead going more quickly, " shouted the lieutenant, as the lastof the prahus, apparently unharmed, passed round the head of the island, placing the wooded land between her and the steamer, which followedrapidly in their wake. 

The lieutenant's orders were obeyed, and the sounding shouted by the manwho handled the lead line. 

The river was very deep, but as no good chart existed, and it was dark, extra caution was being used, and all was going on well. In anotherminute she would have rounded the bend of the island and been in fullchase of the fleet enemy, when just as the man had shouted out thedepth, there was a sudden shock, which threw several men off their legs, and to the dismay of all, the steamer was tightly fixed upon a mudbank, every effort to release her only seeming to make her settle more firmlydown. And this at a moment when her presence might serve to change thefortunes of the attack being made upon the residency. 

CHAPTER FORTY. 

HOW PRIVATE GRAY WENT A-FISHING. 

Private Gray had hard work to seem composed as he went away to executehis orders. The remarks of Captain Smithers had come like anendorsement of his own suspicions, and in imagination he saw the islandgiven over to violence and rapine, as a large force of savage Malays, who resented the coming of the English, took advantage of the presentstate of weakness and carried all before them. 

He felt as if a strange pallor was taking the place of the ruddy, sunburnt hue of his face, and he turned sick as he thought of MissLinton and her cousin; of the major's wife, and those of several of thesoldiers. 

It would be horrible, he thought; but the next moment his strength ofnerve returned, and feeling that the safety of all might depend upon theenergy he displayed in his mission, he hurried on towards the fort. 

As he went along under the shade of the trees, he recalled that which hehad seen when on duty a night or two back, and wondered whether therewas any cause for suspicion in the boat that he believed he had seengliding over the dark river in so shadowy a way. Then he remembered thesounds he had heard; and lastly, he recalled various little things inAbdullah's behaviour, that, trifles in themselves, now seemed to bestrangely significant. 

By this time he reached the fort, on entering which he found SergeantLund perspiring profusely, as with big clumsy unsuited hands he fingereda pen, and wrote laboriously his report, while Private Sim, who had notdeclared himself ill for a week, lay back under a tree fast asleep. 

He was a very unlovely man was Private Sim, especially when asleep, forat this time he opened his mouth very wide, and around it the busy flieswere flitting, evidently taking it for the flower of some new kind oforchis or carnivorous plant, and they buzzed about and around it as ifenjoying the fun of going as near as they could without quite gettinginto danger. That it was a fly-trap one big sage-looking insect seemedcertain, for he settled on the tip of Private Sim's nose, and seemed tobe engaged in making sudden flights and buzzings at young unwary fliesas they came near and into danger, driving them away from the yawningcavern just below. 

Gray smiled to himself as these ideas flashed across his brain, and thenhe walked up to the sergeant. 

"Which--which--that--which--or which--but which--in which--for which--towhich--phew! this is hot work. I wonder which would be best. Ah!Gray, sit down here a minute, my lad, and tell me what to say. I'vebeen hours over this report. "

"I am off on special business directly, sergeant, " said Gray; "but letme see. "

He read over the sergeant's report, and then dictated half-a-dozenlines, which that officer wrote down as quickly as he could. "I shallcopy it out afterwards, " he said, "neat and clean. Go on, my lad, goon. "

Gray dictated a few more lines, which ended the report in a short, concise manner, and Sergeant Lund's face, which had been all incorrugations, smoothed itself into a satisfied smile. 

"That's beautiful, " he said, looking up at the private admiringly. "Ishall copy that all out in a neat hand, and the thing's done. I say, Gray, how do you do it? Here, what takes me hours, only takes youminutes; and while it's hard labour to me to get it into shape, you runit off like string from a ball. Thanky, my lad, thanky. Now what can Ido for you?"

"I want a bayonet and a revolver, with ammunition, directly, " said Gray. 

"What for?"

"Captain's orders, and private, " said Gray, showing Captain Smithers'card, with a few lines pencilled thereon. 

"Right, " said the sergeant bluffly. "I'm not an inquisitive man. Comealong, Gray. "

He led the way into the part of the fort used as an armoury, andfurnished the required weapons, which Gray proceeded to button up underhis jacket. 

"Oh! that's the game is it, my lad?" he said. "Then look here; don'ttake those clumsy tools; any one can see that you've got weapons hiddenthere. I'll lend you this little revolver; it's handier, and will doquite as much mischief. You can have this dirk, too, with the belt. "

He brought out a handsome little revolver, about half the weight andsize of the heavy military "Colt" previously supplied; and also awell-made, long, thin dirk, with a thin belt. 

"There, my lad!" he said, buckling on the belt under Gray's jacket, andthen thrusting the revolver into a little leather pouch. "There, youare now fitted up sensibly, and no one would be the wiser. Stop amoment, you must fill your pocket with cartridges. Let me have thosethings back safe, and I hope you won't have to use them; but beingready, my lad, is half the battle. You know I'm never ill. "

"No, sergeant; you have excellent health. "

"Right, my lad, I do; and I'll tell you why: I bought the biggest box ofpills I could get before I left London. Four-and-six I gave for it, andI have never taken one. Diseases come, and they know as well as can bethat I've got that box of big pills--reg'lar boluses--in my kit; andthey say to themselves, `This man's ready for action, with his magazinewell stored!' and they go somewhere else. "

"I see, sergeant, " said Gray, smiling. "Good-bye!"

"Good-bye, my lad, good-bye. Here, nobody's looking. Sim's asleep. Shake hands, my lad, shake hands. You see, as your superior officerthat's a bit of stooping on my part; but, between man and man, I, Sergeant Lund, look up to you, Private Gray, and always feel as if weought to change places. "

"Good-bye, sergeant, " said Gray, shaking hands warmly with the sergeant, "and I echo your wish that I may not have to use the weapons; keep asharp look-out. "

"You leave that to me, private, " said the bluff sergeant, and he noddedhis head as Gray went off upon his mission. 

It was rather an awkward one, for he wished to watch Abdullah withoutexciting his attention. Gray thought, however, that he might prove amatch for the Malay, and as he wandered slowly along he began toconsider what he should do?

The first idea that suggested itself was that he should go to Dullah andsit there and eat fruit; but he discarded the idea directly as toopalpable a way of watching. He felt that the Malay would suspect himdirectly, as he was not a man who was in the habit of visiting the hut. 

No; he must have some better plan than that, but no idea struck him fora few minutes, till happening to glance at the flowing river, the notioncame, and going straight back he was soon after seen sauntering down tothe river, armed with a long bamboo, a fishing-line, and some bait, withwhich he proceeded to fish as soon as he reached the river, but havingno sport he began to grow impatient, fishing here and there, but alwaysgetting nearer to Dullah's hut, where he remained seated on the bank, fishing very perseveringly to all appearance, and occasionally landing alittle barbel-like fellow, known by the natives as _Ikan Sambilang_, orfish of nine, from the number of little barbs beneath its mouth. 

Gray fished on, never once turning his head to see what was going on atthe hut, but making the keenest use of his ears. He made out, whilelanding a fish or re-baiting his hook, that there were a couple ofsampans lying there, in which were some Malays who appeared to bebasking in the sunshine; and, soon after, his quick ears told himplainly enough that some one, whom he believed to be Dullah, wasapproaching. 

As the Malay came nearer, it was to find Gray's rod lying in the water, and the soldier, apparently overcome by the heat, sitting in a heap, with his chin down upon his chest, regardless of the fact that a littlefish was upon its hook, tugging away to get free. 

Dullah seemed about to speak to the intruder; but seeing this, herefrained, contenting himself with examining Gray closely, and thengoing slowly back. 

"That will not do to report, " thought Gray. "He saw me fishing, and hecame to see what I had caught, and then went away. I must havesomething better than that. "

However he had obtained a position whence, unsuspected, he could sit andwatch what went on at the hut; for after satisfying himself as he had, it was not likely that the Malay would trouble himself any more aboutthe presence of the private so near his place. 

So Gray sat there, apparently fast asleep, all through the afternoon. 

The night closed in as the sun went down rapidly, as is the case nearthe equator, and still Gray felt that he had nothing to report. Two menrose up once in the sampan nearest to Dullah's hut, but they appeared tolie down again amongst their fruit baskets; and Dullah himself, the lasttime Gray saw him, was seated, peacefully smoking, by his verandah. 

As it became dark, Gray ran over in his mind the positions of thevarious sentries, and thought of how soon he could get help, should heneed it; and then, after a little thought, he came to the conclusionthat he ought to make his way to the fort, and tell Captain Smithers ofhis want of success. 

Just then the glimmering of the stars in the water put an idea in hishead. He paused for a moment, as the proceeding was so risky; but onconsideration he felt that, if he carried out his plan, he would knowfor certain whether mischief was brewing. So, giving up his intentionof going back to the fort at present, he proceeded to put his plan intoexecution. 

CHAPTER FORTY ONE. 

THE VALUE OF PRIVATE SIM. 

Where Adam Gray had been seated fishing, the bank was about three feetabove the surface of the water, and this clayey bank was eitherperpendicular, or so hollowed out beneath by the action of the river, that if any one had the courage to lower himself into the water, hereabout four feet deep, and to cling to the tangled vegetation, and wadealong close to the overhanging bank, he could pass right up to Dullah'shut unperceived. 

There was danger, of course; for the stream ran swiftly, and theventuresome wader might be swept away. A crocodile, too, might belurking beneath the bank; but the business was so important that Grayresolutely set his face against the idea of danger, telling himself thatit was his duty; and leaving his rod upon the bank, he quietly loweredhimself into the river, the cold water sending a sharp shock through himas he stood, breast high, holding on by some tangled roots, while thewater pressed against him, with no little force, as it ran. 

He paused there for a few minutes listening, half fancying that he hadheard a noise, and that the slight splash he made might have been notedby Dullah or the men on the sampans; and as he listened, sure enoughthere was a dull noise, as of a blow, followed by a little rustling, andthen, just above his head, he could hear somebody breathing hard, as ifafter some exertion. 

Gray did not stir; and fortunately he was quite concealed by theoverhanging bank, as a Malay, down upon his hands and knees, leaned overthe edge and looked up and down the river. 

For the moment Gray felt that he must be seen, and his hand stoleinvoluntarily towards his breast in search of a weapon; but he was inutter darkness beneath the bank, and the man's eyes were more directedoutward. 

The result was that the Malay, who, kris in hand, had crept cautiouslyfrom Dullah's hut right up through the undergrowth and long grass, towhere he believed the Englishman to be fishing, drew cautiously back, and crept once more away. 

Gray remained motionless for a few moments, and then, convinced thatthis meant ill to him, he began to wade cautiously along towards wherethe sampans lay in the stream, some thirty yards away. 

He moved very slowly, so as to make no plash in the water, whichsometimes, as the river shallowed, came only to his waist, while atother times it nearly reached his chin; and had he not clung tightly tothe water-washed roots and depending bushes, he must have been sweptaway. 

Gray had gone about half the distance; and as he neared the sampans, whose forms he vainly tried to make out in the darkness, to his horror, he found that something was moving towards him in the water. 

Quick as lightning he drew the long keen dirk from his belt, and stoodready to thrust, for it was either a crocodile or some large animal, hefelt sure; but directly after he stood holding on by his left hand, to abunch of tangled root hanging from the bank, and felt his heart seem tostand still, for, to his surprise, he plainly made out that it was aman, wading in the opposite direction, and evidently for a similarpurpose to his own. 

It was, in fact, one of the Malays from the nearest sampan, who, while acompanion had undertaken to stalk the Englishman from the shore, as hesat there asleep, had set off from the boat, meaning to get there at thesame time as his friend, but had miscalculated the period it would take. 

He was now coming along cautiously, and had nearly reached Gray in thedarkness before he became aware of his presence. 

As soon, though, as he made out that it was the Englishman who wasbefore him, he made a lunge forward, striking at Gray with his kris; butthe latter avoided the blow and prepared to close with his antagonist, feeling as he took a step back, that the result would probably be deathfor both, for they must be swept away by the swift stream. 

Just then the Malay seemed to leap at him, but at the same moment heuttered a smothered cry, which was silenced directly by the rushingwater, and Gray found that he was alone. 

He needed no telling that one of the loathsome reptiles of the river hadbeen close at hand, and had seized his enemy; his wonder was that hehimself had not been the victim. 

It was enough to paralyse the bravest heart, and for a few minutes Grayclung to the roots of the tree beside him, feeling sick and giddy, andas if some reptile was only waiting for his next movement to drag himdown. 

It was fortunate for him that he did not stir, for the Malay's cry hadalarmed his companions, who could be heard talking quickly and inwhispers, close at hand. 

At first it seemed to Gray that they were coming to the help of theirunfortunate companion, but this did not prove to be the case. They knewwhat had happened, from old experience, and accepted the accident as oneof the misfortunes to which they were heirs, troubling themselves nomore about the matter. 

Recovering himself somewhat, but feeling all the time that any moment hemight be seized, Gray crept once more slowly along, till he stood withthe water nearly to his shoulders, beneath the overhanging bank, byDullah's hut, and between it and the two sampans. 

The place was admirably suited for concealment, for now little more thanhis head was above water, and that he had contrived should lie behind ascreen of drooping verdure, which made his chilly hiding-place so darkthat he could not have been seen twelve inches away. 

Having escaped from the reptiles so far, he felt more hopeful; and as hestood there, behind his screen, he began to try and make his positionvaluable. 

He had not long to wait for this. In less than a minute, a voice, thathe took for Abdullah's, was whispering to some one on the river, and asampan came so close in to the bank that had he stretched out his handhe could have touched the side. 

It was a grief to him that he was not thoroughly conversant with theMalay tongue, but he had picked up a good deal, and had mastered asufficiency to catch the import of the words he heard. 

The principal was an order that the _orang_ should come ashore, theorder being given by Dullah. 

What was the _orang_?

He puzzled for a few moments, as the sampan pushed off. _Orang-outang_!Was this after all a trading visit, and they were going to bring somegreat monkey ashore. 

_Orang-outang_--man of the woods, of course. _Orang_ meant man or men, and the men were to land. There was danger then, and men were to land. That was enough, and now he would go and give warning; but he could notmove without being heard, and he had to remain listening, as there wasthe faint beat of oars, and then, though he could hardly see them, twolong row-boats of great size seemed to come up out of the darkness, andhe felt more than saw that they were full of men. 

What was the sentry about? There was one so near that he ought to haveseen or heard their coming, and Gray listened eagerly for the report ofhis piece giving the alarm. 

But no report came, for the sentry had not heard. He had not beenkrissed, but as far as giving alarm was concerned he might have beendead; for the sentry close at hand was Private Sim, and he was fastasleep. 

CHAPTER FORTY TWO. 

WHY DULLAH CAME TO THE ISLE. 

Every moment that passed was more convincing to Adam Gray that Dullahwas a traitor, and at the head of affairs for making a descent upon theisland. In place of two long row-boats, each carrying some fifty orsixty men, it was evident now that there were four, and they were beingcautiously forced up to the landing-place, where, under the orders ofDullah, several men ashore were ready to make them fast. 

Directly after, coming like a revelation, Gray learned what a snake theyhad had concealed in the grass at the jungle-station; for as helistened, intently watching the while for an opportunity to escape, heheard Dullah's voice, and then those of his men addressing him as rajah. Directly after he heard a voice on one of the large boats asking forRajah Gantang, which was replied to by Dullah. 

There was the secret then of this man's presence on the island. It wasRajah Gantang himself who had come among them, to seek his opportunityfor overthrowing the English, and now his opportunity had come. 

Gray ground his teeth with rage at his impotence, and he tried to getaway unperceived, as it became evident that the nearest sentry heardnothing. Still at any moment there might come the warning shot from hisrifle; for though everything was very plain to him, hidden in the midstof the Malays, it was quite horrible that not a sound might reach themost attentive of sentries, especially as every word was spoken in awhisper. 

It seemed impossible to get away without discovery. The slightestmovement would have made his presence known, so closely had the boatscome in. 

Still no alarm was raised. 

Then Gray began hoping that Captain Smithers or Ensign Long might begoing the rounds, and his dread was lest they should fall into sometrap. It was for him, then, to warn them, but how?

The water was very cold, and seemed to Gray to be the cause of the chillthat struck to his heart as he stood there wondering, and listened towhat was evidently a rapid debarkation. 

Suddenly, as in imagination, he saw these merciless men gaining an entryto the fort and massacring all there, he recalled the fact that hepossessed a pistol. A shot or two from that would give alarm to thesentries. 

And bring certain death upon himself!

Well, he thought, as he paused for a few moments, why not? If he, bygiving up his life could save those at the fort--his officers, comrades, the ladies, and the rest, ought he to hesitate--would he be doing morethan his duty?

It was a hard struggle. Life was very sweet, and he had but to remainperfectly still, to escape. Did he move, a dozen spears and krisseswould be at his breast directly. 

He smiled as he told himself he was not hesitating, but that all hewished to do was his duty; and without a moment's hesitation he drew thelittle revolver from its pouch, held it out as high as he could, anddrew the trigger. 

For answer there came a sharp click, and he knew that the water haddamaged the cartridge. 

He tried again, with no other result than the noise of the fall of thehammer; and then Dullah's, or Rajah Gantang's, voice was heard in areproving tone as he bade his men be silent. 

Gray tried again, but for the third time the cartridges, soaked as theywere by being under water so long, refused to go off. But at his fifthand sixth pulls there were a couple of lines of light, and Gray feltastonished as he heard how loud were the reports the little weapon made. 

For with a couple of bright flashes that seemed to the astonished Malaysto come out of the surface of the river, there were as many echoingreports, and as they rang out they were answered by sentry after sentryabout the island, the last shot being fired by Private Sim, close athand, after which he ran for his life. 

There was a sharp keen order at this, and the boats' heads were forcedup to the bank, one of their prows crushing right in upon Gray even totouching him, but saving his life for the moment, as it concealed hisposition from the enemies, who were vainly trying to make out in thedarkness who had given the alarm. 

Gray had not a moment to lose; already spears were being thrust beneaththe bank to right and left of him. His only chance was to dive rightbeneath the keel of the nearest boat and swim down the river for hislife. 

He did not pause to think of the risk--the alarm had been given, and hehad the satisfaction of knowing that every one would be on the alert--ashe dived down, passed beneath the keel of the first boat, and thenbeneath the next, keeping under water all he could till he was fiftyyards or so from the nearest prahu, when he struck out for the shore. 

The current ran very strong where he now was, and soon took him beyondreach of pursuit; but it had its disadvantages, for as he swam he feltthat if he did not use every effort he would be swept right down theriver. And now, too, came the dread of the crocodiles, and he swam on, expecting each moment to feel the teeth of one of the monsters, and tobe snatched down into the depths of the river to a horrible death. 

Meanwhile, shots were being fired on the island; he heard drum and buglecalling to the muster, and relieved of the fear that Captain Smitherswould be surprised, he fought on manfully with the swift stream. 

His efforts seemed in vain, for though he had contrived to get prettyclose to the shore, the current ran so strong that he saw himself sweptby the dark line of trees and into the stream below. 

His only hope now seemed to be to make for the steamer, whose lights hecould see below him; but involuntarily almost he turned and made a fresheffort to reach the island, when, to his great delight, he found himselfin a strong eddy, and after five minutes' swimming he was able to catchat the overhanging branches of a tree and draw himself up close to themuddy bank, where he remained, panting for a few minutes, longing todraw himself out on to dry land, but too weak and exhausted, halfparalysed too, as he thought of how the great reptiles had their hauntsin the hollows beneath the river's banks. 

At last, though, his heart beat less painfully, and he gently reached upone hand above the other, made a strong effort, and then lay pantingbeneath the trees, with the water running from him in a stream. 

Safe from the water and the creatures that haunted the river, he had yetto thread his way through the ranks of human tigers who were nowswarming about the island, as he could tell by the flashes and reportsof the rifles that were being fired on either side. 

He lay there for quite ten minutes, thinking of what would be his bestplan to pursue, for he had a double peril to encounter--namely, thespears of the Malays, and the bullets of his comrades, who would becertain to fire at any one they saw approaching. Still nothingpresented itself to his mind, and he at last began to move cautiouslyforward towards the little fort. 

As he went on through the dense growth with which this part of theisland was covered, he became aware that the Malays were making quite afurious attack upon the place, while it was just as evident that theywere encountering a serious resistance. To his great delight now thefield-piece began to speak, and he had seen the rocket go up, as asignal to the ship, the bright stars lighting up the patch of junglewhere he lay to such an extent that he shrank close down beneath someshrubs, lest he should form a mark for the spear of some Malay. 

Going so slowly and cautiously, it took him some time to get near thelines, and then he had to pause, for the flashes and reports of therifles showed him where his enemies were lying, and twice over he nearlywalked into the midst of a little group hiding amidst the trees. 

He had taken the precaution of reloading the little revolver, though allthe time feeling greatly in doubt as to whether the cartridges were notspoiled; and consequently he relied most of all upon his dirk, though hefelt that his only chance would be to steal through the Malays, and thenmake a bold dash for the gate, shouting the password as he ran. 

He was compelled to crawl as he drew near, for the bullets whistledthrough the trees, cutting off leaf and twig, and searching the jungle, as it were, for the enemy, who seemed all around him; for, go which wayhe would, there was always a party close at hand. 

At last, though, he crawled behind some trees, with only an open spacebetween him and the fort. He was waiting his opportunity; and themoment a sharp, scattered burst of firing was over, he rose and ran forhis life. 

CHAPTER FORTY THREE. 

TOM LONG HEADS A SALLY-PARTY. 

As Adam Gray ran through the darkness, a yell arose from behind him, telling him that his act had been seen, and, as if to prevent him, half-a-dozen spears came whizzing through the air, one of them so closethat it grazed his arm; while, to make matters worse, the firingrecommenced from the fort. 

By dint of shouting strongly he made himself known, and the firingceased, giving him time to run up to the breast-work, and then along itto the gateway, now doubly shut; but after a little parley he wasadmitted, and found himself in the presence of Captain Smithers andEnsign Long. 

"Ah, Gray!" exclaimed the former, "I had given you up. Were those yourshots that gave the alarm?"

Gray said they were, and in a few concise words told what he had seen. 

"Yes, " said Captain Smithers, "we are in for it; but our friends have atougher job than they imagined. "

During the next half-hour, while they were keeping the enemy at bay, they became aware of the fact that an engagement was going on betweenthe steamer and some enemy unseen by them, though they immediately setit down as being with boats. The return signal had been seen, and therewas no little comfort in the knowledge that the occupants of the steamerwere at hand to co-operate with and help them, though they littlethought of how soon the vessel would be rendered almost helpless. 

With the daylight, which was most gladly welcomed, came the news thatthe corvette was ashore; and on Captain Smithers turning round to speakto Ensign Long, he found that young gentleman slapping his legs, bendingdown with laughter, and altogether behaving in an exceedingly indecorousmanner for an officer and a gentleman. 

"Why, Long!" exclaimed Captain Smithers, "what does this mean?"

Tom Long flushed up as red as a turkey-cock, and looked at his superiorofficer in the most shame-faced way. 

"I--I--I--" he began. 

"Why, I believe you were delighted to hear that the steamer wasaground. "

"Well, no, sir; not that the steamer is aground, " said Tom. "I--I--wasnot sorry, though, that Roberts had made a mess of it. He is sobounceable, sir. "

"I'm ashamed of you, Long!" said Captain Smithers severely. "This is notime for silly, boyish spite. Take ten men, and make your way down towithin hailing distance of the vessel, and ask what they mean to do--hold the corvette, or come and take their chance with us? At once, sir, and act like a man. "

Tom Long saluted, and getting Sergeant Lund and nine men, made his wayout of the little sally-port, and led them along at the double, beneaththe shelter of the fire from the fort, till they were opposite the densegrove of trees which lay between them and the steamer. 

It was an awkward and a dangerous task, for not only was the piece offorest growth swarming with enemies, but from time to time a shot or twofrom the marines on board the vessel came whistling through the trees. 

But Tom Long was smarting from his rebuke. He wanted to act like a man, and at heart he knew he had been behaving like a boy of a very pettydisposition, so, with Captain Smithers' words yet ringing in his ears, he formed up his men, gave the word, and in skirmishing order theydashed through the trees, sending the Malays, after they had thrown afew spears, helter-skelter to right and left, save a few who were drivenout in sight of the men on board the steamer, when a few shots sent themoff into cover. 

"Phew!" ejaculated Sergeant Lund, taking off his cap to wipe his wetforehead, and gazing admiringly at the ensign. "That's warm work, sir. "And then he glanced at the men, who were delighted with what theycalled the ensign's pluck. 

"Warm? yes, sergeant. Quick! some of you fire at those niggers; theyare coming back. "

A little volley at half-a-dozen Malays, who were showing menacingly ontheir left, sent them to the right-about, and then the men cheered, their cheer being answered from the steamer, which was only about thirtyor forty yards from the shore. 

"Ensign Long, ahoy!" cried Bob Roberts, leaping on to the bulwarks. "What cheer?"

"If you mean how are we getting on, and are we all safe, why don't yousay so?" cried the ensign sharply. 

"All right, sir. I'll write you a memorandum and a report, " said BobRoberts. "Now then, how are you?"

"Captain Smithers wants to know whether you are coming ashore or goingto stay on board. "

"Stay on board, Mr Long, " said the lieutenant, who had come up. "Areyou all well?"

"Yes, sir, all well. "

"None wounded?"

"No, sir, not one as yet. "

"Tell Captain Smithers that my duty is to stay here with the steamer;but if he is hard pressed I will either send him a party of sailors andmarines, or else we will cover his retreat with his gun, if he will comeand take refuge on board. "

"Captain Smithers cannot leave his entrenched position, sir, " said TomLong stiffly; "but we can find room for you and your crew, if they liketo come. "

Tom Long said this so importantly that Bob Roberts began to laugh; andno doubt some sharp bandying about of words would have followed, had notLieutenant Johnson said rather sternly, --

"Tell Captain Smithers, Mr Long, that a rocket sent up by night, orthree calls of the bugle given sharply without any perceptible interval, will bring help from us; but ask him if any steps can be taken to helpthe expedition. "

"Captain Smithers is of opinion, sir, that the expeditionary party isstrong enough to take care of itself, and that it is our duty to--Oh!"

Tom Long blushed for it afterwards; but a well-thrown spear came soclose to his ear that he could not avoid an involuntary cry. The nextminute his little party were under cover of some trees, and slowlydriving back a body of Malays, who, however, would have out-flankedthem, but for a brisk fire kept up on them from the steamer, when theydisappeared once more into the jungle, with which this part of theisland was overgrown. When after a few more words with the occupants ofthe steamer, during which Lieutenant Johnson impressed upon the ensignthat the best thing to be done was to act entirely on the defensive, thelittle sally-party started to return, the lieutenant promising to do allhe could to cover their retreat. 

The distance was not great, but full of peril; for the minute the Malayscomprehended that Tom Long's party were going back, they began to swarmout of their lurking-places, and it now became evident that hundreds offighting men must have landed on the island. 

"Well, sir, " said Sergeant Lund, wiping his face, as, after gettingabout half-way back, the little party found themselves hedged up in alittle gully by Malay spears, whose holders kept themselves hiddenbehind the trees, --"well, sir, this is hot, and no mistake. "

"Yes, " said Tom Long, excitedly; "but be careful, my lads, don't waste ashot; you must be getting short. "

"They've only about six rounds each, sir, now, " said the sergeant; "butthey've got the bayonets. "

"Yes, " said Tom, as he stood sword in one hand, revolver in the other;"but we mustn't let them get at us with their spears. I can't leave aman behind, sergeant. "

"Then we'd better stop as we are for a few minutes, and get breath, sir, and then see which is the best way to go. "

The sergeant hurried to a couple of the men who were exposing themselvesa little too freely, and then returned to Tom Long, who was standing inthe middle of two sides of a triangle composed of four men a side, andanother forming the apex. 

"I'd make a dash for it, sergeant, " said the ensign, "only I should besure to lose some of the boys; while if we stop here we shall getspeared. It's a puzzle, isn't it? I say, I don't feel half so--so--"

"Scared, sir?"

"Well, yes; I didn't like to say frightened, sergeant, " replied Tom, smiling, "because it sounds so queer. "

"Ah, sir, you might say anything now before the lads, they wouldn'tmind; and after the plucky way you led us on, they'd follow youanywhere. But hadn't we better let the enemy have a few shot, sir?They're closing in fast. "

Tom Long was about to give the order for which his men were anxiouslywaiting, when he became aware of something going on in a clump of palmsabout forty yards away. 

"What are they doing there, sergeant?" he said. "Look!"

"Getting ready for a rush, sir. Hadn't we better form square?"

"No; only close up a little, " said Tom, sharply, as he set his teeth;for he knew that they were on the brink of a hand-to-hand encounter. 

For though pretty well screened by the trees, it was evident that alarge party of the Malays were getting ready for a rush, when _bang--crash_, there was the report of a gun from the steamer, followed almostinstantly by the bursting of a shell in the very thick of the treeswhere the Malays had gathered, with the result that there was quite anopening rent in that part of the jungle, and the threatening party wasscattered like chaff. 

"That's what I calls the prettiest shot I ever see, " said one of themen. 

"Forward!" shouted Tom Long, and taking advantage of the momentarypanic, he hurried his little party on at the double, with the resultthat by the time the Malays again menaced an attack, the sally-partywere under cover of the guns at the fort, and a few minutes later, amidst the cheers of those they had left behind, Tom Long led his littleparty within the gates, not a man amongst them having received ascratch. 

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. 

HOW CAPTAIN SMITHERS MADE PLANS. 

There was plenty to do to make the little fort secure, and well the menworked. Double their number would not have been too strong a garrison, for the Malays mustered thickly now on all sides, save that nearest theship, whose heavy guns had taught them the risk of making any display oftheir presence. 

Captain Smithers would have gladly joined forces with LieutenantJohnson, but he was not surprised at his reply, and he could onlycondole with him in respect to the accident that had occurred to thesteamer, one which would partly place it _hors de combat_ until someflood should cause a rise in the water of the river. 

The men vied with each other in executing the orders that were given, and in a short time the mess-room and quarters were so strengthened thatonce within, the men felt that the only enemy they had to fear was fire, and that they hoped to avoid by means of their rifles, and, if needs be, their bayonets. 

It was a terrible time for the women, many of whom had husbands with theexpedition; but knowing as they did that the major's lady was in thesame position as themselves, they tried hard to follow her calm andpatient example. 

It was only an outward calm though, for poor Mrs Major Sandars wassuffering keenly, though she tried hard and successfully to speak wordsof comfort to Rachel Linton and her cousin, both of whom went about withher, talking to the soldiers' wives, and trying to amuse the children, who at times grew impatient at being forced to keep inside the walls ofthe barracks, the outer enclosure having been long declared unsafe. 

Captain Smithers had sought the ladies, and spoken a few words ofencouragement to them, gazing very hard at Miss Linton as he said, --

"You may rely upon us, Miss Linton. I would lay down my life soonerthan harm should befall you. "

"I am quite satisfied of that, Captain Smithers, " said the lady, quietly. "I believe that of the meanest man here. In the meantime, Ipresume that you would like us all to keep within the walls. "

"Yes, if you please, Miss Linton, " said the young officer, coldly; andthen, as he walked away, he muttered, "Yes, she believes that of themeanest soldier, and thinks as much of him as of me. "

He walked across the open space to the lines where the men were placed, the intention being to hold them for the time, and if hard pressed, toretire within the barracks and there make their stand. 

As he went to the nearest point a bullet whizzed by him, sufficientlynear to show him that the Malays had not only good weapons among them, but men who could shoot straight; and he frowned as he felt that theirchance would be but small if under some clever leader the Malays shouldmake a bold effort to take the place. 

On reaching the earth-works that surrounded the enclosure, every man wasin his place, silent and watchful. The order had been given that no onewas to fire except to check an advance, for though ammunition wasabundant, Captain Smithers felt that it was impossible to tell how longthey might be besieged, so he determined to economise as much aspossible. Consequently, firing from the fort was only at intervals, andas the Malays relied principally upon their spears, the ball was notkept up with anything like vigour; but, all the same, certain movementson the part of the enemy warned the temporary commandant to be careful, as it would be craft, more than open assault, with which he would haveto deal. 

After completing his round and saying a few words to the men, he stoodthinking on the side nearest the river, from which he was only separatedby a space of about forty yards, and he could not help thinking howtheir position would be strengthened if the steamer could be got off andmoored here, a trench being opened from stem and stern to connect itwith the fort. This would be giving the latter a most powerful riverfront. Dullah's hut, which stood there, could easily be razed, and heknew that the water was deeper there than at any part of the river--quite sufficient to float the steamer. 

It seemed a risky thing to do--to send again; but he felt that he oughtto apprise Lieutenant Johnson of his ideas, and to request him to useevery effort to get the steamer off. 

"As if he would not do that for his own sake, " he muttered directlyafter; and then he began to consider whom he should send. 

Adam Gray immediately suggested himself to his mind, and his browknitted as he felt that it was like trying to get rid of a man hedisliked. 

"He is the most trustworthy, and the best suited for the task, " he saiddirectly; and as the words left his lips he raised his eyes, and saw theobject of his thoughts come with a dozen more men to relieve the partynearer him. 

"Fall out, Gray, " he said sharply; and Gray looked at him curiously ashe stepped back out of the ranks. 

"I want a message conveyed on board the steamer, Gray, " said CaptainSmithers. "She lies about fifty yards off the other side of the island, aground on the mud. Do you think you can reach her?"

"I shall do my best, sir, " said Gray, quietly. "If I do not succeed, you will know it is because I am down. "

"But you must not go down, Gray, " said Captain Smithers, hastily. "Youcannot be spared. This is a most important duty, and that is why I sendyou. "

The private's eyes were fixed on those of his captain most searchingly, and the latter lowered his own before those of his inferior. 

"I shall give you no written message, for fear that you may be taken, Gray, " said Captain Smithers, hastily. "Take this verbal message, `Captain Smithers begs, for the sake of all, that Lieutenant Johnsonwill strive to get the steamer off, and bring her round here, to moorher close up to the bank, alongside of Dullah's hut. ' Do youunderstand?"

"Yes, sir, " said Gray, and he repeated the words. 

"That will do. Now go. "

"At once, sir?"

"At once. "

Gray saluted, and with his teeth pressing his lip started off uponanother risky mission. 

He met Ensign Long as he went back to the quarters, and on beingquestioned, he questioned in return, and obtained a few particulars, enough to make him determine to make his way up towards the head of theisland, and there swim off, to try and get himself swept down to thesteamer, hoping to be seen and get on board without mishap, and in thisspirit, arming himself once more as on his former expedition, he setoff. 

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. 

THROUGH FIRE AND WATER. 

Private Gray was conscious that the ladies saw him start, and their eyesbade him succeed, or else it was his fancy. At all events the knowledgethat he had their sympathy encouraged him, at a time when his heart wassore with the knowledge that Captain Smithers was selecting him forevery dangerous service, as if to get rid of him. 

Sergeant Lund nodded sagely, on receiving the application for therevolver. 

"All right, my lad, " he said quietly. "I suppose I mustn't grumble atyou for making it so rusty last time. "

"No, sergeant; nor yet if I make it worse this time. "

"Another risky journey then, eh? No, don't tell me, my lad. Go and doyour duty; I'm not going to pump you. "

"I know that, sergeant, but it is no breach of confidence to ask youradvice. "

"'Course not, my lad. There you are; fix 'em in tight. Now then, whatis it? I'm good at some things, so long as you don't ask me to put 'emdown in writing. "

"If you wished to get to the steamer, sergeant, how would you proceed?"

"Oh, that's it, is it?" said the sergeant. "Well then, you've got arisky job, my lad. But you'll do it. Well, if it was me I should waittill night, if I could. "

"And if you could not?"

"I should go just t'other way, to throw the Malay chaps off their scent. Then work round to the head of the island, slip into the water, andswim down. "

"Exactly, sergeant, " said Gray; and he turned off to go. 

"He's as clever a young chap as ever I run against, " said the sergeant, who, like a good many more people, fervently admired those who thoughtthe same as he. "But what puzzles me more and more every day is howsuch a chap as him should come to be a common soldier. He's agentleman, every inch of him. Why, didn't they get him to talk to theFrench officers when we landed at Ceylon, and the French frigate wasthere? and my word, how he did jabber away! He might have been a realmounseer. Well, 'taint no business of mine; so long as he gets hisaccoutrements clean, and a good coating of pipeclay on his belts, that'senough for me. I only wish there was more Grays and not so many Sims inthe company. "

Meanwhile Adam Gray was on his way to the far side of the fort, veryquiet and thoughtful as he made his plans, the first part of which wasto go quietly to the edge of the earthwork, wait for his opportunity, and drop into the dry ditch, from which he hoped to crawl unperceived tothe cover of the trees, about a hundred yards away. The rest, he felt, must be left to chance. 

As he reached the side he met Ensign Long, who came up to him, and tohis great surprise shook hands. 

"Captain Smithers has told me of your mission, Gray, " he said; "I wishyou every success. "

"But you don't think, sir, that I shall succeed, and this is a friendlygood-bye, " said Gray, smiling. 

"Well I--that is--I--'pon my word, Gray, you just hit what I wasthinking about. You see I had such a narrow escape of it myself, that Icouldn't help thinking of something of the kind. "

"You tried it openly, sir; I'm going to try and steal a march upon theMalays. "

"What, are you going over here?" said the ensign. 

"Yes, sir, and there's a good opening now, " said Gray, after a sharplook round. "Good-bye, sir; wish me luck. "

As he spoke he glided as it were over the edge of the earthwork, and lethimself roll into the ditch, whence he made his way to the edge on theother side, Ensign Long bidding the two nearest men cover the messengerwith their rifles as long as he was in sight. 

That was not for long, Gray crawling rapidly over the ground; and asthose who watched scanned every shrub and tree for an enemy, they sawhim reach the edge of the jungle and disappear. 

It was into no haven of safety though that Gray had passed, for he hadnot gone twenty yards into the shadowy gloom, which was comparativelycool after the scorching sunshine in the opening that had been clearedof trees, before he heard voices on his left, and he had barely time tocrouch down among the long grass before half-a-dozen Malays came along, one of whom saw the pressed down undergrowth and began to examine itcuriously. 

Another moment and he would have seen Gray, whose hand was thrust intohis breast, but a word from one of his companions took off hisattention, and he disappeared with them amongst the trees. 

Gray drew a long breath as he once more started off, creeping on allfours, and at times crawling, so as to make sure of being unseen. 

His journey of about half a mile, measured by his twisting and turning, was one series of hairbreadth escapes. A dozen times over he had toturn and come back over almost precisely the same ground to avoid aparty of Malays, who seemed ready to spring out of the earth on allsides of him, but still, thanks to the thick growth, he was unseen. Such a journey on their first landing would have been impossible, but asthe men were hardly ever allowed to go on the mainland, they had, by wayof compensation, pretty free access to the jungle portion of the littleisland, and in consequence they had trampled down the dense vegetation, and forced paths here and there through the cane brakes when snakehunting. 

At last, dripping with perspiration, Gray reached the head of theisland, and lay half exhausted in a dense clump of canes, listening tothe washing of the river as its waters divided, a dozen or so of pacesfrom where he lay. 

He could not see the river on account of the thick growth, but itsounded very cool and pleasant; and now, having won his way thus far, helonged for the plunge and swim down to the steamer. 

He reckoned that a minute's law would place him beyond the reach ofspears, however ably thrown; and as to the enemy's rifles or muskets, hedid not think they would be able to hit him as he swam with the rapidstream. Still he did not move, for he was so heated by his exertionsthat he dreaded risking cramp or shock from the sudden immersion. 

Everything was so still in the hot afternoon sunshine, that the whirringnoise of the insects seemed quite loud. Beautiful blue-billed gapers, all claret and black and white, flitted about, catching glossymetallic-looking beetles; little green chatterers, with their crestedheads, flew from spray to spray; and tiny sun-birds, in their gorgeousmail of gold and bronze and purple, flew from flower to flower in searchof honey. Now and then a scaly glistening lizard rustled by him, andtwice over a snake crawled right across his body and away into thegrass. Then a flock of the little lovebird paroquets came and settledin a tree hard by, piping, whistling, and chattering as they climbed andswung head downwards, or flew here and there; while upon some bushesclose at hand sat a pair of the lovely rose-breasted trogons, with theirgrey reticulated wings and beautiful cinnamon backs. 

It was a glorious scene for a lover of nature, so delicate were the manytints of green, so pure the sky above; while to add to the beauty of theplace a flock of rose-tinted doves settled in the palms, and cooed asmellowly as if this were in some park in the young soldier's far-offhome. 

So lovely was everything around that Gray closed his eyes, and was readyto ask himself whether the idea of danger was not all a dream, and thatit was but fancy, to suppose that bloodthirsty men were swarming in theisland, ready to slaughter the inhabitants to a man. 

The sharp crack of a rifle, and then of half a dozen more, dissipatedthe dream, and with a sigh as he thought of the danger of those at thestation, Gray unclosed his eyes, rose to his hands and knees from wherehe had been lying, and began to force his way softly amidst the canes. 

It was no easy task till he came to a track, evidently that made by acrocodile in coming and going from the river. He paused for a moment, shuddering as he thought of his danger; then drawing the dirk, ready fora blow at the monster's eyes, should he encounter one, he crawled on, reached the water's edge in safety, parting the canes to peer up anddown the river in search of danger, and seeing none. 

From where he crouched the steamer was not visible, but he knew that alittle bold swimming would soon show her lying below; and, all the whilefeeling very much like as if he were a frog about to plunge into astream haunted by pike, he lowered himself towards the water, gazed fora moment into its depths, and then plunged in. 

Down he went into the clear, cool stream, striking out so as to get wellaway from the bank as he did so, and then rising to the surface, to see, to his horror, that a good-sized boat, that had lain hidden amidst thereeds, was being pushed out, and with seven or eight occupants wascoming in pursuit. 

What was he to do? seek the shore again and take refuge in the jungle?

That seemed impossible; for he had plunged in so close to the boat, thathe would have been speared long before he could reach the place he hadleft, even if he had been able to swim against the stream. 

Then, to his horror, he saw that the banks were perpendicular or elseoverhanging, and any attempt at climbing them from the water must havefailed; for, as far as he could see, where he was being swept down not atree laved an overhanging branch in the swift stream. There was onlyone course open to him, and that was to trust to the river, and swim forhis life. 

He had been taking this as his only chance as the above thoughts flashedthrough his brain; and now came in the value of his old school-dayexperience, when he had been one of the bravest swimmers of his age. Infact, as he swam on, recollections of the old alder and willow ait inthe clear river came back, and he smiled as he turned upon his side andforced his way through the sparkling waters. 

The position as he made the side-stroke was convenient, though notinspiriting; for as his cheek lay on the stream he could keep one eyeupon his pursuers, who were now coming rapidly on. Fortunately forGray, in their hurry and excitement the Malays had lost ground, so thatthe young soldier had a fair start before they bent regularly to theirpaddles. He could see, though, that a couple of men were standingupright in the boat, each with a foot upon the gunwale, and a spearpoised in one hand, ready for hurling at the fugitive when withinthrowing distance. 

Gray swam swiftly, but he saw that it was hopeless, and that he mustsoon be overtaken and perish. Still he did not despair, for his careerhad before now seemed as near its end. _Nil desperandum_ was the mottoof his life, and like some hunted hare he kept his eye upon hispursuers, meaning to try and dive the moment he saw an effort made tohurl a spear. 

He might perhaps escape by diving. At all events, it was his onlychance, and he swam on, with the boat now rapidly getting near. 

Perhaps, he thought, they might not throw, but wait to thrust at him. If so, that would give him longer time; but no, there was no chance ofthat, for now he saw one of the Malays poise his spear, and draw himselfback, to throw it with all his force. 

Gray saw no more, but with a shuddering sensation, as he seemed to feelthe deadly weapon pierce him between the shoulders, he made a tremendouseffort, and dived down, swimming beneath the surface with all his might, till compelled to rise for breath. 

As his head appeared above water a spear grazed his shoulder, andanother passed just over his ear when he dived again, still pursuing thesame tactics, and swimming beneath the surface. 

Again he rose, and another spear splashed the water in his face, whilethe shaft of the next struck him a sharp rap, as the blade narrowlyshaved his ear. 

Down once more; but now he was weaker. The intense excitement and theneed of breath exhausted him, and though he strove hard to keep down, his efforts began to prove vain. He had seen, the last time, that theboat was closer to him, and he felt sure that now on rising he should bewithin reach of one or other of the spearmen. 

Still he made another effort to keep below, for though he wassuffocating, and began to feel confused, weak, and helpless, thesemoments were moments of life, whereas the instant he reached the surfacehe knew that all was over. 

In his confused, sense-benumbed state, he felt that after all he haddone his duty, and he recalled the calm, trusting look directed at himby Miss Linton as he passed her that morning. Then the water above himgrew lighter, and he rose to the surface, striking out but feebly now, as he saw the boat close at hand, heard a shout from the Malays, and sawone of the men in the bow lean over to thrust his spear into thehelpless swimmer, now almost at his feet. 

CHAPTER FORTY SIX. 

SHOWS HOW BOB ROBERTS GAVE A HINT, AND THE MALAYS GOT INTO HOT WATER. 

Hunter and hunted had been alike too much occupied to note what had beengoing on elsewhere. Gray's anxious gaze when he rose to the surface hadbeen directed backward at his pursuers, and for the time being thesteamer and her occupants were forgotten. On the other hand, theMalays, keen on the scent of blood, intently watched the place wheretheir quarry dived, and calculated where he would rise. 

So it was then that just as one of the men in the prow of the boat wasabout to savagely stab the nerveless swimmer, whose glazing eye met hiswith more of defiance than menace therein, there was a rattling volleyfrom half-a-dozen rifles, the two spearmen fell over the side, to beswept away by the stream, and their companions, on starting up andseeing one of the steamer's cutters coming rapidly on, to a man leapedoverboard and swam for their lives, some making for the island, some forthe opposite shore. 

Adam Gray was so exhausted and surprised that it was some time before herealised that the danger was past, but that, unless he made a fresheffort, a new peril would await him, and he would lose his life bydrowning. 

Just then, though, the Malay boat was swept close to him, and he threwone arm over the side, holding on till he was dragged into the cutter, which was then rowed rapidly back to the steamer. 

"That was a narrow squeak for you, Mr Soldier, " said Bob Roberts. "Mymarines only spoke up just in time. "

"I cannot find words to thank you now, sir, " panted Gray, who was palewith exhaustion. 

"All right!" said Bob; "and don't find any words to thank me by-and-by. I'm glad we were in time. You'd have done as much for any of us, myman. "

"Of course, sir; of course, " said Gray, huskily. 

"Yes, of course you would; but how came you in the river?"

"I was swimming off with a message to Lieutenant Johnson, sir, " repliedGray. 

"Then if I were you I wouldn't go such a long way round next time, " saidBob. "Steady there, marines. Let them see you cover them, and they'llrush off behind the trees. "

This was in regard to some Malays who were showing themselves menacinglyon the edge of the river; but the moment they saw that the marines'rifles were directed at them they ran to cover, and the cutter was soonalongside of the steamer, the falls were hooked on, and the boat swungby the davits, her mission being at an end. 

Two anchors had been carried some distance out, steam got up, and withthe screw going at high pressure and men at work at the capstan, everyeffort was being made to get the vessel out of her unpleasant position, but in vain. 

Lieutenant Johnson heard the message brought by Gray, and then pointedto what was being done. 

"I am making every effort, " he said rather angrily. "Does CaptainSmithers think I want to stay in this disgraceful position? You cantell him, though, that if I can get free I shall divide my time betweenchasing these rascally prahus and lying where he suggests. "

The efforts went on, the men hauling and straining on the anchors, andthe steam going furiously, but all in vain; the vessel would not move. 

Then another plan was tried; all the ship's company were sent to oneside of the bulwarks, and then run across to the other, to give aswaying motion to the vessel, so as to loosen the keel in the deep mud;but though the careening was effected, the steamer could not be moved, either ahead or astern. 

Then the last plan was tried again, with the addition of the guns beingrun all over to the port-side, but still there was no change; andLieutenant Johnson's brow knit with annoyance as he more fully realisedthe fact that they would be lying in that helpless position when thecaptain returned. 

"The disgrace is enough to kill me, Roberts, " he exclaimed. 

"Let's set every sail, sir, " said the middy; "there's a nice breezecoming down the river now, and that may send her over nearly upon herbeam-ends. "

"Yes!" exclaimed the lieutenant eagerly; and the order being given, themen ran up aloft, and sail after sail was lowered, Ali standing withfolded arms watching the proceedings, and then turning to lean upon thebulwark and gaze down the river. 

Just then Adam Gray saluted the lieutenant. 

"Will you be good enough to have me set ashore now, sir?"

"Set you ashore, my man?" replied Lieutenant Johnson, "Why, you hadbetter wait till night. "

"I ought to get back with your message, sir. "

"Wait a little while, and perhaps I can run you round to the other sideof the island. "

Gray, now that he had somewhat recovered, was eager to get back, but hecould not quit the ship without the lieutenant's consent, and hence hewaited patiently for the required permission, watching the steamer'ssails drop down one by one, and fill and flap as the breeze rose andfell. 

Now and then a dusky face could be seen amidst the palm-trees watchingtheir proceedings, but it disappeared directly, and the clothing of thevessel with canvas went on without interruption, till pretty well everystitch was set save a studding-sail or two. Then a puff of hot aircame, and the steamer bent well over, the sails being so trimmed thatthe vessel's course would have been astern had she shown any dispositionto move; but though the steam was on full, and the men brought thecapstan to bear on the cables, she did not budge an inch. 

"Here, my lads, back with these guns, " said the lieutenant; and for thenext half-hour the men were busy replacing the heavy guns, when Ali, whosince his escape had been remaining in sanctuary upon the steamer, suddenly gave the alarm. 

"A prahu coming down, " he exclaimed, running to the lieutenant andcatching his arm, pointing out as he did so something moving round areach of the river, and seen now and then where the growth was thin. 

"Two prahus coming up stream, " reported one of the look-out men. 

"Look! look!" cried Ali, pointing up the river. "There is another--twomore. They are coming to take the steamer, " he cried. 

"And we aground!" exclaimed the lieutenant, stamping his foot with rageas he gave the necessary orders. The drum beat to quarters directly;the magazine was opened; and the men ran eagerly to their posts; whileAli went quietly into the cabin, and returned with a sword, revolver, and a spotting rifle, lent him by the lieutenant for shootingcrocodiles. 

"Are you going to fight?" exclaimed Bob Roberts, who looked flushed andexcited. 

"Yes, " said Ali, "with this;" and he tapped the rifle. 

"But against your own people?"

"Rajah Gantang's pirates are not my own people, " said Ali, contemptuously. "Besides, the English are my friends, and if we could Iwould have gone to help those ashore. "

"All right, " said Bob, "then we will fight together. I say, it's goingto be a hot affair, isn't it?"

"They think to take the steamer easily, " said Ali, "as she is ashore, but you will not let them?"

"Let them!" said Lieutenant Johnson, "no, Mr Ali, we will not. Weshall fight to the last, and the last will be that I'll blow the vesselup. I can't sink her, for she is aground. "

Ali nodded his approval: he seemed in no wise moved at the prospect ofthe steamer being destroyed. And now he stood watching the coming ofthe great prahus, with their regular sweeps, twenty to thirty on eachside, and alternated this with watching the loading of the guns anddisposal of the men. 

Just then an idea seemed to have struck Bob Roberts, who ran across thedeck to where old Dick was standing ready by a gun. 

"Here, Dick, I want you. Wilson, come and take his place. "

"Ay, ay, sir!" cried the man; but old Dick growled. 

"Don't take me away, Mr Roberts, sir, " he said, querulously. "I waslonging for a shot at them dirty pirates, and now I'm losing my chance. "

"Look here, Dick, " cried Bob, and he raised himself on tiptoe andwhispered something to him, old Dick's soured face undergoing a completechange to one full of mirth. The wrinkles became puckers, and his eyesnearly closed, while his mouth seemed drawn out at the corners tillnearly double its usual length. 

"It will be just right, Dick, " said the middy. 

"To a T, Mr Roberts, sir. Well, you are a clever one, you are! Who'dha' thought of that?"

"You be ready, Dick; I depend upon you, mind, " cried the middy; and heran back to his post. 

The prahus were coming steadily on, up and down stream, and it could beseen from the steamer's deck that they were full of men, and bristlingwith spears, while any doubt as to the unfriendliness of theirintentions was soon dispelled by the noise of beating gongs on boardeach vessel, the object being apparently to encourage each other and toexcite alarm in the breasts of their foes, a result which in this casethe noise decidedly failed in obtaining. 

The men kept glancing anxiously at their commander, who seemed to beletting the prahus approach very closely, which appeared to be a badpolicy, seeing that the Malays were about ten to one, and their objectwould doubtless be to board the steamer and engage in a hand-to-handfight; but Lieutenant Johnson had made his plans, and was abiding histime. He himself carefully pointed the guns, depressing them somewhat, so that the shot should strike low; and then leaving the task in thehands of the captain of each piece, he waited the result. 

The prahus were now within a couple of hundred yards of the steamer, andhad begun firing iron shot from their little brass lelahs, when thefirst gun spoke out. There was a round puff of smoke and a deafeningroar, and the shot struck the nearest right in the stem, tearing a greathole in her bows, and passing through her with such deadly effect thatthe prahu immediately began to sink, and her crew leaped overboard inconfusion and began to swim ashore. 

Grape-shot from the smaller guns or musketry from the marines would havedestroyed numbers of the Malays struggling in the water, but lookingupon them as out of the fight, Lieutenant Johnson left them to struggle, some to one bank, some to the other, and gave his orders merely to themen at the great guns. 

It was one from the port-side that had wrought this mischief. Now onefrom the starboard spoke out. There was once more the great white ballof smoke, the deafening roar, and the shot struck the water about twentyyards from the nearest prahu, ricochetted, and passed clean through her, going down the river afterwards in a series of richochets. 

This shot caused no little confusion on board, and several of the sweepsfell uselessly in the water; but the prahu still came on, with theoccupants yelling and beating their gongs. 

Another shot struck the water, and though well aimed for the next prahu, it rose and went over her, merely making a great gap in thematting-screen from behind which the Malays were keeping up a brisk butineffectual fire. 

Another shot at one of the prahus coming down stream; and this wentclean over, and crashed through the palm-trees a quarter of a mile away. But the next shot produced a hearty cheer from the sailors, for itstruck the slight vessel right on the water-line, made a tremendous gap, and must have caused terrible slaughter, for the Malays were thrown intoconfusion, the sweeps clashed one with the other, and all governanceseemed gone, the prahu turning broadside on, and then floating slowlywith the stream for a few yards before settling down and sinking, leaving her masts and the top of the mat screens visible, for the waterwas shallow where she sank. 

The two prahus coming down stream were thus effectually disposed of; butthe two coming up were now close at hand, and before another gun couldbe brought to bear their bows struck the sides of the steamer, grappling-irons were thrown over the bulwarks and into the chains, andyelling savagely their crews of fierce fighting men came swarming uponthe deck. 

It was sharp work leaving the guns and preparing for the boarders; butthe sailors and marines were ready, and received the fierce, yellingcrowd of Malays with a sharp fire and the point of the bayonet, whilethese latter attacked fiercely with kris and spear. Their charge wasmost daring, and they came on in such numbers, and fought with so greata display of courage, that the little party of Englishmen, in spite oftheir heroic defence, were driven back step by step, till LieutenantJohnson began to bitterly regret that he had not signalled for help fromthe fort. 

His heart sank within him as, in spite of his bravery and the example heset his men he saw them giving way on all sides. 

Bob Roberts, young as he was, fought bravely and well, while Ali didgood service with his rifle. But all seemed in vain; the Malays weregradually getting possession of the deck, and the question was arisingin the lieutenant's mind whether it would not be wiser to take refuge inthe cabin, and fire from thence as they could. 

Men fell rapidly on either side, but while the Malays had three or fourto leap into the places of those who went down, every wounded Englishmanweakened the force terribly by his loss. 

Still there was no sign of flinching, the men giving way solely frombeing forced back by the numbers that pressed upon them. 

Three times over by a determined rally did the lieutenant strive toforce the enemy back, but in vain; and the last time he nearly lost hislife, for the Malays made at him at once, and in his efforts to avoidthem he slipped and fell. 

With a yell of triumph a couple of the enemy dashed at him spear inhand, when there was a sharp double report from a rifle, and one leapedin the air to fall flat on the deck beside his intended victim, theother staggered back and retreated to the rear. 

Those shots were fired by the young chief Ali, who coolly reloaded hispiece, and stood watching Bob Roberts, whose excitement was intense. 

He had forgotten Dick and his instructions to the old sailor in thefierce passions of the fray, and poor old Dick had gone down almost atthe first rush, to crawl afterwards under the bulwarks, where he boundup his head, and lay watching the fight as he strove more than once tojoin in. 

But each time old Dick essayed to rise, a terrible sickness came overhim, and he sank back trying to recall some order he had received fromthe midshipman, but unable to make out what it was. 

He fainted away twice in his efforts to get up, and then lay back, sickat heart, and with just enough consciousness left to know that the fightwas going against the English, and that he had it in his power to changethe fortunes of the day. 

"What was it Mr Roberts told him to do? What was it Mr Roberts toldhim to do?"

That was the question he wanted solved, but the sense had all seemed toescape out of the cut in his head, so he told himself, and the more hetried to recall what it was, the more did he grow confused, and at lasthe lay there helpless, listening to the yelling of the Malays, and thecheers and shouts of the comrades he could not help. 

He could see clearly enough all that was going on, and feel bitterlyevery phase of ill fortune in the fight, while he regretted thepowerless state in which he lay as he saw some companion worsted by theenemy. 

"If I could only think what it was Mr Roberts told me to do, I might doit now, " he muttered, "and that would help the poor lads. "

His head was growing clearer, though, and he became more and moreexcited as he saw sailors, marines, and officers driven back, step bystep, along the deck, with the prospect before them of being slain to aman, and the steamer taken. 

That idea was horrible to Dick, and he thought of the captain, officers, and men away in the jungle, and what would be their feelings when theyreturned. 

"If I could only help!" thought Dick. "Bravo, lad! Why he fights likea man, " he muttered; "and there's that Mr Ali using his gunwonderfully, and him only a nigger; while I lie here with my orders onme, and do nothing to help my mates. Oh, if I only had strength, " hegroaned. 

Still the fight went on, and to his horror Lieutenant Johnson saw thatanother prahu and a naga or dragon-boat were coming up to the attack, while in place of being able to repel them with a few shots from hisguns, he and his men were hemmed-in by quite a mob of yelling Malays, every one of whom was thirsting for the Englishmen's blood. 

All at once, in the thick of the fight, and just as he was panting, andtoo helpless to deliver another stroke, Bob Roberts recalled for amoment the orders he had given old Dick. But he felt that it was toolate now, and stung by the disgrace of their position, he tried toreload his revolver, wondering whether Lieutenant Johnson would executehis threat of blowing up the ship. 

Had the lieutenant been ever so disposed, though, he could not haveaccomplished his design, for a living wall of Malays was between him andthe way down to the magazine, and he was weak and spent with hisefforts, to such an extent that he could hardly raise his sword. 

"It is all over, " he thought to himself, "but we'll die fighting likeEnglishmen. Oh, my poor lads, " he groaned, "my poor lads!" And hewondered whether he could have done anything else to lead them tovictory, instead of this bitter defeat. 

It did indeed seem to be all over, for the fresh boats had reached thesteamer, and their men were swarming over the side, when suddenly theremembrance of his orders flashed across old Dick's clouded brain, bringing with it renewed strength, for the faintness seemed to be drivenaway. 

Abdullah, or rather Rajah Gantang, saw the fresh forces arriving, and heshouted to them to come on, stepping back half-a-dozen yards, and thenleaping on to one of the wired skylights, kris in hand. 

Close beside him he saw a rough old wounded sailor screwing on somethingbright that looked like a copper pipe, and then seize hold of an ironspanner; and out of sheer thirst for blood the rajah, after waving tothe new comers to come on, made a leap down at the old sailor, who facedhim with what seemed to the rajah like a copper gun, presented, andfired--

No, that's wrong, he watered; for Bob Roberts' commands were at lastexecuted, and a shower of scalding water from the boilers was sent bymeans of the hose and branch full in the rajah's face, driving him awayyelling with agony, as Dick made a dash along the deck, the hosetrailing after him, took the Malays in flank just as they were makingtheir final dash at the hemmed-in defenders of the vessel, and thefortunes of the day were changed. 

_Whizz, squish_, out flew the steaming water in a scalding shower, andin an instant the fierce crowd of Malays were turned into a set ofagonised, dancing, maniacs, a dozen of them turning furiously on Dick, and rushing at him, kris and spear in hand; but with a grim smile on hisrough visage, old Dick gave the copper branch a waving motion, and thescalding shower stopped the fiercest of them, drove them back, and asthey fled the fresh party summoned by the rajah came running along thedeck. 

Dick did not flinch, but mentally praying that the supply might holdout, delivered the stream full in their faces as they came yelling up, and after a brave effort to withstand it for a few moments, sending themback, crushed and beaten, stamping, shrieking, leaping overboard, makingfrantic efforts to escape the pain, while Dick steadily followed themup, playing the boiling water amongst them, and literally cleaning thedecks, amidst the cheering of the men. 

"Quick there, " cried Lieutenant Johnson, "A man there at the wheel--two!quick! two! She's afloat. Down there in the engine-room, " he shouted, as he mounted the bridge, for a breeze had sprung up, and the mud thatclung round the steamer's keel having been loosened by the firing, themotion of the vessel, and the pressure on the sails, the corvette had, unperceived, been afloat some minutes, and slowly floating down stream. 

In another few seconds she was under full command; and as the men flewto the guns, the lieutenant took deadly revenge upon his fierce enemiesby manoeuvring the steamer so that, in spite of the efforts of her crewwith their sweeps; he literally sent her over the biggest of the threeprahus, the stem of the steamer cutting it in two as if it had been madeof paper, and then sinking the naga by a well-directed shot, the crewsof both swimming easily towards the shore. 

By this time the other two prahus were in full retreat up stream, evidently from a belief that the steamer would not follow; but in spiteof his mishap in running aground, Lieutenant Johnson could not resistthe temptation to administer the sternest punishment he could contrive;and with full steam on, he gave chase, firing at the two prahus as hewent. 

At the end of ten minutes one had been struck several times, and hercaptain ran her close in shore, he and his crew deserting her; whileafter avoiding only by a miracle at least a dozen shots, the last prahusuddenly turned in by a branch of the river and seemed to go rightamongst the palm-trees, when, after a parting shot or two, the steamerproving quite unsuited for chase in such narrow, shallow waters, thelieutenant gave it up, his crew being too weak to continue the chasewith the boats. 

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. 

HOW BOB ROBERTS BURNED THE PRAHU. 

The victory was dearly bought; for now that the breathless excitementwas over, and there was time to make an examination, it was found thatfully half the crew had injuries, more or less serious, the men, though, bearing their sufferings with the greatest fortitude as their twoofficers, for want of a doctor, bound up the wounds. 

It almost seemed as if those who had most exposed themselves had comeoff best; for neither Lieutenant Johnson, Bob Roberts, Ali, nor AdamGray, who had been brave even to recklessness, had received a scratch. 

"I have only one regret about you, Gray, " said Lieutenant Johnson, shaking his hand warmly. 

"May I ask what that is, sir?" replied Gray. 

"Yes, that you are not a sailor; that is all, " said the lieutenant, smiling. "I shall not forget this affair. I believe you twice oversaved my life. "

"And you, too, friend Ali, " continued the lieutenant, laying his handupon the young chief's shoulder. "I have often called the Malays a setof treacherous wretches, but I find that there are Malays and Malays. Sir, I hope some day that you may rise to power, as in you England willalways have a trusty ally. "

Ali bowed gravely, and his eyes betokened the pleasure he felt as hethought of the possibility of his raising the people of this land tosomething better than the slothful, betel-chewing, piratical race theywere. 

The steamer was now rapidly making her way back, the men furling thesails, and the screw as it revolved sending a wave washing in amidst theroots of the trees on either side of the river; while, now that thepresent danger was over, the lieutenant went round to visit hispatients, leaving Bob Roberts in command, and a man with the lead in thechains. 

"I think the central channel is safe enough, Roberts, " said thelieutenant; "but keep him heaving the lead. "

"Trust me, sir, " said Bob rather importantly. 

"Yes, I'll trust you, Roberts, " said the lieutenant. "I'll be frankwith you, my lad, and tell you something that will please you, I know. "

"What is it, sir?" said Bob eagerly. 

"I don't think I shall ever look upon you again as a boy?"

Bob coloured with pleasure as soon as he was left alone; but his commonsense prevailed the next moment. 

"That's very kind of him, " he thought, "but it's all gammon; I am only aboy yet. And there--hang it all! since Miss Linton spoke to me as shedid, hang me if I care if I am!"

Fortunately for the party on board the steamer, the Malays had carriedoff their wounded as they fell, so that there was no trouble with eitherthem or prisoners, who would have been highly inconvenient at such atime, especially as there was no knowing how soon there might be anotherattack. For though beaten as to their prahus, the Malays almost to aman succeeded in reaching the shore, to join those besieging the fort, and at any time a new attack might be made. 

As they came abreast of the prahu that was run ashore and forsaken, Lieutenant Johnson determined to run no risk of its being floated oncemore, and used, after patching, to annoy; for giving the order toreverse the engine, the steamer was kept abreast, while Bob Roberts anda party of marines and Jacks went ashore and made preparations to burnher. 

Ali stepped into the boat with his friend, and advised caution; for hewarned Bob that, although severely punished, the rajah was in no wisebeaten, and that, as likely as not, a force of men were lying hiddenamongst the reeds to protect the injured prahu. 

"All right!" said Bob, "I'll be careful. " And to show how careful heintended to be, he let the cutter run up amidst the reeds, and jumpedout with a dozen men, provided with some fiery spirit, and some spunyarn and matches. 

"I think you ought to search the reeds first with a few shots from yourmarines' rifles, " said Ali, who was gazing around very distrustfully;and no wonder, for there was every likelihood of some of the Malaysbeing in ambush. 

"No need, " said Bob, laughing. "We've given them such a lesson as theywon't forget for some time, my lad. Come along. "

Ali leaped ashore, and they tried to get on board the prahu, whichseemed close in to the bank; but finding this was not the case, theyreturned to the boat, and pushed off through the rustling reeds to rowround to the other side, and there board her by means of a rope. 

It was well for the little party that they returned as they did, for intwenty places dark figures were stealing through the thick, long reedsquite unseen, but all converging upon the spot where the cutter ran tothe shore. 

The return to the boat upset the plans of the ambush, but the Malays whoformed the party were not beaten; and finding their first plan hopeless, they immediately adopted another, and began creeping through the reeds, hardly making them rustle as they made now for the prahu. 

"Heave up a rope, one of you, " said Bob, "unless anybody can climb up. "

This was as the bowman held the cutter close up against the prahu's sidewith his boat-hook. 

"If one on 'em keeps the cutter alongside, sir, I can get up, and thenmake fast a rope, " said the bowman. 

"All right! up with you, " said Bob; and as another man held on by one ofthe big oars that hung in its place, the boatman hooked on his boat-hookin one of the rattan-twisted ropes, and cleverly climbed up, catchingthe rope that was thrown up and making it fast, when half a dozen of thesailors, with Bob Roberts and Ali, were soon on the short, bamboo deck. 

"It seems almost a pity to burn her, " said Bob, who was greatly taken bythe workmanship of the craft. 

"No, no!" said Ali angrily, as his eyes wandered suspiciously aboutamidst the reeds; "burn her, burn her! the decks have been stained withblood, and many a poor, innocent creature has suffered outrage at theowner's hands. Rajah Gantang was a cruel, bloodthirsty pirate. Let theriver be purified from his boats!"

"But, " said Bob, laughing, "we might give it a good washing down, andfumigate it below decks, and afterwards give it a coat of paint. Itwould be purified enough then, and it might be useful. "

"I do not understand you, " said Ali seriously; "but let your men bequick; I fear danger. "

"What a suspicious chap you are, to be sure, Ali, " replied Bob. "I'llbe bound to say, if the truth was known, there isn't a nigger within amile of us. Here, look alive, my lads; it seems a pity to burn such aboat; but orders are orders, and we shall have a gun fired directly, byway of recall. There, that will do; lay the oakum there, and pour thespirits over it. She'll burn like a firework. "

The men obeyed in a quiet leisurely manner, quite satisfied of therebeing no danger if their officer saw none; so the oakum and yarn theyhad brought were heaped up on the bamboo deck, and another lot thrustinto a kind of cabin, plenty of the spirit poured on each, and nothingwas needed but the application of a match or two for the work ofdestruction to begin. 

Still Bob seemed loth to fire so well-built a vessel, and he stoodpointing out good points in the make of the long light boat, countingthe number of sweeps she had carried, examining the shot holes and thelike--partly in a bravado spirit, for Ali was all anxiety to get onboard the steamer again, scenting danger as he did on every breath ofwind, while Bob wanted to show him how matter-of-fact and cool a Britishofficer could be. 

"Look!" said Ali suddenly, and he laid his hand upon Bob's shoulder. 

"Which way?" said Bob quietly. "I can see nothing. "

"You will not see, " said Ali in a low passionate voice. "You are sobrave, but you are so foolish too. Why risk life when there is danger. "

"I don't, " said Bob coolly. 

"You do; there is great danger now, " said Ali. "Gantang's men arecreeping through the reeds to spear us. "

"Jump down in the cutter then, " said Bob, "and you will be all right. "

Ali drew himself up angrily. 

"A Malay chief never knows fear, " he said, as he leaned his hands uponthe muzzle of the rifle he still carried, and stood there, proud anddefiant, like a bronze statue, he was so motionless and calm. 

"I didn't mean to offend you, Ali, old fellow, " cried Bob. And as theyoung Malay saw the open, frank, laughing face before him, and theextended hand, he seized it in his. 

"I am not offended, " said Ali, "but I'm afraid for you and your men. "

"What of?" said Bob. 

"That!" said Ali, as a spear whizzed through the reeds and stuck in thebamboo deck. 

"Yes, it was close, " said Bob coolly. "Who has the matches?"

"Here you are, sir, " said one of the men. 

"All right, " said Bob, taking the box. "Down into the boat, all of you. Go on too, Ali. "

"No, I stay with you, " said the young chief, just as another spear stuckquivering in the deck. 

"Ah! I left it a bit too long, " said Bob, striking a match as he divedinto the cabin, and the next moment a volume of smoke rolled up. 

He then lit another match, and held it to the soaked oakum on the deck, spear after spear being thrown, several of which he escaped as by amiracle. Another moment or two, and the thick smoke formed a veilbetween the two young men and their enemies, who threw spear afterspear, but without effect. 

"Won't they be fine and mad?" cried Bob. "Here, give me your rifle, Ali, old fellow, and I'll have a couple of shots at them. No, I won't, "he said, handing the rifle back; "I can't shoot in cold blood. Comealong, or we shall be roasted ready for our friends there, if they aredisposed to be cannibals. My word, how she burns!"

His last words were not uncalled for, as the light wood of which theMalay vessel was composed began to blaze furiously; so fast indeed, thatthe middy and his friend were driven into making rather an undignifiedretreat before the great leaping tongues of flame and the rollingvolumes of smoke that in a few minutes ran from end to end of thevessel. 

"Push off, my lads, " cried Bob, as he took his place in thestern-sheets, coughing and sneezing from the effects of the pungentsmoke. "Give way!" he cried; "there's a signal flying for our return. "

Just then a shot came from the steamer as well, and with the Malaysbeginning to fire at them from among the reeds, the cutter was rowedrapidly back to the steamer's side, the prahu meanwhile blazingfuriously, and promising soon to burn down to the water's edge. 

"Come, Mr Roberts, " cried the lieutenant impatiently; "you have been along time. "

"Yes, sir, " said Bob, smiling at Ali, "there was a good deal ofspear-throwing towards the last, and we had to dodge them. "

"The enemy is not easily frightened, " said the lieutenant, as thepropeller once more rapidly revolved; "but we must get back, for I fancyI can hear firing below, and I am afraid they are attacking the fort nowfor a change. "

"What shall you do, sir?" said Bob eagerly. 

"It is not the custom, Mr Roberts, for the officer in command toexplain his plans to his subordinates; but if you must know, I shall runthe steamer as close up to the fort as I can, and there keep her, if theMalays do not prove too strong for us. "

Then walking to and fro for a few minutes, he ended by going up to whereold Dick, with a bandage round his head, was calmly masticating a lumpof tobacco. 

"I have never thanked you for your capital idea, " said the lieutenant. "That hot water saved us in a terrible pinch. "

"Yes, sir, " said Dick, grinning, "it saved us; but it warn't my idee atall. `There's lots of boiling water, Dick, ' says Mr Roberts, yonder;`screw on the hose, and tell the engineer what you want. Then whenall's ready, and it seems a good time, lay hold of the branch, and playup among the niggers, ' sir; and I did as soon as I could, but my headwere in that muzzy state that--"

"There is firing going on, " said the lieutenant. "Mr Roberts, clearagain for action. "

"Action, eh?" said old Dick. "Then I can't do better than say anotherword to the engineer, for of all the ways to clear the decks this hotwater system's about the best. " So saying, Dick went to screw the hoseon the valve once more, muttering and talking to himself the while, andever and again slapping one of his legs and bursting into a series ofchuckles. 

"Lor' a mussy me, " he said; "and how I argyed with Mr Roberts thereabout the niggers not being clean. Why that's what put it into hisprecious head. I wonder what they looks like to-day, after theirwashing. "

"Took the skin off, I should say, Dick, " said Bob Roberts, who had heardthe old man's words. 

"And sarve 'em right, sir, " said the old sailor. "What did they mean todo to us but take us right out of our skins, and end us right off atonce? And them as plays at bowls must expect rubbers. "

So saying, Dick, who had finished his speech without an audience, seemedquite forgetful of his wound, and went down to the engine-room, wherethe engineer and firemen saluted him with a broad grin; to which Dickresponded with one a little broader, as he stood mopping theperspiration from his face. 

"Why, Dick, old man, " said the engineer, "after this I think we can showthem gunners a trick or two. It would have puzzled them to clear thedecks like that. However came you to think of it?"

"Think of it?" said Dick. "I shouldn't never have thought of such agame; it was young Mr Roberts, you know. But did you see 'em run?"

"Run!" said the engineer. "Running was nothing to it; you cleared thedeck like a shot. "

"Shot!" said Dick scornfully; "I should like to see the shot or shellthat would do it half as well. Why, look here, my lads, your shot andyour shell kills and murders people, knocks off their legs and wings, and precious often their heads. A shot goes bang in amongst a lot o'folk, and there's an end of it. But here I was with the copper branchin my fisties, and I just sprinkled 'em here and there like a showerand--"

"Give it 'em hot, " interposed one of the firemen leaning on his shovel. 

"Ay, I just did, " said Dick; "not as it was much hotter than it is downhere, my lads, but hot I did give it 'em, and there wasn't one who wouldface it. And that brings me down to why I come here. "

"Oh, we know why you come here, Dicky, " said another of the firemen, whohad just been stoking a furnace, and whose face shone with perspiration. "You said to yourself, you did, there's them poor chaps down there inthe engine-room getting half-roasted, and with their throats as dry asbrown paper; now, being a good-hearted sort of fellow as I am, I'll justgo down below and say to 'em, a nice cooling drink o' lime juice andwater with a dash o' rum in it, is what you all wants in a big tin can. Shall I get it for you? That's what you come down here to say. "

"Blest if ever I see such a clever chap as you are, Sam Walsh, " criedDick, slapping his leg and laughing. "You can read a fellow just as ifhe was made up o' large print and big leaves. You've really hit it, butyou see a drink like that wants mixing; and don't you see, though youmay drink it cold it wants hot water to mix it? and that's what I didcome about--more hot water. "

"To mix up for us, Dick?" said the engineer, laughing. 

"No, " said Dick, "I didn't say that, my lad, " and a bigger grin cameover his face; "what I want is the hot water to mix the grog for theniggers, as it seems they liked the last dose so much, that I'm to getready some more. "

"There's plenty--hot enough for anything, Dick, " said the engineer, "andI'll keep up the supply. "

"Silence below there!" cried a voice; and the engineer gave hissubordinates a nod. 

"You'd better get on deck, Dick, old man, " he said quietly; and then inresponse to a signal from above, he seized and altered a couple ofhandles, listened for a fresh order, and slackened the speed of theengine; while Dick went back on deck, satisfied that there was anabundant supply of hot water ready for the next action, and seeing thatthe island was once more in sight. 

A party of Malays were at the head, but they disappeared amidst thetrees as the steamer came steadily down stream, while now as they drewnearer the sounds of smart firing could be heard, telling that anengagement was in progress. Smoke, too, was rising slowly above thefeathery palm-trees, but not in such dense volumes as that which couldstill be seen spreading out like a cloud above the jungle, where theprahu was burning. 

A sharp series of orders followed, and every man stood at his post; forboats could be seen going to and from the island, and it was plainenough to the meanest comprehension on deck that if they meant to aidthe occupants of the fort they had come none too soon. 

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. 

PLEASANT DAYS AT THE FORT. 

Matters seemed to grow worse from the moment that Adam Gray started offon his mission to the steamer, and Captain Smithers' brows seemed tohave settled into a constant frown, for it was no light matter to be incommand of the little fort, right away from aid, and only with a limitedsupply of provisions. They might be made to last weeks or months; butthe end must come, and he saw no chance of help from outside, unless thesteamer went off to the nearest station in search thereof. 

Then there was the constant worry upon his brain about the expeditionand its fate, for there could be no doubt about Ali's news; the forcehad been divided by cunning, and, with such treacherous enemies, he feltbut little hope of seeing any of the party again. 

Fortunately for him and the sharers of his imprisonment--for it waslittle else--their minds were too much occupied by the defence of theplace to give them time to sit and brood over their troubles. There wasalways something to do, some weak part to strengthen; and CaptainSmithers longed for the help of the lieutenant with the steamer to guardoutside of the fort. 

There was this to consider too--if Lieutenant Johnson could get the"Startler" off the mud, and round to the other side by Dullah's hut andthe landing-place, if they were very hard pressed the fort could beabandoned, and, with the women, they could take refuge on board. Orbetter still--though he felt reluctant to make such an arrangement--thewomen could be got on board, and then the fort could be defended to thelast extremity. 

In the course of those next hours while awaiting Gray's return, theMalays made two or three sharp attacks, all of which were repelled; andthen, unable to assist, they waited, and listened to the engagementgoing on upon the other side of the patch of jungle that clothed a partof the island. The heavy reports of the steamer's guns made the framesof the lightly-built dwellings rattle, and the smoke could be seenrising above the trees; but how the tide of war set it was impossible totell, and Captain Smithers, as he walked up and down, felt as if hewould have given anything for a trusty native spy who would have soughtout news of what was going on. 

Failing this, and not daring to send out a second party, although TomLong volunteered to go, there was nothing for it but to wait, especiallyas their besiegers had evidently been greatly augmented in numbers, andone of the soldiers had but to show himself for a moment, to bring uponhimself a shower of bullets. 

The suspense grew maddening, as the noise of the engagement between theprahus and the "Startler" increased. The yells of the Malays could beplainly heard; then the reports of the heavy guns ceased; there was alittle rifle firing, the occasional crack of a revolver; and lastly camethe faintly-heard noise of men contending in deadly strife. 

This lasted for a while, and the occupants of the fort mentally picturedthe scene going on, but they could not comprehend the strange shriekingthey heard as of men in terrible pain. 

Captain Smithers' heart sank, and he glanced at Tom Long, in whosecountenance he read a confirmation of his fears; and on looking fartherhe saw Mrs Major Sandars, with Rachel Linton and her cousin, watchinghim attentively. 

They read his face too as he turned away, and their dread also seemedconfirmed. 

That ominous silence of the steamer's guns pointed to the fact that shehad been boarded by the Malays in too strong parties to be successfullyresisted, and a deep gloom sank upon all within the fort. 

There was not a man present who would not willingly have gone to thehelp of those on board the steamer; but not only were they hemmed-in, but had they made a successful sally they had no means of reaching her. 

Nothing could be done, then, but wait, in the hope that some on boardwould escape and join them; and to this end a constant watch forfugitives was kept up, a dozen men standing ready at the gate to rushout and bring any stragglers in. 

Just when they had descended to the greatest depths of misery, and TomLong was debating with himself as to whether he ought not to go to MissLinton and try to comfort her, telling her that so long as his arm couldwield a sword she might reckon herself to be perfectly safe, there was apeculiar crashing sound, with a fresh burst of yells and cries. 

The ladies shuddered, and longed to go in and be alone, but theirexcitement was such that they felt obliged to stay out there in theopening, risking many bullets, so as to be face to face with the worst. 

Something terrible had happened they all knew, and at last the suspensewas so great that in the presence of the ladies Captain Smithersexclaimed, --"Long, you will have to take a dozen men and learn theworst!"

Tom Long glanced at Miss Linton, and for answer tightened his swordbelt, and then examined the chambers of his revolver. 

"I'm ready, sir, " he said, and he set his teeth, for he felt that heshould not come back alive. Still he was a soldier, and he accepted hisduty without flinching, though it did need an effort to be calm. 

Just then, as he was about to ask what men he should choose, all earsbeing attentive to catch the faintest sound from beyond thetrees--_Boom--crash_! went a big gun report and the blow it struck, coming almost simultaneously; and as in his excitement Tom Long sent hiscap high in air, there was another echoing report, with a familiarbeating and panting sound. 

"The steamer's off!" Tom Long cried. "Hurrah!"

Discipline was forgotten for the moment, and every man shouted withdelight, his cheery "Hurrah!" the cheers being renewed directly after bythe following reports of the steamer's guns; and they knew by the beatof the engines that she was going up stream, firing as she went, evidently in pursuit of a prahu. 

They had plenty of evidence directly after that the Malays had beenbeaten, for hurrying parties kept coming from the far side of the islandwhere the engagement had taken place, and as Captain Smithers scannedthese with his glass, he could see that their slight garments weresoaking wet, baju and sarong clinging to their limbs, and showing thatthey had had to swim ashore. 

This was all proof of their having had a thorough beating; and now, withthe steamer no longer aground, but ready to come to their help, thespirits of all rose at as rapid a rate as they had gone down. 

But it was to be no time of rest for them. Captain Smithers, to meetthe difficulty of there being no water to be obtained, save by goingunder fire to the spring, or making a dash for the river, had beengiving orders for the sinking of a well in a corner of the fort, whenword was passed from sentry to sentry of the advance of the enemy. Thenshots were fired, at first scattered, then rapidly; and it was at onceevident, that in revenge for their defeat afloat, the crews of some ofthe prahus had joined those on the island in a general attack. 

The earth-works were well-made, but they required more men tosuccessfully defend them, and after keeping the enemy at bay by awell-directed fire for some time, Captain Smithers, seeing signs of anapproaching rush, and knowing well that this must result in severe lossupon his own side, quietly began to draw his little force away from theearth-works, till he had half in the barracks at the loopholes, fromwhich they began a steady fire over the heads of those at the earthenwall, who, in their turn retired half at a time, the first half joiningthose who had gone before. 

Then as the Malays began to realise that the force at the earthen wallwas very weak, and showed signs of coming on to carry it by storm, thedefenders delivered a sharp volley and dropped out of sight, stoopingdown and running across to the barracks' white walls. On seeing thatthey had given way, the Malays set up a loud cry of triumph, and dashedforward, spear in hand, to occupy the deserted earth-works. They weremet by a sharp fire from the barracks, which staggered them for themoment, but they rushed on, and sheltered themselves in the ditch, throwing a few spears at the hindmost of the retreating party; butwithout effect, for the little garrison was soon shut in and able forthe time to defy their assailants. 

It was evident, however, that they were not to be left in peace, for theMalays now swarmed around them, and dozens might have been shot down;but Captain Smithers gave orders that the fire should be reserved tillthey attacked. 

Just as they had finished the barricading of the entrance, a cloud ofsmoke was seen rising from the side of the residency, and this wasfollowed by flames, leaving no doubt that the pleasant little house hadbeen fired by the Malays; and Captain Smithers frowned as he determinedto administer severe punishment to the enemy, if for this act alone. 

Every opportunity was given him for the administration of thechastisement, the Malays exposing themselves freely, running out ofshelter to fire, and then retreating again. Sometimes a fiercedemonstration was made by spear-armed men, who came boldly up as if toattack, but soon fell back unmolested, for Captain Smithers felt that noend was to be obtained by simply shooting down a few of the enemy, andhis orders were to reserve fire till a fiercer attack was made. 

This was not long in coming, and it was made quite unexpectedly, justas, wearied out by his efforts, Captain Smithers had left Tom Long incommand, and, yielding to the prayers of the major's wife, had gone into the mess-room to partake of some refreshment that had been prepared. 

He had hardly eaten a mouthful--after visiting first the wounded men, tofind them being tended by Rachel Linton and her cousin--before therattle of musketry and the yelling of the Malays told him that somethingserious had occurred. 

Catching up his sword, he rushed to where he had left Tom Long, and in afew words he learned that from two points the Malays had suddenlycommenced their attack, which was now being carried on in so fierce amanner that unless they received a sufficiently severe check to quelltheir courage, they would force the defences, and overpower the littlegarrison by sheer weight of numbers. 

Fortunate it was that the defences had been so well strengthened, themen firing from behind barricades roughly constructed of tables, themess forms, and bedding; but in spite of the heavy fire kept up and thenumber that fell, the Malays dashed up, striving to clamber over, andthrusting their spears through the openings in a way that kept the menback, and nearly crushed the fire that had sputtered from the variousloopholes that had been left. 

Affairs were growing very serious, for Captain Smithers, who had beengoing from place to place, advising, cheering, and helping the men, suddenly had his attention drawn to the fact that a large party ofMalays were bringing bundles of wood, branches of trees, and handfuls ofresin, which they were piling up against the barricaded door. 

This he well knew meant fire, and the question arose how it was to bestopped. 

"They must never be allowed to light it, my lads, as our lives and thoseof the ladies would not be worth five minutes' purchase. Cease firingon this side, and reserve your cartridges for any who come to fire thepile. "

The men responded with a grim smile, and stood waiting for the partywhose duty it would be to try and burn them out; and in this time ofmortal peril, when danger of so great a kind stared them in the face, the men stood patiently awaiting their fate, seeming the while to reposethe greatest confidence in their captain, and standing ready to obey hisorders to the last. 

It was a splendid example of what discipline and confidence couldeffect. The men felt that if their lives were to be saved, it would bethrough carefully carrying out the wishes of their officers, and henceno murmur was heard, each man's face wearing a grim look ofdetermination, that seemed to be intensified as Sergeant Lund came roundladen with cartridges, a packet of which he handed to each in turn. 

"Some sergeants, " he said, as he finished his task and stood rifle inhand by the group whose duty it was to shoot down the bearers of thedammar-torches that they felt sure would be used, "some sergeants would, I dare say, be shaking hands with all their mates at a time like this, and looking at things as all over; but I don't, my lads, for I've a sortof faith in our luck turning up shiny side outwards; so cheer up, all ofyou. "

"All right, sergeant, " was the reply. 

"I wouldn't trust too much to luck though, my lads, " he continued, "butI'd squint straight along the barrel of my rifle when I fired. You maybe very sorry for the Malay chap you shoot at, but I'd shoot him firstand be very sorry afterwards. "

"Right, sergeant, " said Private Sim, who had been fighting very manfullyall day; "they needn't come and be a-trying to burn us out unless theylike, need they?"

"No, Sim, " replied the sergeant; "but they will, and it strikes me thatthey'll be come before long, too. Isn't that smoke in amongst thosebushes there?"

"Smoke it is, " said one of the men, excitedly. 

"Don't jump about like that, my lad, but keep cool, or you'll be wastingyour cartridges, " said the sergeant. "Where's the captain? He was herejust now. "

"Gone round the other side, " said Sim. "Here they come, sure enough. Look; there's a dozen men with torches. "

"All right, my lads, " said the sergeant. "I don't see that it mattersabout the captain not being here; you know your duty. "

"Yes, sergeant, to shoot down those men. "

"No, no, my lads; what you've got to do is to put those torches out, andthe way to do it is with the bayonet. Stand ready there to slip overthe breast-work, all of you, then a sharp run, and meet them as theycome, and then back again under cover. "

As he spoke the smoke of the dammar-torches could be seen, and some tenor twelve Malays came running across from the earth-works to set fire tothe pile. 

There was not a man behind the breast-work whose breath did not comethick and fast at the sight of the lights; for brave as they were, theyknew that once the building they defended caught fire, the dry, sun-baked wood must flare away like so much paper; and there were womenshut in there with them, whom it was their duty to defend. 

It was no wonder then that the men tightly grasped their bayonet-armedrifles, and stood waiting for the command, that did not come. For justas it was upon the sergeant's lips a panting noise was heard, and asevery eye was directed up the river, the masts of the steamer were seencoming along above the trees, and for the present the little garrisonfelt that they were saved. 

CHAPTER FORTY NINE. 

HOW ALI WENT TO SPY OUT THE LAND. 

A tremor of excitement seemed to run through the attacking party; menhurried here and there; the bearers of the dammar-torches pausedirresolute, and it was evident to the besieged that contrary orders werebeing given. 

It was also evident to them that the danger signal they were flying wasplainly understood upon the steamer, for the noise of the engine had notbeen heard a minute before there was the heavy report of one of theguns, and almost simultaneously the crash of a shell, which burst overthe heads of the thronging Malays, about fifty yards in front of thefort. 

No one seemed to be injured, but this dire instrument of warfare causeda complete scare amidst the attacking party: men running in alldirections, and then seeming to go over the same ground once again, as asecond shell burst with its harsh tearing metallic-sounding crack. 

Again came the report of a gun, and the shell burst where the Malayswere thickest, sending them scurrying like wild rabbits to the nearestcover, while the steamer now glided slowly down, closer and closer inshore, till at last she covered the river-face of the fort like anoutwork, and a cheer rose from the little garrison, and was answeredfrom the "Startler" as the forces, so to speak, combined, ready to acttogether for their mutual defence. 

As the steamer was rapidly moored in her new position, men being sentashore with cables from head and stern to make fast to the great trees afew yards from the bank, a rush at them was made by the Malays, but afew well-directed shots from the marines' rifles were sufficient to keepthem at bay till the task was done; and the little garrison now joinedhands with the steamer's crew in clearing the space between them. 

The first step taken by Captain Smithers was to regain possession of theoutworks--the portion he had given up from being so short of defenders. 

This was accomplished without bloodshed; for upon the Malays gatheringin force to withstand his efforts, they were scattered by a shell fromthe steamer, which cleared the way at once. This being done, and ameeting effected full of hearty congratulations, both soldiers andsailors set to work, armed with spades, to throw up a trench from theoutworks of the fort to the river, the ditch being so arranged that ittook in for safety the trees to which the steamer was moored, and thislatter now became as it were the river-face of the fort. 

Night had fallen long before the work was left, and this rendered itnecessary for a retreat to fort and steamer, for the hours interveningtill daybreak, when, no interruption having occurred, the digging wasresumed, every man toiling with his rifle at his side till the task wasdone. 

The next question was whether it would not be safer for all to takepossession of the steamer, even though the extra defences had been made. 

Lieutenant Johnson argued that this would be the better plan, as thenthey could at any time effect a retreat down the river, and make forSingapore or Penang. 

But Captain Smithers refused to listen to this proposal. 

"No, " he said, "it was quite open to the ladies to take up their abodeon board, and probably they would be more secure there than on shore;but so far, " he said, "all was surmise about the expeditionary party. For all they knew, Captain Horton, Major Sandars, and their men, mighthave met with the best of treatment, and at the end of a few days theymight return, to find the station abandoned by those left in charge. "

"I only hope they may, " said the lieutenant. "For my part, I feelcertain that the whole of the people hereabouts are under the influenceof the rajah, sultan included. But I will not oppose you, CaptainSmithers, until matters come to such an extremity that it seems to methat we are uselessly risking life, then I must insist on an evacuationof the fort. "

"I will not oppose you then, " said Captain Smithers; "but you see thatnow it is as if I asked you to resign your ship. "

Lieutenant Johnson nodded; and it having been resolved to hold out tothe last, hoping the while that the expedition might return, the nextproceeding seemed to be that of sending out a trustworthy spy or two, into the country and amongst the people. 

Both Bob Roberts and Tom Long were present at what the latter hadimportantly called the council of war, but nothing definite was decidedupon; and, soon after, the two friends were sitting beneath the shade ofone of the trees, the Malays having withdrawn to a distance, andhostilities being for the present suspended. 

"I think, " said Tom Long, importantly, "that the ladies are quite rightin declining to leave the fort. They are much safer there. "

Bob Roberts laughed, gazed in his companion's face, and laughed againheartily; to the very great disgust of Tom Long. 

"Yes, " he said, gruffly, "I dare say it is very funny, and anybody canlaugh like a buffoon about such an arrangement; but how are they goingto be safe on board a vessel whose officers cannot keep her from runningaground. "

"Well that's a facer, certainly, " said Bob, rather warmly; "but if youcome to that, where would you have been if we hadn't come to your help--burnt out by this time, with your precious fort. "

"Bob Roberts, " said Tom Long, solemnly, "or rather I suppose I ought tosay _Mr_ Roberts--you are about the most quarrelsome fellow I evermet. "

"You couldn't meet yourself, " said Bob, "or you would run against oneten times as quarrelsome. "

"If you want to fall out, " said the ensign, "you might do it in agentlemanly way. "

"If you want me to punch your head, Tom Long, just say so, " cried Bob, hotly. 

"I repeat my words, " said Tom Long, with hauteur. "If you wish toquarrel, sir, you might do it in a gentlemanly manner. "

"Gentlemanly be hanged!" cried Bob. "There's nothing gentlemanly inquarrelling or fighting. "

"And refer the matter to friends, " continued the young military officer. 

Bob's face was red as that of a turkey-cock the moment before, but atthese words the anger seemed to pass away like a cloud from before thesun, and he burst into a hearty fit of laughter. 

"Oh!" he said, "that's what you mean is it? Swords, or pistols, andseconds, early in the morning, with a doctor on the ground. Oh, I say, Tom Long, this is too delicious. "

"Sir!" exclaimed Tom Long. 

"I say it's too delicious. Duelling be hanged; it's fools' work; andI'm not quite fool enough to let a friend make a hole, or try to make ahole, in my precious carcase. "

"Sir, none but a coward would speak as you are speaking, " cried TomLong, indignantly. 

"Oh, wouldn't he?" said Bob. "Well, then, I suppose I'm a coward, forhang me if we don't get running risks enough from these coffee-colouredfellows, without trying it on among ourselves. "

"I thought you more of a gentleman, " said Tom Long, contemptuously. 

"Oh, you did, did you?" said Bob; "and I'm a coward, am I? Well, lookhere, my lad, it's too hot now, but if you like to come on boardto-night, or to-morrow morning, and take off your jacket like a man, I'll have it out with you in the gun-room, and old Dick to see fair, andyou can bring Private Gray or Sergeant Lund. "

"What do you mean?" said Tom Long, haughtily; "swords or pistols, sir?"

"Do I mean swords or pistols, sir?" said Bob, imitating the other'spompous way; "no, sir, I don't mean either. I reserve those lethalweapons, sir, for Her Majesty's enemies, sir, as an officer and agentleman should; and when I fall out with a friend, I punch his headwith my fist--like a man. "

"Like a man!" said Tom Long, in tones of disgust; "like a schoolboy or ablackguard. "

"No, sir, " said Bob, still mimicking his companion; "the schoolboy orman who uses his fists is to my mind not half such a blackguard as the_gentleman_ who tries to kill a fellow in cold blood, and calls it onaccount of his honour. "

"The old contemptible argument, " said Tom Long, sneering. "No one but acoward would take refuge behind such excuses. "

"Then I'm a coward!" said Bob, cocking his heels up on a chair, andsticking his hands in his pockets. "All right: I'm a coward; and as weused to say at school, `give me the coward's blow, ' and if you do, TomLong, you see if I don't punch your head. "

Tom Long rose, and came at him menacingly, and Bob laughed in his face. "I say, Long, old man, " he said, "what a jolly pair of fools we are toquarrel about nothing at all. "

"I never want to quarrel, " said Tom Long, stiffly, for the other's mirthtook him aback, "but when a fellow behaves like a coward--"

"In the face of the enemy, " interposed Bob, "kick him out of theservice, military or naval, eh? Look here, Tommy. "

"For goodness' sake, sir, don't call me by that objectionably childishname, " cried the ensign. "How should you like to be called Bobby?"

"Not much, old boy, " said the middy; "but I don't much care. Nevermind, shake hands. No, don't. Let's do it mentally. Here's old Alicoming, looking as black as a civilian's hat. Hallo, Ali, old chap, ain't you precious proud of your dear fellow-countrymen?"

"Poor fellows; poor fellows!" said Ali, sadly, as he looked from one tothe other. 

"Poor fellows!" said Long. 

"They're a jolly set of sharks, with stings in their tails, that's whatthey are, " said Bob. 

"The poor fellows have been crushed down by cruel governments, and madethe slaves of piratical rajahs and cowardly sultans, " cried Ali, indignantly. "They are a brave set of fellows, and they are onlyfighting against you because they are set on by their leaders. "

"Then all I can say is, " said Bob, "that I should like to have a pop attheir leaders. But cheer up, old chap, you needn't look sodown-hearted. "

"Not look down-hearted, " cried Ali, passionately, "how can I lookotherwise? Where is my father? Where are our friends? What is myposition here? Do you think it gives me pleasure to see the poor bravemen who are fighting against you shot down by your guns? It makes mewretched. "

"Well, never mind, " cried Bob, kindly, as he rose and clapped the youngchief on the shoulder. "It will all come right in the end. "

"I hope so, " said Ali; "but tell me, what have you decided to do?"

"Well, that's announcing the secrets of the council of war, " said Bob. "Shall I tell him, Long?"

"Oh, yes, we can trust him, " replied the ensign. "We are going to stayand fight it out. "

"Of course, of course, " said Ali, nodding. "You could not give up. Youmust not give up. "

"But we want to get some news of the expedition party, by sending atrustworthy spy, " said Bob. "Can you get us a man whom you can trust?"

Ali stood thinking for a few moments, and then shook his head sadly. 

"They would all say the risk is too great. They would lose their livesif discovered. "

"Then what is to be done?" cried Bob. 

Ali stood thinking for a few moments in silence, and then he lookedfrankly from one to the other. 

"I will go myself, " he said. 

The two young men stared at him. 

"You?" they exclaimed in one breath. "Why, just now you said the riskwas too great. "

"That the men would lose their lives!" cried Bob Roberts. 

"If they were discovered!" exclaimed Tom Long. 

"Yes, " said Ali, quietly, and he smiled back in their astonished faces. 

"And yet you would run that risk?" said Bob Roberts. 

"Yes: why not?"

"But for us?"

"Is one's life to be devoted to oneself?" said Ali calmly. "I am not asyou are. You are Christians. I am a follower of the prophet. We callyou dogs and giaours. You look upon us with contempt. But men are butmen, the whole world over, and it seems to me that one's life cannot bebetter spent than in trying to do good to one's friends. "

"But, " said Tom Long, "you would be fighting against your friends, theMalays. "

"No, " said Ali, mournfully. "I should be fighting for them in doinganything that would free them from the rule of idle sensualists andpirates. "

"I tell you what, " cried Bob Roberts, enthusiastically, "we'll whop oldHamet and Rajah Gantang out of their skins, and you shall be sultaninstead, or your father first and you afterwards. "

Ali's eyes flashed as he turned them upon the speaker. 

"You could be chief banjo, you know, " said Bob. 

"Chief--banjo?" said Ali, wonderingly. 

"No, no; I mean gong--Tumongong, " cried Bob. 

"Oh, yes, " said Ali, smiling. "But no, no: that is a dream. Let us beserious. One of your people could not go, it would be impossible; but Iam a Malay, and if I dress myself as a common man--a slave--I couldfollow where the hunting-party went, and find out all you want to know. "

"No, no, " cried Bob, earnestly, "I should not like that. "

"Like what, Mr Roberts?" said a voice that made them start; and turningsharply, they saw Captain Smithers standing by them, with LieutenantJohnson. 

"Mr Ali here wants to dress up as a common Malay, sir, and go as a spyto get news of the hunting-party. "

"It would be excellent, " cried the lieutenant. "Mr Ali, you wouldconfer a lasting favour upon us. "

"But have you thought of the risk?" said Captain Smithers. 

"I have thought of everything, " said the young man, quietly. 

They all sat down together under the shade of the great tree where theywere, and the matter was talked over, it being decided that from time totime Ali was to send messengers with news of his progress, if he couldfind any trustworthy enough; and all being arranged, he left them, tomake preparations for his departure, shaking hands warmly with all, andthen going towards the barracks, but only to return directly. 

"As you may suppose, " he said, "my success depends upon my not beingapparently known to you; so if a strange Malay is seen leaving yourlines, don't let him be fired at. "

"Of course not: I see, " exclaimed Captain Smithers. "But shall we seeyou again?"

"Not to speak to, " replied Ali, smiling; and as soon as he had gone, Captain Smithers walked across the ground to give orders about a strangeMalay being allowed to leave. 

Lieutenant Johnson returned on board the steamer with Bob Roberts; andTom Long, after seating himself comfortably in one chair with his legsin another, went off fast asleep. 

Half an hour after, when all was very still in the burning heat of thesun, when not a breath of air rippled the river or rustled through thetrees; when Englishman and Malay were resting, and the very sentries hadhard work to keep from going to sleep at their posts, there was a softrustling noise in the tree beneath which Tom Long was sleeping; andafter this had been repeated several times a lithe Malay softlydescended till he was within six or eight feet of the ground, when heslipped and fell, but regained his feet instantly, as Tom Long startedinto wakefulness and clapped his hand to his sword, upon seeing thestrange Malay just before him. 

The Malay, however, raised one hand deprecatingly, and smiled a verysignificant smile as he turned to go. 

"Here, stop! surrender! Why--Oh! I say, Ali; that's capital, " he said, as the Malay still smiled at him. "You quite took me in. "

The Malay smiled and nodded, and walked straight off to where a sentrywas watching them both; and the man, seeing the Malay come straight fromhis officer, made way, saluted, and the dark figure passed from thefortified lines and walked away towards where the enemy lay amongst thetrees. 

"That's a brave thing to do, " muttered Tom Long, and resuming his seathe took another sleep, and was awakened the next time by CaptainSmithers laying his hand upon his shoulder. 

"Ali has gone, " he said. 

"Yes, I know, " said Tom Long. "He quite took me in. It was a splendiddisguise. "

"Capital!" said Captain Smithers. "The very sentries were puzzled. "

"Yes, of course they would be, " replied Tom Long; and the captain walkedaway. 

"The sentries must have been puzzled before he came to me, " said TomLong to himself. "That man yonder, though, seemed to take it as amatter of course. I shall be very glad, though, when all this hidingand dodging is over, and the hunting-party are back, for I am not goingto believe that they are in danger after all. "

And yet Tom Long did believe it, and was as uneasy as the rest; but itwas his way of trying to put a good face upon matters. 

CHAPTER FIFTY. 

HOW BOB FISHED FOR MISS LINTON. 

To the surprise and gratification of the English party, thejungle-station remained unmolested for the next two days, giving themample time to make such little additions to the defences as the officersthought needful. The coming of the steamer gave the occupants of thefort command of the water and a way of retreat in case of extremities;moreover, they had the chance of sharing the ship's provisions. So thatwith the knowledge of their power of resistance a feeling of confidencebegan to exist, especially as it was evident that the Malays had beentaught the danger of molesting the little party. 

The enemy came and went from the island in large numbers, but keptentirely aloof, making no attempt to communicate; while their strangesilence excited suspicion in Captain Smithers' mind that some plot washatching. 

The lieutenant joined him in thinking that there was cause forsuspicion, and more stringent watch was kept. 

Old Dick regretted keenly that for reasons of economy the furnace firescould not be kept up, for he argued still that plenty of hot water wasall that was needed to keep them safe. He had, however, to be contentwith the ordinary precautions, promising himself the extraordinary assoon as the fires were lit. 

The ladies had full occupation in tending the wounded, an occupationwhich saved them from much thinking; for there were no tidings of theparty, and now that so long a time had elapsed it became evident thattheir worst fears would be realised. 

In fact the officers began to debate whether the hour had not arrivedwhen they ought to retreat; but the idea was set aside, and once morethey determined to hold the station till help should come, since for thesteamer to go in search of help was to condemn the little garrison ofthe fort to destruction. 

And now as the hours slowly crept by, with the heat and inaction growingmore and more difficult to bear, every thought was directed to the envoythey had sent out, and they waited anxiously for Ali's return, or forsome messenger with tidings at his hands. 

Though the Malays refrained from attack so long as the occupants of thestation kept within their lines, any attempt at quitting the fort atonce drew fire. Consequently the supplies within had to suffice, andmiddy and ensign thought gloomily of the past, when sampans broughtdaily an abundance of delicious fruit, when flowers were abundant, andfish in plenty was supplied. 

Now it was bread or biscuit, and preserved meat either salt or tinned, and preserved vegetables, and so much soup that Bob Roberts said a manmight just as well be living in a workhouse. 

That evening he made up his mind to try for some fish, and aided andabetted by Dick, a line was rigged up, and payed out over the steamer'sstern, the stream carrying down the baited hook, but only into a placewhere there was no likelihood of a fish being caught. So another linewas attached, and another, and another--long sea-lines each of them, till Bob Roberts sat fishing with the end of a line in his hand and hisbait about a quarter of a mile down the stream. 

To his great delight he found the plan to answer, for before long hefelt a tug, and drew in a good-sized fish. This done, he rebaited, andtried again, sometimes catching, sometimes losing, a couple dropping offthe hook just as they were raised up level with the deck. 

It was about an hour before sunset that Bob Roberts set Dick to workwinding up the lines on the reels to dry, and then, having placed thebrilliantly scaled fish in the basket, he obtained leave from thelieutenant, who looked longingly at the catch, and involuntarily madethe noise with his lips customary with some people at the sight ofanything nice. 

"What are you going to do with those, Roberts?" he said. 

"Take them to the ladies, sir. "

"Ah! yes: of course, the ladies first. We ought to study the ladies. But do you know, Roberts, I'm not a ladies' man, and I feel an intensedesire to have one of those fish--broiled. "

"Yes, sir, of course; but I'll come back and catch some more. "

"Yes, do, " said Lieutenant Johnson, gazing longingly at the fish. "There, " he cried hastily; "for goodness' sake be off with them, Roberts, or I shall impound the lot and hand them over to the cook. Youought not to put such temptations in a weak man's way. "

"All right, sir, " said Bob, and he hurried over the side and made forthe barracks, where, to his great delight, he met Rachel Linton, lookingvery pale and ill, coming away from the temporary hospital with hercousin. 

"I've brought you some fish, Miss Linton, " he said. "I thought theywould be welcome just now, as there are no fresh provisions. "

"Doubly welcome, Mr Roberts, " cried Miss Linton, with her face lightingup. "Oh! Mary, I am glad. Mr Roberts, I can never thank you enough. "

Bob felt rather disgusted that the idol he had worshipped should be sofond of the good things of this life. 

"I have been longing for fresh fish, and fruit, and flowers, so, MrRoberts, " she continued. "You cannot get me any fruit or flowers, Isuppose?"

"I could go and try for some, " said Bob, rather glumly, "but you mustn'tbe surprised if I don't come back. "

"Oh, no, no; you must not run any risks, " cried Rachel Linton. "Thatwould be madness, but I'd give anything for some fruit now. "

"She'd better think about her father, " thought Bob, "instead of eatingand drinking. "

"Those poor wounded fellows do suffer so for want of change; but thisfish will be delicious. Poor Parker will eat some, I know. If you canget any fruit for my hospital people, pray do so, Mr Roberts. "

"That I will, Miss Linton, " he cried joyously. 

"And you'll catch me some more fish for the poor fellows?"

"Are you going to give all these to the wounded men, Miss Linton?" hesaid. 

"Yes; of course, " she replied. 

"Why she's an angel, " thought Bob to himself, "and I was giving her thecredit of being a regular pig. "

"Messenger? For me?" exclaimed Captain Smithers, rising up as a soldieradvanced. 

"Yes sir; it's a Malay, and he says he has been sent by the young chief, Ali. "

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. 

DEALINGS WITH THE DEEP. 

There was no little excitement at this announcement, and CaptainSmithers sent at once for Lieutenant Johnson from the steamer, while afile of soldiers went for the messenger who had asked for admission. 

The ladies were too much interested to think of leaving, so MarySinclair ran to fetch Mrs Major Sandars, and returned with her to seethat a rough-looking Malay had been brought up to the group she hadleft. 

Captain Smithers waited a few moments, to allow of the coming of thelieutenant; and meanwhile they all gazed at the Malay, a wild, half-naked fellow, whose scraps of clothing were torn by contact withthorns, and being soaked with water clung to his copper-coloured skin. 

He was scratched and bleeding, and gazed sharply round from one to theother in a strange wild-eyed way, as if feeling that he was not safe. 

Just then the lieutenant came hurrying up, and the Malay, evidentlysupposing him to be the officer he sought, began to unfasten a knot inhis sarong, from which he took a short piece of bamboo about the size ofa man's finger. One end of this was plugged with a piece of pith, andthis he drew out, and then from inside, neatly rolled up and quite dry, a little piece of paper. 

"You Cap-tain Smit-ter?" said the Malay. 

"No, my man, that is the captain, " said the lieutenant, pointing. "Cap-tain Smit-ter. Ali Rajah send, " said the man, holding out thepaper. 

"Did Ali send us this?" said the captain, eagerly. 

"Cap-tain Smit-ter, Ali Rajah send, " said the man again. 

"Where did you leave him?" said the captain. 

"Cap-tain Smit-ter, Ali Rajah send, " repeated the man, parrot fashion, showing plainly enough that he had been trained to use these words andno more. 

Captain Smithers unrolled the scrap of native paper to find writtenthereon, --

"Found the party. Fighting for life in a stockade. Send help insteamer up right river. --Ali. "

"Have you come straight from him?" exclaimed the captain, eagerly. 

"Cap-tain Smit-ter, Ali Rajah send, " said the man again. 

"Where is Wilson?" cried the captain, "or Gray? Ah, you are here, Gray. You have made some progress with the Malay tongue. See what this manknows. "

Private Gray came forward, and by degrees, and with no littledifficulty, learned from the Malay that the English party were in an oldstockade upon a branch of the river, forty miles away, defendingthemselves against a strong body of the sultan's forces. 

"Ask if they are well, " said the captain. 

"He says there are many ill, and many wounded, and that they have buriedmany under the palm-trees, " said Gray, in a low sad voice, "and thatwhen the young chief, Ali, came upon them, they were at the lastextremity from weakness and hunger. "

Rachel Linton uttered a low wail, but on Mrs Major Sandars passing anarm round her, she made an effort and mastered her emotion, fixing hereyes on Adam Gray as, in a low, deep voice he continued the narrativeafter, at Captain Smithers' wish, again questioning the Malay. 

"He says that after giving him the message to bear, the young chief, Ali, left him, saying that he was about to try and join the party in theold stockade, and fight with them to the end!"

There was a mournful silence at this, and for a few moments no onespoke. Then Captain Smithers leaned towards Lieutenant Johnson. 

"Have you any questions to put?" he said. 

"Yes, " replied the lieutenant, and he turned round to their interpreter. 

"Tell me, Gray, what is your opinion of the messenger?"

"At first, sir, I thought him genuine; but since then, there issomething in his manner that makes me doubt the truth of his tale. "

"And yet it seems feasible?"

"Yes, sir, it does; and I confess I have little cause for doubting him;but still I do. "

Lieutenant Johnson turned to Captain Smithers, and they went aside for afew minutes talking earnestly together, while all present watchedeagerly for the next scene in the drama they were passing through. 

"Gray, " said Captain Smithers then, sharply, "ask the messenger if heknows where the old stockade is. "

"He says _yes_, sir, perfectly well. "

"Ask him if he will guide the steamer there. "

"Yes!" was the reply, "if the English officers would protect him fromhis people, and not let him be seen. "

"Tell him, " said Captain Smithers, "that if he is faithful he will behandsomely paid; if he is treacherous, he will be hung to the yard-armof the steamer, and his body thrown to the crocodiles. "

Gray interpreted this to the Malay, who smiled, uncovered the hilt ofhis kris, drew it, took it by the blade, and knelt down before theofficers, placing the point upright on the left shoulder close to hisneck, then reaching out with his right hand, he motioned to CaptainSmithers to strike the weapon down into his breast. 

"He says his life is yours, sir, and bids you kill him if he does notlead you to the stockade. "

"One more question, " said Lieutenant Johnson. "Ask him if there iswater enough up the right river?"

Gray questioned the Malay, who nodded eagerly and then shook his head. 

"He says there is plenty of water, for the river is narrow and verydeep, all but in one place, about a mile from the stockade, and of thathe is not sure, he will not pledge himself to its being sufficientlydeep; but all Rajah Gantang's prahus have gone up and down in safety. "

"That will do, " said the lieutenant. 

"Yes, " said Captain Smithers, "take him aside, give him some food, andguard him well. "

It fell to the lot of Adam Gray to take charge of the Malay who atevoraciously of what was placed before him, and then smiling hissatisfaction he prepared himself a piece of betel-nut, and lying down inthe shade went off fast asleep, evidently wearied out. 

Meanwhile a short consultation was held, during which it was settledthat at any risk the steamer must go to the assistance of thebeleaguered party, Captain Smithers being on the alert to retire intothe barracks when it became necessary. 

This place he would have to hold with stubborn determination, knowingthat the steamer could not be long away, and that Lieutenant Johnson wasgoing with the knowledge that those he left behind were in need of help. 

The fires were lit on the instant, and every effort made to get thesteam up, but all was done as quietly as possible, so as not to take theattention of the Malays, and about ten o'clock all was ready for thestart, when Adam Gray went and roused up the Malay. 

The man rose, shook himself, and then accompanied his guide without aword, climbing the side of the steamer, where everything was ready; thecables were cast loose, and at half-steam the great vessel moved softlyup the river by the light of the stars, which just made their wayvisible. 

As far as they could see, the alarm of the departure had not beenspread; and the steamer glided away so softly, and with so little noise, that there was the chance of her escaping the notice of the Malays, whomight not find out their departure until morning. 

This would delay any attack that might be made for many hours; but allthe same, Captain Smithers felt it better to at once evacuate the outerworks, and two hours after the steamer had glided away, almost invisibleto those who saw her go, the outer works were lying unguarded, and thewhole of the force safely barricaded in the stronghold, with everysentry on the alert. 

Everything had been done in the quietest manner. There was neithernoise nor loud order; the men caught the lightest whisper; and there wassomething weird and strange-looking in the silent figures moving hereand there; but nothing like so weird of aspect as about a couple ofdozen dark shadows that were creeping over the ground taking advantageof every bush or inequality of the ground to cover their movements tillthey reached the deserted earth-works, and crouched there exultingly. 

An hour later the sky was overclouded; and in the darkness the Malayscame crowding up by hundreds, evidently ready for an assault, while mostominous of all was the fact that numbers of them bore bundles of lightwood, and some lumps of dammar ready to continue the task they had hadto give up, consequent upon the steamer's return. 

CHAPTER FIFTY TWO. 

HOW THE STEAMER WENT UP THE RIGHT ARM OF THE RIVER. 

A night journey on a river, when the stars give but little light, andthe banks are dense jungle overhanging the water's edge, is one of nolittle difficulty. Certainly the crew of the steamer had upon theirside the fact, that the stream, though swift, was deep, and its bottommud. There were no rocks and cataracts to encounter in its lowercourse; and even if they did run aground, there was but little risk tothe vessel. But all the same the most constant watchfulness was needed, and Lieutenant Johnson himself joined the look-out at the bows, communicating by a chain of his men with the engine-room and man at thewheel. 

For some distance after leaving the island they proceeded very slowly, little more than mastering the stream; but as soon as they felt thatthey were beyond hearing the speed was increased, and for some miles--through which the course of the river was well-known--the "Startler"proceeded at a pretty good rate, so that by morning half the journey wasaccomplished, and they were abreast of the stockade they had attackedand destroyed. 

About a couple of miles past this the course of the right river openedout, one that a navigator strange to the river would have hesitated totake, for it was narrow at the mouth, overgrown with trees, and seemedto form a chain of lakes, that were one blaze of colour with the blossomof the lotus. 

On the other hand, what seemed the regular course of the river ran broadand clear, and apparently without obstruction of any kind. 

The Malay, who was leaning over the bulwark with his mouth distendedwith betel, pointed one brown arm towards the narrow branch, and thesteamer's engines were slackened and nearly stopped while a boat waslowered, and the crew rowed some little distance along the winding, sluggish stream, sounding every few yards, to find the river extremelydeep with muddy bottom; and as it seemed to wind right on precisely thesame in character, they returned and reported the result to thelieutenant, who at once gave orders, and the steamer entered the narrow, winding way. 

To all appearance they might have been the first visitors to thoseregions, so haunted was the strangely beautiful scene by wild creatures. Birds in abundance fled at their approach. Now it was a white eagle, then a vividly plumaged kingfisher, or a kind of black, racket-taileddaw with glossy plumage. Parrots of a diminutive size and dazzlinggreen plumage flitted before them; and from time to time the lotusleaves were agitated by a shoal of fish, that alarmed by the wash of thesteamer rushed away. 

Every now and then, too, Bob Roberts, who was feasting on what passedlike a glorious panorama before him, had his adventure with Ali in theshooting-trip brought vividly to mind, for some huge reptile or anothershuffled into the slow stream, while others lay sluggishly basking, andill-disposed to move. 

Their progress was slow, for the screw-propeller was more than oncefouled by the thick weed, through which they ploughed their way. Sodense was it that at times it gathered in large cables, stretching frombank to bank, and literally barring further progress, till the steamerwas backed and driven at full speed against the obstruction, whichdivided and swept off in hillocks to starboard and to port. 

Then a more open stretch of water would be gained, widening quite into alake, and framed in glorious tropical verdure; large pools would bequite free from vegetable growth, and so clear that the bright scales ofthe fish could be seen flashing far below. Then the river seemed towind its way through dense growths of lily and other water plants, amidst which water-fowl in endless numbers disported themselves, butfled away at the sight of the steamer, panting onward through thiswilderness of beauty. 

For in spite of the anxiety felt by all, and their eagerness to reachthe spot where their friends were in peril, it was impossible to helpgazing with wonder and admiration at the loveliness of all around. Where the stream narrowed, the great trees growing to the water's edgeformed huge walls of verdure, in parts a hundred--two hundred feet high;and over and amidst these wreathed and twined the beautiful creepers, filling up every gap with leaves of the most delicious, tender green. Then a tree would be passed one mass of white and tinted blossoms, another of scarlet, and again another of rich crimson, while in everydamp, sun-flecked opening wondrous orchids could be seen carpeting theearth with their strange forms and glowing colours. Pitcher-plants too, some of huge size, dotted the ground every here and there where thesteamer passed close to the shore--so close at times that the ends ofthe yards brushed the trees; and yet the vessel took no harm, for thedeep water ran in places to the banks, and though often half coveredwith weedy growth, the river was canal-like in its deeper parts, wherethe sluggish stream steadily flowed along to join its more rapid brothermiles below. 

For some time now Lieutenant Johnson had been bitterly regretting thathe had not insisted upon bringing Private Gray, so as to have aninterpreter, for his own knowledge of the Malay tongue was almost _nil_. And yet he was obliged to own that it would have been unjust to robthem at the station of part of their strength, when at any moment theymight want it all. 

Bob Roberts was the better Malay scholar of the two, but his vocabularyonly extended to asking for a durian, Good morning! How are you? andthe favourite Malay proverbial saying, --"_Apa boleh booat_"--It was tobe, or It couldn't be helped. 

They had been progressing now for hours, and the heat was insufferable--a heavy, moist heat, in that narrow way, shut in between two walls ofverdure, and yet there seemed to be no signs of their journey beingnearly ended. Under the circumstances Bob Roberts was set to try andget some information out of their guide, whom he tried with "Goodmorning, " in the Malay tongue; and then, after a civil answer to hisremark, plunged at once into plain English with, --

"How much farther is it?"

The Malay looked hard in his eyes, and Bob repeated the question. 

The Malay seemed to divine what he meant, for he raised one bare brownarm and pointed forward along the course of the river. 

It was a mute but conclusive reply, telling the middy plainly enoughthat they had farther to go, and once more the attention of all wastaken up by the navigation of the narrow winding channel. 

Still there was no fault to be found with Ali's message, for the waterwas deep, and though the steamer seemed at times to be running rightinto the bank, there was always room to turn what looked to be an uglycurve, and onward they went through the dense jungle. 

On either side the primeval forest seemed to stretch away, and wherethere were changes of a more park-like character, so rare was the sightof a human being there that the shy pea-fowl, all metallic plumage andglorious eyes, could be seen gazing at the steamer before taking flight. There were deer too seen occasionally, and had this been apleasure-trip the sportsman would have had ample use for rifle or gun. 

But this was no pleasure-trip, for the deck was cleared for action, andthe men were at their quarters, ready to send shot or shell hurtlingthrough the jungle whenever there should be a reason for such a step. 

Another hour, and another, and still the Malay guide pointed before him, gesticulating a little sometimes, as if bidding them hasten onwards. 

The speed was increased at such times, though it was risky, for thenarrowness of the course, and the size of the steamer, rendered thegreatest care necessary to avoid running her bows in among the trees. 

Lieutenant Johnson stamped impatiently at last as the sun was descendingbehind the trees, and still the Malay pointed onwards. 

"It is enough to make one think it a wild goose chase!" he exclaimed. "We have made a grievous mistake in not having an interpreter. Roberts, you ought to be able to speak the Malay tongue. "

"Yes, sir, " said Bob, "I ought!" And then to himself, "So ought you!"

Another hour and they were passing through a denser part than ever; soclose were they that the large drooping boughs of some of the treescracked and rustled and snapped as they passed by, to get to what seemedto be quite a lagoon shining clear and silvery, as seen by those onboard the steamer through quite a tunnel of overhanging branches. 

"We ought to be able to hear firing by this time if it is going on atthe stockade, " said the lieutenant. "What a place to bring HerMajesty's ship into! If I did not know that those poor fellows wereanxiously expecting help, not a fathom further would I take the steamerthan into yon open water to-night! Here! fetch that Malay fellow here, and let's see if we cannot get something out of him!"

Bob Roberts went forward to where the Malay stood, leaning over thebulwarks gazing at the trees on either side--at least he went to wherethe Malay did stand gazing at the trees, but now to Bob's astonishmentthe man was not there!

"Where's the Malay guide?" he said sharply to Dick, who was nearest tohim. 

"Well, sir, if you call that there chap a guide, " said Dick, "I'vedone. "

"I say where's the Malay guide?" said Bob, angrily. 

"Haven't seen him, sir, " said Dick, touching his cap. 

"But he was standing here not ten minutes ago, just before we brushedagainst those trees!" exclaimed the young officer. 

"Well yes, sir, I remember as he was, " said old Dick, and several of thesailors were ready to affirm that they saw him not five minutes before. 

A look round the deck showed that he was not there, and Bob stoodlooking puzzled; for the man had evidently looked upon himself almost asa prisoner, and not free to go about; he had consequently stood leaningagainst the port bulwark all the time, except when he had squatted onthe deck to partake of the food supplied to him. 

"Couldn't have been knocked overboard by the boughs, could he, sir?"said Dick. 

"Impossible!" exclaimed the middy; and he hurried off to report the factthat the Malay was missing. 

"Are you sure?" exclaimed the lieutenant sharply. 

"Certain, sir! He's nowhere on deck!"

"I thought as much!" cried the lieutenant angrily. "Good heavens, Roberts! that we could have been such idiots! Gray was right!"

"I do not understand you, sir. "

"Understand? It's plain enough! That man, Private Gray, said hesuspected the fellow, and yet we allowed him to gull us with hisplausible story. Here, look sharp there!" he cried, as the steamerstood out now free of the tunnel-like canal, through which she hadpassed, and was now approaching the centre of a tolerably broad lagoon. 

The lieutenant gave his command in short, sharp, decisive tones, and aminute later a little anchor fell with a splash into the water, and thesteamer swung in the just perceptible stream. 

"I dare not attempt the journey back to-night, Roberts, " he said. "Weshould be aground in the thick darkness before we had gone a mile. "

"But won't you go forward, sir? We must be near the stockade!"exclaimed Bob. 

"If we go on till the river becomes a ditch, we shall find no stockadehere, Roberts!" cried the lieutenant. "Why should there be one? Thereis neither campong nor sampan upon the river, and it is evident thatthere is no trade. No, Roberts, we have been tricked--cheated, and wemust get back at full speed as soon as day begins to break. I have beenuncomfortable for hours now, as I felt that our poor friends could neverhave come through such a forest as this. It is only passable forbeasts!"

"But the Malay and his message?"

"The Malay is as great a cheat as the old fruit-seller; and that messagewas never written by young Ali, unless he, too, is an enemy!"

"My life upon it, he is not, " cried Bob. 

"Then either he has been killed, or our plans were overheard, orbetrayed, or something or another! That fellow--I see it all now it istoo late--has quietly led us up here, awaiting his chance, and it camewhen those big boughs swept the side. He swung himself into one of thetrees, and is by this time on his way back to his friends. "

"But the jungle is not passable!" said Bob. 

"Then he will make a bamboo raft and get down the river. Oh, that wecould be such fools!"

Bob Roberts stood in the gathering darkness staring at his superiorofficer, and trying hard to believe that the Malay might have been sweptover by accident; but by degrees he felt his mind veering round to thelieutenant's ideas. 

The next minute orders were being given respecting the watch on deck, every light was extinguished, and extra care taken lest they should havebeen led into a trap and attempts be made to board the steamer duringthe night. But as the hours glided on, all they heard was the distantroar of some beast of prey, or an occasional splash in the water--soundsthat had a strange attraction for Bob Roberts, as, with no thought ofgoing to his cot, he leaned against the bulwark watching the fire-fliesamid the trees, and mournfully wondered how they were getting on at thestation, and what had become of Ali, shuddering again and again as thelieutenant's ominous words recurred to his mind. 

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE. 

PRIVATE SIM IS VERY WIDE AWAKE. 

Lieutenant Johnson had said that in all probability Ali had been killed, this being of course his surmise, for he had no real reason for such anassertion. He was quite right, though, about having been tricked, forone of Rajah Gantang's cleverest spies after hearing from hishiding-place the plans that had been made, assumed the part of Ali indisguise, and passed unchallenged by the sentries to go straight to therajah and plan with him a way to divide the forces by sending thesteamer upon a false scent. 

This had been done, with the success that has been seen. But though thelittle garrison was awakened to a sense of its danger, very soon afterthe steamer had taken its departure, it did not realise the fact thatthey had all been deceived. 

All the requisite precautions had been taken, and saving the guard, thelittle garrison had lain down to sleep, according to Captain Smithers'instructions, for he had addressed them before they were dismissed. 

"There may be no danger, " he had said, "but we must be on the alert, solet every man lie down in his clothes, with his arms close at hand. Sergeant Lund, see that the men's pouches are supplied with cartridges. To-morrow, my lads, I hope to see the steamer back, with our rescuedfriends!"

The men gave a cheer and departed. The guard was relieved, and CaptainSmithers stood talking to Tom Long. 

"My dear lad, " said the former, "there is not the slightest need for anysuch proceeding. Go and lie down. I shall visit the sentries for thefirst half of the night, and I will call you about three. "

"I don't feel much disposed for sleep, " said Tom Long, who lookeduneasy. 

"You are not well. The heat has overdone you a little. You go and havea good sleep, " said the captain. "To-morrow I hope we shall have thedoctor back among us to set us right. "

"I hope so, too, " said Tom Long, gloomily; and going to his quarters helay down, with his sword and revolver beside him, ready for use. 

Adam Gray was off duty, and he, too, had gone to lie down. But he couldnot sleep, neither did he wish to do anything else but lie there andthink about Rachel Linton, and how pale and unhappy she appeared. Helonged to speak words of comfort to her, and to say others as well; buthe dared not, for his position forbade it. Still he could not helpfeeling that she did not look unkindly upon him, nor seem to considerhim to be one of the ordinary soldiers. 

He sighed as he thought of other days, and then lay listening to thehumming noise made by the mosquitoes--wondered whether Rachel Linton wasasleep or awake--whether, if she was awake, she was thinking of him. 

Then he drove away the thoughts with an angry exclamation, anddetermined to think about her no more. But as he turned his face to theopen window, and listened to the faint hum of the night insects, RachelLinton's face came back, and he was thinking of her again, and this timein connection with Captain Smithers. 

He knew the captain loved her, and instinctively hated him--PrivateGray. He felt, too, that by some means or another the captain knew of, and hated him for, his presumptuous love; the more so that Rachel Lintondid not seem to care in the slightest degree for the captain's advances, but rather avoided him. 

Private Gray turned again and again, but he could not lie there anylonger for the uneasy feeling that tormented him. 

The men in the long room slept easily enough, but he could not, and hetold himself that he might just as well get up and go and watch with oneof the sentries, for then he would be doing something towards protectingthe station. 

He rose then softly, and fastening on his belt with the bayonetattached, he went cautiously out into the night air, to see that thoughthe stars twinkled brightly, the night was very dark. All was perfectlystill, and as he went cautiously round, every man seemed to be on thewatch, when suddenly a thought struck him which sent a cold shiverthrough his breast. 

He was standing just beneath the window of the officers' quarters, wherehe knew that Rachel Linton and her cousin would be sleeping, and thesentry nearest, the man who should be on the keenest watch, was, if hewas not mistaken, Private Sim. 

He could not make out for certain from where he stood, but he feltalmost certain that this was the case, and that Sim was occupying themost important outpost of the little fort. 

With his heart beating wildly he crept back to the place where the menlay asleep, and going on tiptoe from one to the other, he satisfiedhimself by the dim light of the lamp swinging from the roof that PrivateSim was not there. 

"It was utter madness, " he muttered to himself. "Lund should haveknown, " and in his excitement he recalled to mind the night when he hadfound him asleep. 

He remembered, too, what a fearful night that was, and he felt that thismight prove to be just as dangerous, as he hurried back, catching up hisrifle and pouch as he went, and then going quietly along to wherePrivate Sim was stationed. 

It was undoubtedly the weakest spot about the fort, and in place of oneuntrustworthy man, two of the most trusty should have been stationedthere. By some error of judgment, however, this was not done, andPrivate Sim held the lives of all in the little fort within his hand. 

Gray thought that after all he might be misjudging him, and therefore hewent on cautiously, listening as he stopped from time to time, andexpecting to be challenged; but there was no sound to be heard, and asGray went closer it seemed to him as if no sentry had been placed there. But as he went nearer there was no error of judgment upon his part. Itwas as he suspected. Private Sim was seated on the ground, his rifleacross his lap, fast asleep, and quite oblivious of the fact that hismessmate stood close beside him, panting with rage and disgust. 

"You scoundrel!" he cried in a low, passionate voice. "Do you not knowthat the punishment may be death for sleeping at a time like this?"

As he spoke he struck the sleeper heavily upon the head with the butt ofhis rifle, and Sim started up and grappled with him, just as a dozenMalays sprang out of the darkness, and made at the defence between them. 

The struggle between the two was but brief, for Gray threw Sim off, andbrought his bayonet to bear against the Malays, forgetting in hisexcitement to load and fire, so that it was Sim's rifle that gave thealarm. 

For the next few minutes the two men fought side by side, their bayonetskeeping the Malays back every time they strove to enter the place, anddriving them off successfully till help came, and two or three volleysdid the rest. 

"How was this? How did it happen that you did not see the enemyapproaching sooner, Private Sim?" said Captain Smithers, sternly. 

Sim trembled for his life, knowing as he did that over matters ofdiscipline the captain was a stern man, and that he must expect no mercyfor his fault if Gray spoke out, and told all he knew; so he exclaimedhastily, and with a malicious look at Gray, --

"How could I, sir, when there are traitors in the camp?"

"Traitors! What do you mean?"

"I mean a traitor, sir! Private Gray there came up behind me, leapedupon me, and held his hand over my mouth to keep me still, while hewhistled to the Malays to come in by the opening, there. "

"You lying--"

"Silence, Private Gray!" cried Captain Smithers, and all that was evilin his nature came to the surface, as he felt that here was anopportunity for disgracing, if not putting his rival to death; and astrange feeling of savage joy animated him for the moment. "Silence, Private Gray!" he cried. "Speak out, Private Sim. Do you mean toassert that this man served you as you say?"

"Look at me, sir!" cried Sim, showing his disordered uniform. "That wasdone in the struggle; and I did not fire as soon as I could havewished. "

"Show me your rifle, Sim, " said the captain. 

Sim held out his piece, while, choking with rage and astonishment, Graystood speechless in their midst. 

The piece was examined, and it had just been discharged. 

"Show me your piece, Gray, " said Captain Smithers. 

Gray held it out, and it was quite clean. It was not loaded, and it hadnot lately been discharged. 

"I tried as hard as I could, captain!" whined Sim; "but he came upon meso sudden like, that I was mastered at once. "

"What were you doing there, Gray? You were not on duty. Your place wasin bed. "

"I could not sleep, sir, " said Gray. "I doubted this man, and I came tosee. "

"Why, you jumped right on me, sudden like, out of the darkness!" saidSim. 

"Silence, Sim!" said the Captain. "Gray, this charge must beinvestigated. You are under arrest. Sergeant, put this man in irons!"

"But, Captain--"

"Silence, sir! You can make your defence when you are tried bycourt-martial. "

"I hope, captain, " whined Sim, "that it won't be my doing as he'spunished. I'd a deal rather help a fellow than get him into trouble. "

"You are on duty, sir! Attend to your post!" cried Captain Smithers. 

He turned angrily then on Private Gray, who was so cruelly mortified, especially as, glancing upward, he saw the window was open, and RachelLinton and her cousin there, that he could not or would not speak a wordin his defence. He gave Sim a look that made that scoundrel shiver, andthen said to himself:

"She will not believe that I am a traitor!"

He glanced involuntarily upwards as this thought occurred to him, andthe captain ground his teeth with rage as he saw the glance; but feelingas he did that he had his rival beneath his heel, a glow of triumph ranthrough him. 

The next moment, though, all that was gentlemanly and true came to thesurface, and he felt that Private Gray was not the man who could beguilty of such a crime. Sim must be the offending party, and Gray betoo proud to speak. He could not iron him, or doubt his honour; he wastoo true a man; and as Sergeant Lund unwillingly came forward with afile of men, the captain motioned him back. 

"This is no time for making prisoners, " he said. "Sergeant, change thesentry here. Place two men on guard. Private Sim, go to theguard-room: I may want to question you. Private Gray, this is an awfulcharge against you, and if you are guilty you will be shot. "

There was a faint sound as of some one's breath catching at the windowabove, but it was heard by Captain Smithers and Private Gray alone asthey stood face to face. 

"I know it, captain!" said Gray, quietly. 

"We are in face of the enemy, " continued Captain Smithers. "Take yourrifle again, and help to defend the place. You had better die by thespear of a Malay. Go to the guard-room now; and mind, if any words passbetween you and Private Sim--"

"Quick, sir, the alarm!" cried Gray, pointing out beneath the stars. "The enemy!"

"Fire, sentry!" cried Captain Smithers; and the report of a rifle rangout on the still night air, for the Malays were advancing in force. 

Fresh shots were fired on all sides as the men turned out, and were attheir various places in a very few moments, the wisdom of the captain'scommands being manifest; and as he saw Private Gray go down on one kneeand begin firing, with careful aim, at the advancing enemy, --"He's notraitor, " he muttered; "and I never doubted him at heart. "

He had no time for further thought, for the attack had become general, and the Malays seemed furious, striving hard to gain an entry, butalways encountering one or two bayonets at every point, till, after halfan hour's fierce struggle, they drew back, leaving a number of dead andwounded around the place. 

The defenders of the little fort drew breath at this, and as the firingceased, the major's wife, with Rachel Linton and her cousin, came round, first with refreshments for the exhausted men, and, as soon as they weredistributed, began to bandage those who were wounded. 

It was while they were busy over this task, that in the darkness RachelLinton came upon a man leaning against the breast-work, gazingattentively out at the position of the enemy. 

"Are you wounded?" she asked; and at her words Private Gray startedround and faced her. 

"Only slightly, " he said, "in body--but deeply in spirit. "

"Let me bind your wound, " said Rachel Linton, hoarsely, and her voicetrembled as she spoke. 

"Which?" he said bitterly, as they stood alone. 

"Let me bind your arm, " she said quietly now, as she drew a long breath. 

"It is but a scratch, " he said carelessly, "a spear thrust. "

Without another word Rachel Linton slit open the sleeve of the jacket hewore, and deftly bandaged the double wound, for the thrust had goneright through Gray's arm. Then rising, she stood before him for amoment or two. 

"You asked which wound would I bind up, Adam Gray, " she said sadly. "Ihave bound up one. If my words will help to bind up the other, let metell you that I do not believe the foul charge made against you. "

The rifle fell against Gray's wounded arm as he caught the speaker'shand in his, and raised it to his lips. 

"You have done more, " he said; "you have healed it. "

For the next few moments he stood there as if holding the hand in his, though Rachel Linton had hurried away. Then he started, for he becameaware that Tom Long had seen what had taken place, and was now standingleaning on his sword. But he did not speak, he only turned away, leaving Gray watching, and thinking hopefully now of the charge he hadto meet. 

"Smithers is a gentleman, " he said to himself; "they cannot shoot me forwhat I have not done. "

Then he began to wonder how the steamer had sped, and how soon theywould bring back their friends. This was the more important, as he feltsure that a few such determined efforts on the Malay's part, and thelittle garrison must succumb. 

"He is a brave young fellow, that Ali, " he thought, "and has managedwell. "

Then he stood gazing out over the dark ground in front, where here andthere he could make out the dimly seen form of some unfortunatecombatant, who had not been carried off by his friends. 

It was darker now than ever, and he was silently watching for danger, when a faint rustling noise caught his ear, and he brought his piecedown to the present, for undoubtedly one of the bodies lying on the darkearth was in motion, and crawling slowly towards where he stood. 

CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR. 

THE END OF ALI'S MISSION. 

Adam Gray's finger was on the trigger of his piece, but he did not fire, though he carefully covered the figure before him, and watchedattentively to make sure that it was no hallucination. 

He had marked that figure before; one that lay face downwards, apparently just as the man had fallen from a shot. And now the dimlyseen arms had changed positions--there was no doubt of that--and thefigure was crawling forward. 

What did it mean? Either it was a poor wounded wretch, striving hard toget relief and help, or else it was a trick on the part of a treacherousMalay, who was trying to put in force a North American Indian's tactics, and creeping forward to stab a sentry. 

"And so gain an entrance into the fort, " thought Adam Gray. "Well, mypoor wretch, you will not do it, unless both my rifle ball and bayonetshould miss. "

Just then the figure stopped, and lay quite motionless; and again Grayhesitated, feeling sure that he must have been deceived, as he gazed nowat the figure where it lay, some twenty yards away. 

There it was, perfectly motionless, and in that darkness Gray felt thathe really could not be sure about it. After all, the figure might belying where it had first lain. It was impossible to say. 

His doubts were dispelled the next moment, for the figure was once morein motion, and stopped short as the lock of the sentry's rifle clicked. 

"Don't shoot!" said a voice in English; "I am a friend. "

"If you move again, I fire!" said Gray in a low, stern voice. "Who areyou?"

"Is that Private Gray?" said the voice. 

"Mr Ali, is that you?" cried Gray, leaning towards him. 

"Yes, it is I, " said the figure, crawling rapidly towards him. 

"What are you doing with the enemy?"

"Trying to make my way to you. They will not see now. Give me yourhand, and I will climb up. "

Gray leaned out over the breast-work, gave his hand to the young man, and, with a little exercise of his muscular strength, half-drew, half-aided him to climb into the stronghold--just as Captain Smithersand Tom Long leaped upon them, seizing each his man, and holding hissword to his throat. 

"You doubly-dyed scoundrel!" cried Captain Smithers. "Caught him in theact! Call the guard there!"

"Don't you know me, Long?" said a voice that made Tom lower his swordpoint. 

"Ali!" cried Captain Smithers; "you here?"

"Yes, I am back, " said the young man sadly. 

"Gray, my good fellow, " cried Captain Smithers, "fate seems to haveordained that I should doubt you. "

"Fate is sometimes very cruel to us all, sir, " said Gray, coldly, as thecaptain set him free, and turned to Ali. 

"You found them, then?"

"No, " said Ali, sadly. 

"But the stockade?"

"What stockade?"

"Where you found them. The steamer went off early in the night. "

"The steamer went off? Where?"

"Don't waste time, man, in puzzles, " cried the captain, excitedly, as hefelt that something was wrong. "You sent a messenger?"

"I sent no messenger, " said Ali, excitedly. 

"Yes, yes; the man with the writing in a bamboo?"

"I sent no man, " said Ali, sadly. "You have been cheated--over-reachedby your enemies. "

"But did you not find them?"

"No, I was hemmed-in at every turn; and at last, in despair I havecrawled back here, hardly saving my life, your sentries are so keen. "

"This is dreadful, " said Captain Smithers. "How we have been deluded!"

He took a few steps to and fro, and then paused before Ali, gazing athim searchingly. 

"Sir, " he said, "we are each of different nations, and your people areat war with mine. Why should I trust you? why should I believe in yourwords? How do I know that I am not talking to one who believes it to bea virtue to slay people of my creed?"

Ali looked at him wonderingly for a few moments before he spoke, slowly, --

"Because you know that I am honest, " he said; "and if I am not, you haveyour resource there. Kill me. "

Captain Smithers resumed his agitated walk to and fro. 

"This is dreadful!" he said, excitedly. "Those poor fellows have beeninveigled away like the hunting-party, and perhaps by this time there isa second massacre. "

"I think you exaggerate, " said Ali, quietly. "The hunting-party havebeen led away by a ruse, and the steamer sent upon an errand by a clevertrick. But Captain Horton and Major Sandars are not men to give up thelives of their following without a bitter struggle. And as forLieutenant Johnson--"

"And Mr Roberts, " interposed Tom Long. 

"Yes, with Mr Roberts, " said Ali, "he is too strong in guns and men tobe easily overcome, unless by--"

"Treachery? Yes, " said the captain. "And that is what I dread. "

"To such an extent, " said Ali, with a quiet smile, "that you doubt yourfriends. "

"For the moment only, " said Captain Smithers, holding out his hand, which the other frankly grasped. "You must remember--my position, sir. "

"I do, " said Ali. "Now give me a rifle and revolver; we may be attackedat any moment. "

"We?" said Tom Long holding out his hand. 

"Yes, " said Ali, smiling; "and if we get safely through this trouble youwill have to try and make me more of an Englishman than I am. "

Even while he was speaking the Malays renewed their attack with thegreatest pertinacity, it being evident that their object was to capturethe fort before the steamer could render help. They seemed to be rousedto a pitch of mad fury by the resistance they encountered and theirlosses, attacking with such determination that it needed no words onCaptain Smithers' part to warn his little garrison that they must fightto the death. 

With a civilised enemy it would have been quite reasonable to havesurrendered long ago, but with such a foe as Rajah Gantang, a pirate ofthe worst Malay type, such an act as surrender would have meant givingall up to a horrible death. 

Never was daylight more welcome than when it appeared to the defendersof that little stronghold, who, gaunt, haggard, and faint with exertion, saw the sky suddenly turn to orange and gold; and then the sun rose overthe widespread jungle, sending the wreathing night-mists floating amidstthe feathery palms, and seeming to dissolve into thin air. 

The first order given by Captain Smithers was to have a signal ofdistress run up to the top of the flagstaff; the next to try andstrengthen the defences, which were sorely dilapidated. Some of thebarricading planks and forms were torn down, others riddled withbullets. 

Through the rough straw mattresses spears were sticking in a dozendirections, and what had looked hopeless again and again during thenight seemed doubly so by day. 

But Captain Smithers was not made of the stuff to give up. He had thoseunder his charge whom he was ready to render his life to save; and thespirit that animated his breast seemed to infuse itself in the spiritsof the others. He was half mad with jealousy; and angered almost beyondbearing at the thought that Rachel Linton should favour, as he was surenow that she did, a private soldier in preference to him. But he castaway all narrow selfishness, for he was obliged to confess that Gray wasno common man, but evidently a gentleman by education if not by birth. 

Casting aside, then, all unworthy thoughts, he roused Tom Long from ashort sleep that he had made him take. He said a few encouraging wordsto the men, and then went to join the ladies, who had anticipated hiswishes, and were ready with plenty of refreshments for the jadeddefenders of the fort. 

It is wonderful what efficacy there is in a cup of hot coffee and a bigbiscuit. Men who, ten minutes before, had stood rifle in hand, dejectedand utterly worn-out, lost their haggard looks and seemed to pullthemselves together after partaking of the cup of comfort that theladies brought round. 

Rifles were wiped out, belts tightened; and with brightening eyes themen seemed ready to give a good account of the enemy when they closed infor their next attack. 

"I have bad news for you, Captain Smithers, " said Rachel Linton to him, quietly, as she took the cup she had given him from his hands. 

"I don't think you can give me worse news than I already know, " he said, sadly. 

"Yes, but I can, " she said, with her brows knitting with pain for hissuffering. "The heat of the day will soon be upon us, and we have nomore water. "

These words roused the captain to a less selfish view of things, and hestood for a moment or two thinking. It was indeed a tantalisingposition, for, glittering and sparkling in the sun, there before themflowed the bright river, no drop of whose waters could be reached onaccount of the thronging enemy. 

"I will see to it at once, " he said, quietly; and as Miss Linton lefthim, Tom Long came up. 

"We must have a well dug at once, " he said. "Take charge here, Long, while I pick out a place. "

Ensign Long assumed the command, but now without any of his oldconsequential airs. Adversity was taming him down, and to his surprisehe found himself talking in a very different tone to his men, whoyielded a readier obedience than of old. 

Captain Smithers was not long in selecting a place for the well, and ina very few minutes a squad of men were at work, some digging, othersbearing off the earth in baskets to pile up in front of weak places andadd to their strength. 

It was a hard call upon the men, that digging; but even while theyworked the demand for water arose, and they slaved at their task, knowing the tortures that waited them should they not succeed. 

Every man worked in turn, except those badly wounded, though even someof those carried away the baskets of earth. 

Among others, Private Gray was ready to aid in this way, after vainlytrying to handle a spade, a task rendered impossible by his wound. Hewas hard at work over his work, carrying basketful after basketful withone hand, when Captain Smithers came up, saw how he was striving, andstood looking on for a few moments. 

"We shall have to put off your court-martial yet, Gray, " he said grimly. "Give me that basket. Sit down awhile. "

Gray was ready to resist, but his officer's words were law, and sittingdown to rest, and wipe the streaming perspiration from his face, hewatched his captain slave away at the toil with the others, for in thoseperilous times show and uniforms were forgotten. 

It proved to be a harder task than had been anticipated. CaptainSmithers had expected to find the subsoil of the island all softalluvial earth, in which, from the neighbourhood of the river, therewould be an abundance of water. It had never occurred to him that ifthe island had been of soft earth it would long before have been washedaway. It was found to be rock at a short distance down, composed of asoft limestone, through which they had to chip their well. 

A dozen times over alarms of attack--some real, some false--were given, when spade, pick, and basket had to be laid on one side, and riflesseized. The attack repelled, the fight for water was renewed; and tothe intense delight of all, about ten feet down the pure life-givingelement came gushing in a clear current from the rock. 

Meanwhile Ali's eyes, which were more experienced in the ways of theenemy than those of his companions, read plainly enough that far frombeing damped by their ill-success they were preparing for a more generalassault, and he confided his opinions to Tom Long. 

"I can't see any difference, " said Tom Long, after a careful inspectionthrough his glass. "They looked just like that every time they came on, and--ah! there are some more of them, though. "

"More, " echoed Ali. "They are doubled in number. Look, too, at the wayin which they are making bundles of reeds and canes. "

"Well, let them, " said Tom Long; "our rifle bullets will go throughthose fast enough. If I were Smithers, I'd give them a good searchingfire now, and let them know that our rifles make fine practice at athousand yards' distance. Those fellows are not six hundred. "

"Better wait till every shot is more likely to tell, " replied Ali. "Thebullets would of course go through those bundles of cane; but do you notsee what they mean?"

"No, " said Tom Long, quietly, "unless they mean to burn us out. "

"That is what they do mean, " replied Ali. "And look! Quick! give thealarm! They are coming on at once!"

"Let them, " said Tom Long, phlegmatically. "They won't alarm us. Nicepeople your fellow-countrymen, Ali!"

"Fellow-countrymen!" said the young Malay, scornfully. "Myfellow-countrymen are gentlemen! These are the scourings of thecountry, with half the scoundrels from Borneo, Java, and Sumatra--menwho have lived all their lives upon piracy and murder. "

"Well, whatever they are, " said Tom Long, coolly, "they are coming on, so I may as well let the lads know. All right, though; every one is onthe alert, and I daresay we can give a good account of them before theyget back. Are you sure that these are all a bad lot?"

"Sure?" cried Ali. "They are the scum of the east. "

"Then we'll skim them a little more, " said Tom Long. "Hi! sergeant, letme have a rifle and some cartridges; I think I should like to pot a fewcut-throat pirates myself. "

Sergeant Lund handed him the required rifle, Captain Smithers coming upat the moment, and as he swept the surroundings of the little fort withhis glass his countenance changed a little, for grave as had been theirposition before, he felt now that unless help quickly came it wasabsolutely hopeless. 

CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE. 

HOW THE HUNTING-PARTY FARED. 

There was a thick mist hanging over the forest when the bugle rang outthe _reveille_, and, some eagerly, some thinking rest the better thing, all the hunting-party began to gather outside their tents, where thebest apologies for tubs and baths were provided for the officers. 

No sooner, however, did the Malays see this than they laughingly led theway to a little river, evidently a tributary of the Parang, and settingthe example plunged into its deep, clear, cool waters, showingthemselves to be adepts at swimming, and laughing to scorn, the idea ofthere being any crocodiles there. 

The water was deliciously cool, and one and all the officers gladlyavailed themselves of the jungle bath, emerging fresh, and their nervestoned up ready for any work that was to fall to their lot that day. 

By the time they returned to the camp an _al fresco_ breakfast wasready, half English, half Malay. There were tea and coffee, pottedmeats and sardines, and side by side with them, delicious Malay curries, made with fresh cocoa-nut, sambals of the most piquant nature, and freshfish and blachang--that favourite preparation of putrid shrimps. Fruitswere in abundance--plantains of various kinds, mangosteens, lychees, anddurians smelling strong enough to drive away a dozen Tom Longs, had theybeen there. In short, the sultan had given orders that his cooks shoulddo their best; similar instructions had been given by Captain Horton andMajor Sandars; and the result was a breakfast fit for a prince--whocould put up with a picnic and a camp-stool, beneath an umbrageous tree. 

"Whatever you gentlemen do, " said Doctor Bolter, "pray restrain yourappetites. You see, " he said, taking his seat cross-legged, like theMalays, in front of a dish of blachang, and its neighbour a deliciouschicken curry, "you will to-day be exposed a good deal to the heat ofthe sun; you will exert yourselves, no doubt; and therefore it isadvisable that you should be very moderate in what you eat and drink. Thanks, yes, major, I will take a glass of claret before my coffee. What a thing it is that we can get no milk. "

So saying, the doctor set to work, "feeding ferociously, " so CaptainHorton said, with a laugh, and partaking of everything that took hisfancy, finishing off with a cigarette. 

The sultan smiled his satisfaction as he sat at the head of the table, eating little himself, but giving instructions from time to time to hisslaves that they should hand fruit and other delicacies to the gueststhat were near him. 

The various officers followed the doctor's example, telling one anotherthat they could not be far wrong if they imitated their medical guide. The only one who did not seem to enjoy his meal was Mr Linton, who feltworried, he hardly knew why, about their position. 

Now that he was away from the residency, an undefined sense of troublehad come upon him, and he could not help feeling how helpless they mustbe if the Malays turned against them. Certainly they were allwell-armed, and could make a brave fight, perhaps win their way back;but if they did, he felt sure that something would have gone wrong atthe island. 

The preparations for the fresh start chased away his forebodings, andthe packing having been rapidly performed, soldier, sailor, and Malaywere soon in motion, the long train winding its way through the densejungle, with the rattan panniers and howdahs of the elephants brushingthe lush verdure on either side. 

The morning was deliciously cool, and as they went on and on through theforest shades, where at every turn something bright and beautiful mettheir gaze, the whole party were in the highest spirits; and thediscipline only being kept tight, as to the order in which they marched, the men laughed and talked, sang and smoked, and seemed to be thoroughlyenjoying themselves. 

And certainly it would have moved the spirit of the most cankereddenizen of a city to see the beauty of the parasites that clustered andhung from tree to tree. The orchids were of the most brilliant colours;and now and then they passed a lake or pool in the depths of the junglewhich would be covered in places with the flower of the lotus, while inevery sunny opening the great clusters of nepenthes--the pitcher plant--brightened the scene. 

These latter delighted the Jacks amazingly, and not being allowed tobreak their ranks, they sent the Malays near them to pick anything thattook their fancy. These "monkey cups, " as they called them, wereconstantly picked ostensibly for the purpose of supplying the sailorswith a drink, for each contained more or less water; but it was neverdrunk, for in each there were generally the remains of some unfortunateflies, who had gone down into the treacherous vegetable cavern, andbeing unable to clamber out had miserably perished. 

During the heat of the day there was a halt once more, the Malaysstaring at the sailors and soldiers sitting about under the trees for aquiet smoke and watching the elephants, which, being relieved of theirpads and howdahs, walked straight into a great pool near to which theywere halted, and then cooled themselves by drawing their trunks full ofwater and squirting it all over their sides. 

"I'm blest, " said one of the Jacks, "if they ain't the rummest beggars Iever see. Just look at that one, Bill. Lor' if he ain't just like abit o' annymated hingy rubber. "

"Ah?" said his mate, "you might fit a pair o' blacksmith's bellows on tothe muzzle o' that trunk of his, and then blow him out into a balloon. "

"When are we going to begin to hunt tigers?" said another. "Oh, weain't going to hunt them at all, only keep 'em from coming by us, anddriving 'em up to where the orficers are. "

"I say, " said another sailor, "this here's all very well, but supposesome time or another, when these Malay chaps have got us out into themiddle of these woods, they turn upon us, and whip out their krises--what then?"

"What then?" said a soldier, who heard him; "why then we should have togo through the bayonet exercise in real earnest; but it won't come tothat. "

Two more days were spent in the journey, and then, upon his guestsbeginning to manifest some impatience, the sultan announced that theywere now on the borders of the tiger country; and that afternoon therewere preparations for a beat when a couple of tigers were seen, but theymanaged to escape. 

The sultan smilingly told his guests that at the end of another marchthe game would be more plentiful; and once more there was a steady trampalong one of the narrow jungle-paths, into a country wilder than ever--for they were away from the rivers now, and no traces of cultivation hadbeen seen. 

There was no dissatisfaction, though, for if the officers shot no tigersthey found plenty of jungle-fowl and snipe, upon which they tried theirpowers with the gun, and made goodly bags of delicious little birds toadd to the daily bill of fare. 

Another day, and still another, in which the expedition penetratedfarther and farther into the forest wild. The officers were delighted, and Doctor Bolter in raptures. He had obtained specimens of the atlasmoth, a large flap-winged insect, as large across as a moderate dish; hehad shot sun-birds, azure kingfishers, gapers, chatterers, parroquets;and his last achievement had been to kill a boa-constrictor twenty-fourfeet long. 

It was no dangerous monster, but a great sluggish brute, that had hissedat him viciously and then tried to escape. But the doctor had forattendant a very plucky little Malay, appointed by the sultan, and thisman was delighted with his task, following the doctor anywhere. Uponthis occasion he had come upon the serpent lying coiled up, evidentlysleeping off a repast of a heavy kind. 

The boy shouted to the doctor, who was trying to stalk a lizard in anopen place; and this roused the serpent, which began to uncoil, one foldgliding over the other, while its head was raised and its curious eyessparkled in the sun. 

The boy waited his opportunity, and then darting in cleverly avoided thereptile's teeth, and caught it by the tail, dragging the creature outnearly straight as he called to his master to fire. 

The serpent was apparently puzzled by this proceeding, and threw itselfround a tree, hissing furiously as it menaced its assailant. Thensending a wave along the free part of its body to the tail, the Malaywas driven flying on to his back amidst the canes. 

The retreat of the reptile was cut off, though, for this interruptiongave the doctor time to come up with his little double fowling-piece, from which a quick shot sent the menacing, quivering head down upon theearth; and then going up, a second shot placed the writhing monster_hors de combat_. 

There was no little mirth in the camp as, faint and perspiringprofusely, the doctor and his Malay boy came in, slowly dragging thelong quivering body of the serpent, which the former at once set to workto skin before it should become offensive. Then the skin was laid rawside upwards, and dressed over with arsenical soap, a dose of which theMalay boy nearly succeeded in swallowing, being attracted by itspleasant aromatic odour. 

"Laugh away, " said the doctor, "but I mean to have that skin set up andsent to the British Museum, presented by Doctor Bolter, " he saidimportantly. 

"Well, " said Captain Horton, "for my part I would rather encounter afierce Malay than one of these writhing creatures. Take care ofyourself, doctor, or you'll be constricted. "

"Yes, " said Major Sandars, entering into the joke, "I'll give ordersthat every swollen serpent is to be bayonetted and opened if the doctoris missing. "

"Laugh away, " said the doctor; "I don't mind. "

"That's right, " said Captain Horton; "but for goodness' sake, man, washyour hands well before you come to dinner. "

"All right, " said the doctor; and that evening, after dinner, he tookthe Malay boy into his confidence. 

"Look here, " he said, "I want to shoot an Argus pheasant. There must besome about here. "

"Argus pheasant?" said the Malay boy, staring, and then shaking hishead. 

"Yes, I heard one last night. "

Still the boy shook his head. He had never heard of such a bird. 

"Oh, yes, you know what I mean, " said the doctor; "they keep in theshelter of the jungle, and are very rarely shot; but I must have one. "

The boy shook his head. 

"Don't I tell you I heard one last night, after we had camped down? Itcalls out _Coo-ai_. "

"No, no! no, no!" cried the boy; "_Coo-ow, Coo-ow_. "

"Yes, that's it, " cried the doctor. "You know the bird. "

"Yes, know the big spot bird; all eyes, " said the boy. "Sees all overhimself; like a peacock. Hunter no shoot him, see too much far. "

"But I must shoot one, " said the doctor. 

"Yes, you shoot one, " said the boy. "I take you to-night. " The doctorrubbed his hands and was delighted; and after the dinner, when theofficers and chiefs were sitting smoking and sipping their coffee by thelight of the stars, he rose and took his gun, for the Malay boy waswaiting. 

"Off again, doctor?" cried the major. 

"Yes, " said the little man, importantly. "I am going, sir, to add to mycollection a specimen of the celebrated Argus pheasant--_PhasianusGiganteus_. "

"No, no, doctor; no Latin names after dinner, " cried several voices. 

"As you please, gentlemen, " he said. 

"The sultan says, shall he send a score of his men to protect you?"cried Captain Horton. 

"For goodness' sake no!" cried the doctor in dismay. "My dear sir, thisbird is only to be shot by approaching it most cautiously at night, orby laying patiently near its haunts. "

"Laying what, doctor--eggs?" said a young officer. 

"No, sir; a stick about the back of impertinent puppies, " cried thedoctor, angrily. "I said lying--lying in wait near the bird's haunts. "

"Oh, I beg your pardon, " said the young officer; and the doctor went offin dudgeon. 

"I say, Thompson, " said the major, "don't you be poorly, whatever youdo, until the doctor has got over it, or he'll give you such a dose. "

"I'll take care, sir, " said the young man; and they went on chattingabout other things. 

CHAPTER FIFTY SIX. 

DOCTOR BOLTER'S BIRD. 

Meanwhile the doctor followed his Malay boy--as he was called, though hewas really a man--through a narrow path right away from the camp andinto the jungle. 

The doctor was ruffled exceedingly at his slip of grammar, and lookedvery much annoyed; but the thought of being able to secure a specimen ofthe much-prized Argus pheasant chased away the other trouble, and hewalked on closely behind his guide. 

"How far have we to go, my lad?" he said. 

"Walk two hours, " said the Malay, "then sit down and listen. No speak aword till _Coo-ow_ come. Then make gun speak and kill him!"

"To be sure!" said the doctor, nodding his head; and then almost insilence he followed his guide, often feeling disposed to try and shootone or other of the nocturnal birds that flitted silently by, or one ofthe great fruit bats that, longer in their spread of wings than rooks, flew in flocks on their way to devastate some orchard far away. 

Quite two hours had elapsed, during which the Malay, apparently quite athome, led his scientific companion right away through the gloom of thewilderness. 

At last he enjoined silence, saying that they were now approaching thehaunts of the wondrous bird; and consequently the doctor crept on behindhim without so much as crushing a twig. 

They had reached an opening in the forest, by the side of what wasevidently a mountain of considerable height, and the doctor smiled as herecalled the fact that the Argus pheasant was reputed to haunt suchplaces; when to his intense delight there soddenly rang out from thedistance on the silent night air a peculiar cry that resembled the namegiven to the bird--_Coo-ow_. For the moment it seemed to the doctor asif some Australian savage was uttering his well-known _Coo-ay_, or as ifthis was the Malays' form of the cry. But he knew well enough what itwas, and following his guide with the greatest caution, they crept ontowards the place from which the sound had seemed to come. 

It was weird work in that wild solitude far on towards midnight, but thedoctor was too keen a naturalist to think of anything but the specimenof which he was in search. He knew that the native hunters, out nightafter night, could not shoot more than one of these birds in a year, andit would be quite a triumph if he could add such a magnificent thing tohis collection. 

_Coo-ow_--rang out the strange cry, and it seemed quite near. Thenagain _Coo-ow_, and this time it appeared to be a long way off. 

This was tantalising, but he concluded directly after, that the secondcry might be that of another bird answering the first. 

They were now in amongst a number of low bushes, which gave them cover, while it made the surrounding country less black than when they were inthe jungle-path. There they could only grope their way withoutstretched hands; here they could have gone on at a respectable footpace without danger of running against some impediment in the path. 

The doctor cocked both barrels of his gun, after opening the breech andmaking sure that the cartridges were in their place, and, in momentaryexpectation of setting a shot, he kept close behind the Malay. 

_Coo-ow_! came the cry again, this time a little to the left; and theMalay stretched out a hand behind him to grasp that of the doctor as hewent cautiously on. 

_Coo-ow_! again, but a little farther off, and with his nerves throbbingwith excitement, the doctor kept up the chase, now seeming close to thebird, then being left behind, but never once getting within shot. 

It was very provoking, but the guide was in earnest, and the doctorwould have gone through ten times the trouble to achieve his end. 

And so they stole on through the thick brushwood, with the birdrepeating its cry so near from time to time as to make them feel thatthey must get a shot directly; but still the hope was deferred. 

A lighter patch in front showed that the forest was a little more open, and the Malay loosed the doctor's hand for a moment to clamber over ablock of stone--when there was a rushing noise, what seemed to be aheavy blow, a hoarse cry, and then silence, broken directly after by alow deep growling, just in front of where Doctor Bolter stood--petrifiedand unable to move. 

He was too much taken aback by the suddenness of the incident tocomprehend for a time what had taken place; but directly after, with hishands wet with excitement, and his heart seeming to stand still, herealised that some great animal had been stalking them, as they had beenstalking the Argus pheasant, and, waiting for its opportunity, hadsprung upon and seized the Malay. 

There was the low snarling growl not two yards from where he stood, justthe noise upon a larger scale that a cat would make when crouching downover the rat that it had seized; and the doctor felt that there could beonly one creature in the jungle that would seize its prey in such amanner--the tiger. 

In spite of his bravery and the strength of nerve that had often madehim face death without a tremor, Dr Bolter felt a cold shiver passthrough him as he realised how near he was to a terrible end. The tigermight have seized him instead of the Malay--in fact, might spring uponhim at any moment; and as he felt this, he brought the barrels of hisgun to bear on the dark spot where the tiger lay crouching upon itsvictim, and with his fingers on both triggers stood ready to fire at thefirst movement of the beast. 

That first movement, he knew, might be to spring upon him and strike himdown; and nature bade him flee at once for his life--bade him drop hisgun, run to the first tree, and climb into its branches--escape as atimid beast, a monkey, might have done. 

Education, on the contrary, bade him stay--told him that it would be theact of a coward and a cur to run off and leave the poor fellow lyingthere to his fate, the horrible fate of being torn and half devoured bythe tiger--bade him be a man, and do something, even at the risk of hisown life, to save the Malay who had been stricken down in his service;and as these thoughts came to Doctor Bolter his eyes dilated in thedarkness, and he strove to make out the positions in which tiger and manwere lying. 

It was some time before he could make this out, and then it seemed tohim that the tiger had struck the Malay down upon his face, and waslying upon him, with his teeth fixed in his shoulder. 

Just then the unfortunate man uttered a loud cry, when the tiger gave anangry snarl, and Doctor Bolter was able to assure himself of theirrelative positions. In fact there was the side of the tiger's head notsix feet from him, and, dare he fire, it was almost impossible to miss. 

But the gun was loaded with small shot, and even at so close a range hemight injure the unfortunate Malay, if he were not beyond the point whena fresh blow would do him harm. 

Doctor Bolter stood unable to move. He did not feel very much alarmednow, the danger was too near, but he could not for the moment act. 

At last, though, his nerves seemed to become more set, and setting histeeth he held his piece ready, and with one motion advanced his leftfoot and went down on his right knee, at the same time raising his gunto his shoulder. 

It was done in a moment--the tiger raising its head from the victim witha savage roar; when with the mouth of the piece not eighteen inches fromthe creature's head, Doctor Bolter drew the triggers, almost together. 

There was a brilliant flash in the darkness, which showed him theglistening teeth of the savage beast and its glaring eyes--a doublereport--and with a furious roar the monster sprang forward, crashinginto some bushes, and then all was still. 

Quick as lightning the doctor threw open the breech of his piece, andinserted this time a couple of ball-cartridges, closed the gun, andstood ready for the monster's attack, knowing though that it must besorely wounded, for he had aimed straight at its eye, and the small shotwould, at that distance, have the effect of a bullet. 

A minute--two minutes, that seemed like hours, did the doctor standthere, expecting to hear some movement on the tiger's part, either forattack or retreat; but it did not stir, and he dared not fire again atrandom. 

Just then there was a low groan, and a faint movement at his feet. 

The doctor's piece swung round involuntarily, but directly after, herecalled that it must be the Malay, and with dry throat and lips hespoke to him. 

"Are you much hurt?"

There was a few moments' pause, and then the Malay spoke. 

"My shoulder is gnawed; I can't use my arm. "

"Can you crawl behind me?" said the doctor, hoarsely. 

For reply the Malay rose to his feet, and staggering slightly, he madehis way behind where the doctor stood. 

"I dare not move, " said Doctor Bolter. "The beast may spring upon usagain. "

"No, " said the Malay, whose voice sounded stronger; "he is dead. Haveyou a light?"

The doctor held his gun with one hand and pulled out his match-box withthe other, when, in spite of his wounds, the Malay knelt down, drew apiece of dammar from the fold of his sarong, stuck it in a cleft stick, and then striking a match he fired the dry grass and lit the dammar, which made an excellent torch. 

With this advanced he took a couple of strides forward, and holding thelight down, there lay the tiger on its side, the white under fur showingplainly, the doctor seeing that the creature's neck and legs werestretched out, and that it was indeed dead. 

"Thank heaven!" he muttered, fervently: and standing his gun against atree he set to work piling up dead wood and dry canes to make a fire, when by its light and that of the dammar-torch the doctor proceeded toroughly dress the Malay's wounds. 

The tiger had seized him by the muscles of his left shoulder and clawedthe upper part of his arm--terrible wounds enough, but not likely toprove fatal; and when the doctor had done all he could to make the poorfellow comfortable, the Malay lay down, gazing up at him as he trickleda little brandy from his flask between the poor fellow's lips. 

"You are good, " he said at last. "You saved my life. Now I shall saveyours. "

"Save mine?" said the doctor. "Well, I hope we shall have no moretigers to face. "

"No, " said the man, "not from tigers, but from men. You did not eatblachang to-night?"

"No, " said the doctor. "Why?"

"Sultan Hamet had _toobah_ put in it to-night: same as to make fishsleep. "

"What? I don't understand you!" cried the doctor excitedly. 

"Sultan Hamet means to have all the English krissed to-night while theysleep, " said the Malay; "but you have saved my life: shall save yours. "

CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN. 

HOW DOCTOR BOLTER GOT IN A MESS. 

Doctor Bolter felt as if the place was swimming round him, and thefire-light seemed to dance as he heard these words. Then, as herecovered himself somewhat, he gazed full in the Malay's eyes, to seethat the man was looking up at him in the calmest and most unruffledway. 

"Are you mad?" exclaimed the doctor. 

"No, " said the Malay. "I say what is right. Sultan Hamet joins withRajah Gantang to kill off all the English--the sultan here; the rajahthere, with his prahus. "

"It is impossible!" cried the doctor. "You are deceiving me. "

"No, no, I tell the truth, " said the man; "but you shall not be hurt. Let them kris me first. You shall live. "

"Let us get back, " cried the doctor, seizing his gun; and the tiger withthe beautiful skin, which he had meant to have for a specimen, wasforgotten. 

"No, no, " said the man, "you must stay in the jungle. The tigers arebetter than Hamet. "

"Can you walk?" said the doctor, quietly. 

The man got up for answer. 

"Can you find your way back?" said the doctor. 

"Yes, " said the other, with a scornful look. "I could find the way withmy eyes blinded. "

"Then start at once. Here, take some more of this. "

He gave the injured man another draught from his flask, for the poorfellow seemed terribly faint. 

The few drops of brandy gave him new life, and he displayed it bythrowing himself on his knees before Doctor Bolter, and clasping one ofhis legs with his uninjured arm. 

"Don't go back, master, " he cried piteously. "You have been so good tome that I could not bear to see you krissed. Stay away, and I will keepyou safely. My life is yours, for you saved it; and I am your slave. "

"My good fellow, " said the doctor, sadly, as he laid his hand upon theMalay's shoulder, "you do not understand Englishmen. "

"Yes, yes, I do, " cried the Malay. "I like--I love Englishmen, I wasservant to the young chief Ali before the sultan had him krissed. "

"Young Ali krissed?" cried the doctor. 

"Yes, he was too much friends with the Englishmen, and made the sultanjealous. "

"And the wretch had that brave, noble young fellow killed?"

"Yes, " said the Malay, sadly. "His father, the Tumongong, prayed uponhis knees that the brave boy's life might be spared, and offered to sendhim out of the country. But the sultan laughed, and said that the youngchief would come back again with a swarm of English soldiers, and seizethe jewels, and put him to death, and make himself sultan. Then theTumongong swore an oath that Ali should never come back, and went downon his face before Sultan Hamet; but the sultan drew his kris andpricked him with it in the shoulder, and told him that he should die ifhe named his son again. "

"The villain! That brave, noble young fellow, too!" said the doctor, excitedly. 

"Yes; he was so brave and handsome, " cried the Malay. "I loved him, butI was obliged to hide it all, for if I had spoken one word they wouldhave krissed me, and thrown me into the river. So I had to be silent;but when they wanted some one to go with you I offered, and they said`Yes' because I could speak English, and the sultan gave me my orders. "

"And what were they?" said the doctor, sharply. 

"To wait till to-night, and then lead you out of the jungle if you didnot want to go, and stab you with my kris. "

"And you did not do it?"

The Malay smiled, and drew his kris in its sheath from out of the foldsof his sarong, handing it to the doctor. 

"I am not a murderer, " he said. 

"But suppose the sultan had asked you why you did not kill me, " said thedoctor, "what then?"

"I should have told him a lie. He is a liar, and full of deceit. We donot think it wrong to deal with such a man in the coins he gives. Ishould have said you kept me back with your gun. "

"Take your kris, my lad, " said the doctor, quietly. "I trust you. Nowlead me back to the camp. "

"No, no, " cried the Malay. "I dare not. I cannot take you back todeath. "

"I--must--go, " said the doctor, sternly; and the Malay made adeprecating gesture, indicative of his obedience. 

"My people may have proved too strong for Sultan Hamet and histreacherous gang. "

"Yes--yes--they may, " cried the Malay, eagerly. 

"They may have given him such a lesson as he will never forget. "

"I hope they will make him forget for ever, " said the Malay in a sombretone. "He is not fit to live. My kris is thirsty to drink his blood. "

"Forward, then!" cried the doctor, "and tell me when you feel sick. Find water if you can, first thing. Does your wound pain you?"

"It feels as if the tiger kept biting me, " was the reply; "but I do notmind. Shall we go back?"

"Yes; and at once, " cried the doctor, and, following his companion, theyrapidly retraced their steps through the dark jungle, the guide, as ifby instinct, making his way onward without a moment's hesitation, seeming to take short cuts whenever the forest was sufficiently open tolet them pass. 

As he stumbled on over the creeper-covered ground, the doctor had many anarrow escape from falling, and he could not help envying the ease withwhich his guide passed the various obstacles around them. The chiefthought that occupied the doctor's mind, though, was that which relatedto the drugging of the party's food that evening. 

The Malay had mentioned what drug was to be used, namely _toobah_, avegetable production--in fact the root of a plant which the doctor knewthat the Malays used to throw in the pools of the rivers and streams, with the effect that the fish were helplessly intoxicated, and swam orfloated on the surface of the water. This plant he had several timestried to obtain and examine, while he made experiments upon its power;but so far he had been unsuccessful. Would it have the same effect uponthe human organisation that it had upon a fish? That was the questionhe had to solve in his mind; but no matter how he turned the subjectover, he could extract not the smallest grain of comfort. 

The only hope he could derive from his thoughts was that the Englishdiscipline, with its regular setting of sentries and watchfulness, mightbe sufficient to defeat the enemy's machinations, and a sufficiency ofthe officers and men be unaffected by the poison to make a brave standuntil the rest had recovered. 

That might happen; and slightly roused in spirit by this hope, he keptsteadily on. One thing was fixed in his own mind, and that was that itwas his duty to get back to his party, either to fight with them, tohelp the wounded, or to share their fate. 

"Not that I want to die, " muttered the doctor. "There's that collectionof butterflies unpinned; no one but me could set up all those birds, orunderstand the numbering; and then there's that boa-constrictor wantsdressing over; and worse than all, I've killed my first tiger, and havenot saved its skin. "

"Humph!" he exclaimed directly after, "it seems as if I am to have ahard job to save my own skin. "

Just then the Malay reeled, and caught at a tree they were passing, whenthe doctor had only just time to catch him and save him from a heavyfall. 

Laying his gun aside, he eased the poor fellow down upon the tangledgrass, trickling a few more drops from his flask between his lips, andthen giving the flask a bit of a shake to hear how much there was left. 

"Better now, " said the Malay, trying to rise. "The trees run round. "

"Yes, of course they do to you, " said the doctor. "Lie still for awhile, my good fellow. Is there any water near here?"

"Little way on, " said the Malay, pointing. "Listen!"

The doctor bent his head, and plainly enough heard a low gurgling noise. Following the direction in which the sound seemed to be, he came upon alittle stream, and filled, by holding on with one hand to a little palm, and hanging down as low as he could, the tin canteen slung from hisshoulder. From this he drank first with avidity, then, refilling it, heprepared to start back. 

"And I always preach to the fellows about not drinking unfilteredwater, " he muttered. "I wonder how many wild water beasts I'veswallowed down. Well, it can't be helped; and it was very refreshing. Let me see! Bah! How can I when it's as dark as pitch! Which way didI come?"

He stood thinking for a few moments, and then started off, cautiouslytrying to retrace his steps; but before he had gone twenty yards he feltsure that he was wrong, and turning back tried another way. Here againat the end of a minute he felt that he was not going right, and with anejaculation of impatience, he made his way back to where the streamrippled and gurgled along amidst the reeds, canes, and beneath theoverhanging branches. 

It was not the spot where he had filled the canteen, but he knew that hemust be near it; and he started again, but only to have to get back oncemore to the stream, where there was a rush, a scuffling noise and a loudsplashing, that made him start back with a shudder running up his spine, for he knew by the sound that it must be a crocodile. 

Worst of all he was unarmed, having left his gun beside the faintingMalay. 

All he could do was to back as quietly as he could into the jungle, withcanes and interlacing growths hindering him at every step; thorns toreand clung to his clothes, and he felt that if any creature gave chase tohim it must overtake him directly. His only chance of safety then wasin inaction; and fretting with annoyance he crouched there, listening tothe shudder-engendering crawling noise made by evidently severalloathsome reptiles about the bank of the stream. 

After a while this ceased, and he made another attempt to get back tothe Malay, going on and on through the darkness, and from time to timeshouting to him. He knew that he must be crossing and recrossing histrack, and blamed himself angrily for not being more careful. Hisshouts produced no response, and the matches he lit failed to give himthe aid he had hoped; and at last, utterly exhausted, he sank downamidst the dense undergrowth to wait for daylight, with the result thatnature would bear no more, and in spite of the help he knew hiscompanion needed, the danger of his companions, and the perils by whichhe was surrounded from wild beasts, his head sank lower and lower uponhis breast, and he slept. 

Not willingly, for he kept starting back into wakefulness, and walked toand fro; but all in vain, sleep gradually mastered him; and he sanklower and lower, falling into a deep slumber, and, as he afterwardssaid, when talking about the adventure, "If I had been in front of acannon, and knew that it was to be fired, I could only have said--Justwait till I am fast asleep, and then do what you please. "

The sun was up when he started into full wakefulness, and his clotheswere drenched with dew. 

"If I don't have a taste of jungle fever after this, it's strange tome, " he said, hastily swallowing a little white powder from a tinybottle. "A stitch in time saves nine, and blessed is the salt quinine. "

"Humph! that's rhyme, " he grunted. "Only to think that I should go tosleep. Ahoy-oy!" he shouted. 

There was no reply, and his heart smote him as he felt that he hadneglected the poor Malay. Then he felt that he was lost in the jungle;but that did not trouble him much, for he was sure that if he followedthe little stream he should find that it entered a larger, and that thelarger would run into one larger still, probably into the Parang, whosecourse he could follow down. But that would be only as a last resource. 

CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT. 

THE DOSE OF TOOBAH. 

Doctor Bolter's was a painful position, and he could not help feelinghow utterly weak man is in the midst of nature's solitudes. He couldhave stood meditating for long enough, but he had to find his companion;and after shouting for some time and getting no answer, he listened forthe rippling noise of the stream, and heard it sounding very faintlyfar-off on his right. 

Making for it as a starting-place, he found the tracks he had made, thegrass being trampled down in all directions. What was more, he foundhis trail crossed over and over again, and even followed by that ofcrocodiles, whose toes were marked in the mud wherever it was laid bare. 

Twice over he startled one of the reptiles, which fled before him with arush into the stream, which was little better than an overgrown ditch, and the doctor hastily backed away. 

He soon found that all endeavours to hit upon his way back by the trailwere useless, and once more he began to shout. 

To his great delight his cry was answered, and on making for the soundhe heard directly after, the rustling of bushes being thrust aside, andsoon after stood face to face with the Malay. 

"I have been sleeping, " said the latter, smiling. "My arm is betternow. "

"If our English fellows could stand injuries like these!" muttered thedoctor, who looked with astonishment at the light way in which the Malaytreated the terrible injury he had received. 

"Do you feel as if you could lead the way back?" he said, after haltingand rebinding the Malay's wound. 

"Oh, yes, " the Malay said cheerfully; and he at once set off. 

"But my gun?" cried the doctor. "I have left it behind. "

The man led him back to the place with the greatest ease, and afterwiping the wet and rust from lock and barrel, they set off through thedripping undergrowth, and had been walking about half an hour, thedoctor's excitement growing each minute as they drew nearer the camp, when his guide suddenly stopped and laid his hand upon the other's arm. 

"Listen!" he said; and as he spoke there was the distant sound of ashot, then another, and other. 

"Thank heaven!" cried the doctor, "they are making a fight for it. Geton quickly. "

They went on along an old overgrown track, with the sound of the firinggrowing each minute nearer; and the doctor's heart beat joyfully as hemade out that a pretty brisk engagement was going on. 

Soon, however, the firing began to drop off, to be renewed from time totime in a straggling manner; and to his great joy the doctor found thatthose who fired were coming along the track he was upon. 

"Yes, " said the Malay, who seemed to read his countenance; "but they maybe enemies. "

Yielding to the latter's solicitations, they hid themselves amidst thedense undergrowth a few yards from the track, and waited patiently. 

It was not for long. Soon after they had taken their stand they couldhear voices; and directly after, the doctor hurried out as he saw anadvance guard of the men of his regiment under a lieutenant. 

The men gave a hearty _Hurrah_! as they saw him, and the lieutenantcaught him by the hand. 

"Glad to see you, doctor; we thought you killed. "

"Yes; and I did you, " cried the doctor. "How are you all?"

"They'll tell you behind, " said the lieutenant. "Forward, my lads. "

The guard moved on, and the doctor came upon the little force, firinggoing on again in the rear. 

He met Major Sandars directly, and their greeting was warm in theextreme. 

"The scoundrels tried to poison us, " said the major. 

"Yes, yes, I know, " cried the doctor; "but is any one hurt?"

"A few scratches there in the dhoolies, " said the major. 

"No one killed?"

"Not a soul, thank heaven, " cried the major. "But we shall have ourwork cut out. Ah, here's Horton. All right in the rear?"

"Yes, " was the reply; "we are keeping them back. Ah, doctor, I am gladto see you again. You know what's happened?"

"Partly, " said the doctor; "but tell me. "

They were moving forward as he spoke, and he learned now that the littleforce was working to hit the river higher up in its course, and fromthence try to communicate with the island and the steamer. 

"You had not been gone above a couple of hours before, as we weresitting smoking and chatting, and thinking of turning in, first one andthen another began to complain of pain and drowsiness. 

"The major there was the first to take alarm, thinking it was cholera;but it was Mr Linton who saved us. He no sooner realised what was thematter than he slipped out of the tent, and without waiting for ordersmade his way to the sergeant's guard, and got the fellow on duty tocollect all the men he could to come up to the tent. How many do youthink he got?"

"Twenty--thirty--how should I know?" said the doctor impatiently. "Goon. "

"Four, " said the captain. "All the others were down and half delirious. Fortunately my Jacks had escaped, and thirty of them seized theirrifles, and followed Mr Linton at the double to the hut. 

"They were just in time. That scoundrel Hamet had given an order andwithdrawn from the tent; at one end of which about a hundred of hiscut-throats had gathered, kris in hand, and were only waiting for us toget a little more helpless before coming upon us to put us out of ourmisery. 

"Bless your heart, doctor! it would have done you good to see the Jacksclear that tent at the point of the bayonet! And then, while half ofthem kept the enemy at bay, the other half brought in the sick men, andlaid 'em side by side till they were all under canvas. 

"It was horrible, I can tell you, " continued the captain. "We were allin great pain, but the dull sleepy sensation was the worst, and itseemed no use to fight against it. We all, to a man, thought that wewere dying, and so did the sailors, who had not touched the horriblestuff. And yet we could hear every word as plainly as if our power ofhearing had been increased, though we could not speak. 

"`Give them water, ' I heard the sergeant say. 

"`No, no, ' said my boatswain; `you get the rum keg in, my lad, and give'em a strong dose apiece o' that. '

"The Jacks fetched it in under fire, and they gave us a tremendous doseapiece, and I believe it saved our lives!"

"I'm sure it did, " said the doctor. "It set up a rapid action of theheart, and that carried off the poison. "

"I dare say it did, " said the captain, "but it gave me a beautifulheadache. However, the sergeant and the boatswain lost no time, buttook matters in their own hands, cut the ropes, and let the tent go bythe board, for fear the enemy should set it on fire, and then made thebest breast-work they could all round us, a little party charging outevery now and then and bringing in boxes, cases, tubs, everything theycould lay hold of, to strengthen our position. One time they fetched inhalf-a-dozen spades, another time the axes; and little by little theyformed such a defence, that tipped as it was by our fellows' bayonets, the Malays dare not try to force. 

"We soon found, though, " he continued, "that they were furious withdisappointment, for spears began to fly till our lads searched thenearest cover with some bullets, when the enemy retired a littlefarther, and then the boys got in the spears and made an abattis withthem. 

"In spite of the danger and the sudden surprise, our fellows enjoyed it, for they had the pleasure of driving the scoundrels out of their owncamp, and they had to put up with the shelter of the trees all night. They made four savage attacks upon us, though, and the first time, fromtoo much ground having been covered by the breast-work, the enemy nearlycarried all before them, and it came to bayonetting and the spearsgetting home; but our brave lads drove them back, and then a few volleyssent them in to cover. 

"The next time they attacked, the major and a dozen of the soldiers wereready to help a little. They were too ill to do much, but they heldtheir pieces and made a show of bayonets, and the major managed to takethe command. 

"The next time we all of us managed to make a show of fighting; while acouple of hours after, when the enemy made their last and most savageattack, they got such a warm reception that they let us have the rest ofthe night in peace. "

"And this morning, then, you began to retreat!"

"Yes, " the major said, "there was nothing else for it. "

"But why not have retreated by the way we came?" said the doctor. 

"Because, my dear fellow, the whole country's up, and this was the onlyway open. If we had gone by the track our fellows would have beenspeared one by one, for the jungle is too dense to skirmish through. But here's Linton; he will tell you better than I can. "

As the retreat continued, the rear-guard being always closely engagedwith the Malays, who pressed upon them incessantly, Mr Linton came up, begrimed with powder, and shook hands. 

"This is a horrible affair, doctor!" he said sadly. 

"Don't say horrible, " said the other, cheerfully. "We shall fight ourway through to the river. "

"I hope so, " said Mr Linton. "But we have scarcely any provisions. Not more, certainly, than a day or two's rations. That is bad enough;but you do not understand my anxiety. We have let ourselves be drawninto a trap, and the whole country rises against us. "

"Let it rise, " said the doctor, sturdily; "we'll knock it down again. "

"But the residency, man--the steamer!"

"Phew!" whistled the doctor. "I had forgotten them. "

"I had not, " said Mr Linton, sadly, "and I fear the worst. "

"Keep up your spirits, man. There are those on the island, and aboardthat steamer, who will keep every Malay in the country at bay. "

"If they are not overcome by treachery, as we nearly were. "

"We must hope then, " said the doctor; "hope that those in charge will bemore on the alert. I say, though, Linton, did you give these peoplecredit for such a trick?"

"Yes; for I have had more experience of them than you; and I blamemyself most bitterly for not being more cautious. "

"Regrets are vain, " said the doctor. "Let's do all we can to make upfor our lapse--if lapse it has been. "

"We will, " said the resident. "Would to heaven, though, that I couldfeel more at ease about those we have left behind. If we only had aguide on whom we could depend, matters would not be so bad. "

"I have one for you, " said the doctor, joyfully. 

"Who? Where is he?" exclaimed Mr Linton. 

"Here, close at hand, " he said. 

And hurrying on to where he had left the Malay guide in charge of acouple of soldiers, he found that he had arrived only just in time; forfeeling was very strong just then against every one wearing a dark skin, and the men were looking askance at one whom they believed likely tobetray them at any moment. 

"A Malay!" said Mr Linton, doubtfully. 

"Yes, and a trusty one, " said the doctor, decisively. "I will answerfor his fidelity. "

"That is rather bold, doctor, " said the major, who just then came up;"but these are times when we must not be too particular. Can heunderstand us?"

"I was the young chief Ali's servant, and I speak English, " said theMalay, quietly. 

"That is no recommendation, " said Captain Horton, sharply. "That youngchief deserted us, like the rest. "

"No, " said the doctor; "he was assassinated for taking our part; andthis man nearly shared his fate. "

This decided matters in favour of the Malay being retained as guide; butthere was still a difficulty, and that was, would the poor fellow, injured as he was, be able to undertake the duty?

He said he could, however; and as soon as he understood what was wanted, he went to the front, and the retreat was continued. 

CHAPTER FIFTY NINE. 

LIKE BROTHERS IN DISTRESS. 

It was a strange country to struggle through, for roads hardly had anyexistence. The rivers were the highways, and upon the banks thevillages or campongs of the Malays were invariably placed. There were afew narrow tracks, such as the one the retreating party hurried along, but all else was dense jungle, the untrodden home of wild beasts. Sodense was it that there was fortunately nothing to fear from attack oneither side. It must come from the front, or else from the rear. Neither friend nor foe could penetrate many yards through the wall ofverdure that shut them in to right and left. To have tried to flankthem without literally breaking a way through the canes and interlacingplants was impossible. 

On being asked how long it would take to march to the river and strikeit high up, the Malay replied, three days of hard walking; and thehearts of his hearers sank as they thought of their position, withscarcely any provender, no covering against the night dews or heavyrains, and only the earth for their resting-place, while a virulentenemy was always on their track, striving hard to cut off all theycould. 

There was no other course open, however, but to face it, for it wouldhave been madness to have tried to fight their way through the hostilecountry; and every one bent manfully to the task. 

As they struggled on through the steamy bush the rear-guard was changedagain and again, a fresh party of defenders taking up the task ofkeeping the pursuers at bay, and to each man in turn was the warninggiven that no shot must be fired unless it could be made to tell;consequently the fire was less fierce, but, as the Malays found to theircost, more fatal. 

The end of the third day was approaching, and the progress of the partyhad grown slower and slower, for their guide's strength had failed. Thepoor fellow had fought on bravely in spite of his wounds, insisting thathe was well enough to walk, when all the time he was suffering intenseagony; and this was not to be without its result. 

During the day the Malays had attacked far more fiercely than usual, andthough always repulsed, it had not been without loss. Several men hadfallen, while others were wounded, increasing terribly the difficultiesof the case, for the injured men had to be carried by those who foundthat their task of fighting their way through the jungle in the midst ofthe dense heat was already as much as they could bear. 

Still no one murmured. The pleasure-trip had turned out to be one ofterrible misery, but each man, soldier or sailor, had a cheery word forhis neighbour; and whenever an unfortunate received a spear or bulletwound, the doctor was on the spot directly, tending him; while a coupleof his comrades deftly cut a few canes and bound them together, making alight litter, upon which the wounded man was placed, and carried on theshoulders of four men. 

The wounded made a terrible demand upon the sound; and now, to add totheir trouble, men began to fall out of the ranks stricken down bydisease. 

It was no more than the doctor anticipated; but it was terrible work. 

Captain Horton was one of the first--after fighting bravely in therear--to go to the doctor and complain of his head. 

"I can't get on, doctor, " he said. "The giddiness is dreadful, and thepain worse. Give me something to ease it all. "

The doctor said he would, and prescribed what he could from the littlecase he had with him, but he knew what was coming. Captain Horton hadtaken the jungle fever, and in an hour he was strapped down upon alitter, raving with delirium. 

Then another, and another, went down, the officers falling one afteranother, till Major Sandars was left alone with the doctor, who had todivide his time between attending to his many patients and handling arifle to help in their defence. 

The consequence was that on the third night, instead of being near theriver, they were halted in the dense jungle, with their outposts on thealert, and the rest throwing themselves beside the sick and wounded, toomuch exhausted even to care for food. 

Major Sandars and the doctor stood talking together beneath the shade ofa silk-cotton tree, whose leaves seemed to keep off a portion of theheavy falling dew, and the former was waiting for an answer from hiscompanion, who, however, did not speak. 

"Come, say something, doctor, " exclaimed the major; "what do you thinkof affairs?"

"What can I say?" replied the doctor, sadly; "we can go no farther. "

"But we must, " exclaimed the major, impatiently. "The river must bereached, and a message sent down to the steamer. "

"There is only one way, " replied Doctor Bolter. 

"How is that?"

"Leave the sick and wounded behind, and push on. The poor fellows cancarry them no farther. "

"Then we'll stop where we are, " said the major, sharply, "for I won'tleave a man behind. "

"Of course you will not. I knew you would say so. Then all I canrecommend is that we stay as we are for a few days, and try andrecruit. "

"With bad water, and hardly any provisions, " said the major. "Ah, Bolter, this is a terribly bad business. "

"Yes, " said the doctor, holding out his hand, which was eagerly grasped, "it is a terrible business. But you know what the foreigners say of us, Sandars?"

"No: what do you mean?"

"That the English never know when they are beaten. We don't know whenwe are beaten, and our lads are like us. God bless them, poor fellows, for they are as patient as can be!"

"What do you advise, then?" said the major. "It is your duty toadvise. "

"I did advise, " said the doctor, laughing. "I proposed lopping off thebad limb of our little party, so as to leave the rest free to hobbleon. "

"And suppose I had consented to it, " said the major; "made the sick andwounded as comfortable as we could, and pushed on with the rest, whatwould you do?"

"Do?" said Doctor Bolter; "I don't understand you. "

"I mean, of course you would have to come with us; for the Malays wouldbutcher the poor fellows as soon as they came up. "

"Come with you, major? Are you mad? Why, who would tend the poor boys, and see to their bandages? No, my dear Sandars. Your place is with thesound, mine is with the unsound. Go on with your lot--poor fellows--andsee if you can reach the river. You might perhaps send help in time tosave us. If you didn't, why, I should have made them comfortable to theend, and done my duty. "

"My dear doctor, " said Major Sandars, holding out his hand. 

"My dear major, " said the doctor. "Good-bye, then; and God bless you!"

"What!" cried the major. "And did you think I was going?"

"Of course!"

"More shame for you, then, for thinking me such a cur. Leave you andthese poor fellows here in the midst of the jungle, to be murdered bythose cowardly pirates? Not I. Why, the men would mutiny if I proposedsuch a thing. No; we'll wait a few hours, and then get on a few milesand rest again, the best way we can. "

"But you will only get the poor fellows killed if you stay, " said thedoctor. 

"Well, hadn't we all better be killed like men doing our duty, than gooff and live like cowards and curs?"

"Of course you had, " said the doctor, speaking huskily. "But I feltthat it was my duty to leave you free. "

"Doctor, " said the major, laying his hand upon the other's shoulder, "there's nothing like trouble for making a man know what a deal of goodthere is in human nature. You're a good fellow, doctor. Hang it, man, you've made me feel as soft as a girl!"

He turned away his face, that staunch, brave soldier, for a few moments, and then the weakness was past, and he turned sharply round to thedoctor. 

"Now, " he said, "you shall see what stuff our soldiers and sailors aremade of. Come here. "

He led the doctor back to the rear, where the guard, sun-blackened, haggard fellows, with their clothes hanging in rags from the thorns, were on the watch, and this being out of earshot of the sick andwounded, who were all ranged side by side beneath a couple of shadyspreading trees, he gave the order for the men to fall in, when, withthe precision that they would have shown upon a parade ground, thesoldiers fell in, making one line; the sailors another in the rear. 

"Face inwards!" cried the major, and he turned first to the sailors. "My lads, " he said, "your officers being all down, the duty ofcommanding you has fallen upon me, and I thank you for the ready way inwhich you have obeyed my orders. You have been as willing and as trustyas my own boys here, and that is saying a great deal. "

There was a little shuffling of feet at this, and the men lookeduncomfortable. 

"I am sorry to say, " continued the major, "that matters have come tosuch a grievous pass with us, that I have to make a statement, to whichI want to hear your reply. I have no occasion to speak to you, for Iknow that you will to a man obey my orders to the last; but I want tohear what you will say. "

There was a pause here, and then the major went on, --

"Matters have come to this, my lads, that I see you can stagger on nolonger with the loads you have to bear. In fact, two more poor fellowsare down, and it will take every fighting man to carry the others. So Ihave been talking the matter over with the doctor, and it has come tothis, that our only chance is to leave the sick and wounded, and pushon, make for the river, in the hope of getting help, and coming back tosave them. What do you say?"

"Lord love you, sir, " cried one of the sailors, "why, afore to-nightthem niggers would have sarved every one of our poor mates like thedoctor, there, sarves the black beadles and butterflies--stuck a pin ora kris through 'em. "

It was a grim subject to jest upon, and it was a serious thing; butthere was a roar of laughter from the men, and the doctor chuckled tillhe had to hold his sides, and then wipe his eyes. 

"I hope not so bad as that, " said the major, when he had called_Attention_! "It is, however, I fear our only hope. Will some manamong you speak?"

There was a shuffling and a whispering at this, and every man nudged hisneighbour to begin, but no one spoke till the sergeant felt that it washis duty, and going along the front of both ranks he had a few wordswith the soldiers and the jacks. After this he retook his place andsaluted. 

"Men seem to be all of one opinion, sir, " he said gruffly. 

"And what is that opinion?" inquired the major. 

"They say, sir, as I say, that they wouldn't like their mates to desertthem in a time of trouble like this. "

"That's right, sergeant, " shouted a sailor. 

"Yes, that's a true word, " shouted another. 

"Attention, there!" cried the major, sharply. "Go on, sergeant. "

"And if so be as our officer don't order us different, we'll all stickto one another, sick and sound, to the end. "

"Hear, hear; hurray!" cried the men, as with one voice. 

"Do I understand, my lads, that you will stand by the sick and woundedto the last?"

"Yes, sir, all on us!" shouted the men in chorus. 

"Yes, sir, " cried the joking sailor, "and we'll all carry one anothertill there's only one left as can carry; and he'll have a jolly hardtime of it, that's all. "

The stern discipline was for a moment forgotten, and a hearty roar oflaughter followed this sally. 

"Attention!" cried the major after a few moments, and he spoke as if hewas deeply moved. "It is only what I expected from my brave lads; and Imay tell you now that this is what Doctor Bolter and I had determined todo--stand together to the last. "

"Only we won't have any last, my lads, " cried the doctor. 

"I hope not, " said the major. "We'll go on more slowly and take longerrests, for I must have no more of you men down with sickness. Let ushope that we may win our way safely to the ship and the island yet. Iwould send out a little party to try and fetch help, but I fear they arebeset at the residency already, and I do not think a detachment couldsucceed. I propose then that we all hold together and do our best. "

"That we will, sir, " cried the men, and a voice proposed three cheersfor the major. 

These were hardly given before he held up his hand, and in a few wordsthanked them, while the doctor was called away. 

"And now, my lads, we will go forward once more, and do the best we can. If we can only get a mile a day it is something, and every man willlend a hand. We will march at once. Yes, doctor? More bad news?"

"Yes, " said Doctor Bolter, bluntly; "our guide has broken down. "

"Broken down?"

"Yes, he is quite delirious. "

"And, " muttered the major, "we are worse than helpless without a guide. "

CHAPTER SIXTY. 

SIGNALS OF DISTRESS. 

The night passed on board the steamer without any alarm, and at daybreaksteam was up, and with the men at their quarters and every gun loaded, they set off on their return journey. 

As the lieutenant said, it was no use to murmur about their misfortune;all they could do was to try and make the best of matters by gettingback as soon as possible. 

He could gladly have gone on at full speed, but caution forbad it. There were mudbanks and turns innumerable; and even going slowly, thelength of the vessel was so great that again and again they were nearlyaground upon some shoal, or brushed the overhanging trees with theirbows. 

Of one thing the lieutenant felt certain--that they had not been ledinto this narrow river without some plans being made for keeping themthere. Therefore every man was on the alert for an ambush, or somethingthat should stop their further progress towards the mouth of thesluggish stream. 

It was terribly slow work, and Lieutenant Johnson stamped withimpatience as he saw how poorly they progressed, speaking snappishly toBob Roberts when the latter ventured upon some observation. 

This went on three or four times, when, feeling hurt by a sharp remarkon the lieutenant's part, Bob exclaimed, --

"You needn't be so hard upon me, captain; it was not my fault. "

Lieutenant Johnson turned upon him angrily, and was about to saysomething severe, but Bob's injured look disarmed him, and he held outhis hand. 

"I'm hipped, Roberts, " he said, and hardly know what I say. "Steady, there; steady!"

This to the man at the wheel as they were rounding a point; but theorder had a contrary effect to what was intended; it flurried andunsteadied the sailor, who took a pull too much at the spokes, andbefore anything could be done to check the steamer's speed, her sharpbows had cut deeply into the muddy bank of the river, and she wasaground. 

"Was anything ever so unlucky?" cried the lieutenant; and then he gaveorder after order. Guns were swung round so as to sweep the bows shouldthe Malays try to board them from the shore; the engines were reversed;the men tramped from side to side of the deck; everything possible wasdone: but the steamer remained fixed in the mud without a possibilityapparently of getting her off. 

The jungle was of the densest all around, and the men approached thebows with caution, for the head of the steamer was right in amidst densefoliage, and it was quite probable that any number of the enemy might beconcealed and ready to hurl spears at the slightest chance. 

Neither seeing nor hearing signs of the enemy, the lieutenant at lastordered Roberts to try and land and see if the Malays were near. "It'sa risky job, Roberts, " he said kindly, "but you must take it. I cannotleave the steamer. "

"Oh, I'll take it, " said Bob, coolly, and examining his revolver, hedrew his sword, and telling the men to follow, ran forward, scrambledover the bows, and leaped ashore, the men imitating his example, for thebank was only some six or eight feet below the bulwarks. 

But though they were landed, there was little more to be done, unlessthey had been provided with billhooks to clear the way. The undergrowthwas nearly as dense as a hedge, and after trying in half-a-dozendifferent ways, and only penetrating some twenty or thirty yards, theywere obliged to give up, drenched with perspiration, their flesh full ofthorns. 

"I've got something biting my legs horribly, " cried Bob, turning up histrousers, and then giving a shudder of disgust, for half-a-dozen leecheswere busy at work making a meal upon him, and several of the sailorswere in the same predicament. 

"There, my lads, we may as well get on board, " said Bob, grimly, "Idon't like shedding my blood in the service of my country after thisfashion. We can do nothing here, and it would puzzle a cat--let alone aMalay--to get through. "

So they returned on board, satisfied that there was no fear of an attackfrom that quarter, and the rest of the day was devoted to trying to getthe steamer out of her unpleasant predicament. 

Night fell with the men utterly wearied out, and, in despair, LieutenantJohnson was taking himself to task for his bad management, as he termedit, when Bob Roberts suddenly seized him by the arm. 

"What is it, Roberts?"

"A shot off yonder in the jungle, " he exclaimed. 

"I did not hear it, " was the reply; and they stood listening; but therewas nothing but the hum of insects and the distant splash of somereptile in the muddy river. 

"If we could have only heard some news of those poor fellows, I wouldnot have cared, " said the lieutenant after a pause. "Perhaps at thistime they are anxiously hoping that help may come, and wondering why wehave not sent in search of them; while we, with men and guns, are lyinghere helpless as a log. Oh, Roberts, it's enough to make a man jumpoverboard and--"

"There it is again, " cried Bob. 

"What?"

"A shot!" he cried excitedly. "I'm sure I heard a rifle-shot. "

"Any of you men hear a shot?" said the lieutenant to the watch. 

"No, sir; no, sir. "

"I heard nothing, Roberts, " said the lieutenant. "You are excited withexertion. Go below and have a glass of sherry, my lad, and put in adose of quinine. I can't afford to have you down with fever. "

"No, thanky, " said Bob; "I could manage the glass of wine, but I'm notgoing to spoil it with the quinine, I'm--There now, what's that? Ifthat isn't a rifle-shot I'm no man. "

"Then it isn't a rifle-shot, " said the lieutenant, grimly. "I heardnothing. "

"Beg pardon, sir, I think it was a shot. "

"There's another!" cried Bob, excitedly. "It's our fellows somewhere. "

There were a couple of distant shots, faintly heard now by all. 

"You're right, Roberts, " said the lieutenant, hastily; "but it is notobliged to be our fellows. "

"They couldn't have followed up from the island, sir, " cried Bob; "so itmust be. "

"Unless it is a party of Malays shooting. "

"Then they are shooting our men, " cried Bob. "They wouldn't be huntingwhen it's getting dark. "

"There's another shot, " said the lieutenant, now growing as excited ashis companion. "What shall we do?"

"Fire a big gun, " said Bob. 

"That would be letting our enemies know where we are, " said thelieutenant. 

"Well, " said Bob, sturdily, "let 'em know. It will show 'em that we arenot afraid of them. "

"You are right, Roberts, " said lieutenant Johnson, quickly. "Unshot thebow gun there. "

The gun was opened; the shot cartridge drawn out, a blank onesubstituted; and directly after, the black darkness that had seemed tosettle down over them was cut by a vivid flash, and the utter silencethat was brooding over the river was broken by the deep-mouthed roar ofthe great breech-loading cannon. 

The report seemed to roll off into the distance and echo amongst themountains; and then, as it died away, they all listened with strainedsenses for some reply. 

It came, just as they expected--three rifle-shots in succession. Then apause, and three more rifle-shots. 

There was a pause then, and the silence seemed awful, for the report ofthe great gun had driven every living thing near at hand to its lair. 

"Three marines, " said the lieutenant, sharply, "fire as I give theorder. One--two--three!"

The three shots rang out at stated intervals, and the men reloaded andfired as before. 

Then they waited again, and the signal was answered in a peculiar waythat left no doubt whatever in the minds of those on board, and a murmurof satisfaction ran through the little crew. 

And now, for the first time, Lieutenant Johnson began to wonder whetherhe had doubted the Malay guide without cause. He might have been sweptoverboard after all, and the hunting-party be really hemmed-in at somestockade. 

A few moments' consideration, however, showed that this could not be thecase, for they had journeyed back many miles before the steamer ranaground; and though the river winded a great deal, it was impossiblethat the stockade could have been higher up. The firing certainly camefrom quite another direction, away from the river; and shots that wereevidently not signals were now heard again--one or two, then three orfour together, as if men were skirmishing, and then came severalvolleys. 

There was a fight going on, that was evident; and as the two officersrealised this, they felt half-maddened at their helplessness. 

They wanted to go to the aid of those who were fighting, but it wouldhave been utter madness to have attempted to land with a detachment inthe dark and try to hack a way through the jungle. They might havefired signals and had them responded to, but it would have been ahelpless, bewildering piece of folly; and with pulses beating rapidlywith excitement, and every nerve on the stretch, they felt themselvesbound to a state of inaction, still they felt that they could firesignals to guide those who might, perhaps, get nearer, or, if shut insome place, fight the better for knowing that help was so near. 

They did all they could, sending up a rocket from time to time, andtwice, at intervals of about an hour, firing a big gun, each signaleliciting a reply from the distance; and then, at intervals of tenminutes, a rifle was fired, while, when six, seven, and eight bells weresounded, the same number of rifle-shots were heard. 

It was a night of general watching on board the steamer, no man seekingshelter, though about seven bells the rain began to pour down with allthe violence of a storm in the tropics, accompanied by thunder andlightning of the heaviest and most vivid description. 

For about four hours this kept on, guns being fired in the intervals, when the thunder ceased for a few moments; but no answering shots hadbeen heard for some time. 

One thing was very evident--the party engaged were entrenched somewhere, and defending themselves, for their answering shots had been no nearer;in fact, all felt that travelling through the dense jungle wasimpossible until daylight set in. 

The night was about half gone when the storm ceased as suddenly as ithad come on; the clouds were dispersed, and the moon shone out clearly, showing them that the sluggish river was sluggish no longer, but runningfast, and threatening to fill up to the top of its high banks, the watercoming down evidently from the mountains. 

This revived the hopes of all on board, and not without reason, for thesteamer was gradually shifting her position; and hardly had a boat beenlowered, and a hawser made fast to one of the big trees ashore, beforeshe lifted more and more; and in a few moments more, to the delight ofall, they felt the branches sweeping the rigging, and the steamer movingfree and clear. 

The men, forgetting discipline, and the need perhaps for silence, gavean involuntary cheer; which ceased on the instant as, from somewherelower down the stream, there came a faint, "Ship ahoy!"

"Ahoy!" was answered. 

And after a brief colloquy a boat was lowered down, with half-a-dozenmarines as well as the crew, Bob Roberts taking command, and cautiouslysteering her towards where the man who hailed seemed to be. 

The boat was allowed to descend the stream stern foremost, the mendipping their oars occasionally to keep her head right, and to preventher being swept down too swiftly. 

The next minute, at the word, they gave away, and the cutter was run inbeneath the branches to where one of the crew stood in the moonlight, with a soldier by his side. 

"Why, it's Parker!" cried Bob, catching the man's hand. 

"Parker it is, Mr Roberts, sir, " said the man faintly. "I thought weshould never have done it, what with the storm and the thick cane. We've about cut our way here. "

"And the captain and Major Sandars?" cried Bob. 

"'Bout a mile away, sir, through the jungle, wanting help badly. "

"Can we get there to-night?" cried Bob. "But jump in my lads, and we'llhear what the lieutenant says. Come: why don't you jump in?"

"I'm bet out, sir, and my mate too, " said the sailor. "We're a bitwounded, sir. We volunteered to come for help when we first heerd thedear old `Startler' speak out, but it's been a long job. Will you helpus aboard, mates?"

Half-a-dozen willing hands soon had the two poor, drenched, wounded, andexhausted men on board the cutter, and five minutes after they were onthe deck being questioned by the lieutenant. 

"I told the captain, sir, as I'd ask you to fire two guns if we got heresafe. He's down with fever, sir, and it would cheer him up if he heardthe old gal say--begging your pardon--as she was close at hand. "

The word was given, and a couple of heavy roars from the "old gal, " asthe sailor affectionately called his ship, bore the news to the captain;and then, in answer to the lieutenant, both of the messengers declaredthat it would be impossible to get to the helpless party that night. 

"I wouldn't say so, sir, if I didn't feel, " said Parker, "that the ladswould only go losing theirselves in the wet jungle, and do no good. Ifyou'd start at daybreak, sir, and take plenty of rum and biscuits, aswell as powder and shot, you might get them aboard. "

Then by slow degrees those on board learned from the worn-out messengersthe whole of their experience, and how that since Major Sandars hadappealed to the men, and they had sworn to stick together to the last, they had only made journeys of about a mile in length through the densejungle. The guide was still delirious, and half the men down withsickness or wounds. Food they had had of the most meagre description, and that principally the birds they had shot. Their ammunition was fastfailing, and the time seemed to have come that evening to lie down anddie, so weak were they, and so pertinacious were the attacks of theenemy--when a thrill of joy ran through every breast as they heard thesignal shots, and knew that there was help at hand. 

CHAPTER SIXTY ONE. 

HOW BOB ROBERTS TURNED THE TABLES. 

Never was daylight looked for with greater anxiety than that night onboard the steamer. 

With the first flush she was allowed to float lower down, till abreastof the spot where the two men were taken on board, and then everyavailable hand was landed, under Bob Roberts' command, to try, by firingsignals and listening for the reply, to reach the place where theworn-out party were making their last stand. 

The two poor fellows who had come on board were in too pitiable a plightto move, and, even if they had gone, they could not have guided therelief party, who, only twenty strong, leaped ashore, eager to reachtheir friends, and inflict some punishment on the Malays, while theothers retreated towards the ship. 

Every man was laden heavily with food and ammunition, LieutenantJohnson's difficulty being to keep the brave fellows from taking toomuch, and hindering their fighting powers, as, with a hearty cheer, theyplunged in amidst the interlacing canes. 

The task was hard, but less so than they expected--resolving itself asit did into hacking the canes and forcing their way through; for beforethey had gone far they could hear firing before them, and it was kept upso vigorously that there was no occasion to fire a single signal. 

Hour after hour did they toil on, till the firing suddenly ceased, andthey were for a moment at fault; but Bob Roberts and Old Dick, who wereleading, suddenly heard voices close at hand, where the forest growthwas thinner; and hacking and chopping away, they had nearly reached thespot when the firing suddenly began again furiously for a few moments, and then once more stopped. 

The next minute the way was clear, and Bob Roberts, with his twentyblue-jackets and marines, went in at the double to an opening in thejungle where the remains of the hunting-party were making a desperatestand against a strong body of Malay; who, spear against bayonet, werepressing them home. 

The middy took it all in at a glance, and saw that in another minute theweak helpless wielders of rifle and bayonet would be borne down, andthey, and the sick and wounded lying in the long grass, massacred to aman. 

Major Sandars said afterwards that the oldest colonel in the servicecould not have done better; for, with his sun-browned face lighting upwith excitement, and waving his sword, Bob Roberts shouted his orders tothe men, sprang forward, giving point at a great bronze-skinned Malaywho had borne the major down and was about to spear him, while with ahearty British cheer the marines and blue-jackets dashed up, poured in astaggering volley amongst the thronging enemy, and followed it up with abayonet charge along the beaten-down jungle alley, till, dropping spearand kris, the Malays fled for their lives. 

Others were hurrying up to be present at the massacre; for the news hadspread that the English had fired their last cartridge and were weakwith starvation; but as they met their flying comrades the panic spread. The reinforcements were magnified a hundred times; and it wanted butBob Roberts' quick sharp halt, form in line two deep, and the firing inof a couple of volleys, to send all to the right-about, a few of thehindmost getting a prick of the bayonet before they got away. 

Pursuit would have been in vain, so Bob left a picket of five men underOld Dick to keep the narrow path, bidding them fell a tree or two sothat their branches might lie towards and hinder an attack from theenemy, before hurrying back with fourteen men to the little jungle camp. 

He tried hard, but he could not keep back his tears as the gauntbleeding remains of a fine body of men gathered round him to grasp hishands and bless him; while, when one strange-looking little naked objectcame up and seized him by the shoulders, he felt almost ready to laugh. 

It was hard to believe it was Dr Bolter standing there, in a pair ofragged trousers reduced in length to knee breeches, and nothing else. 

"Bob, my dear boy, " he said, "I can't tell you how glad I am; but giveme some rum, biscuits, anything you have, for my poor lads are perishingfor want of food. "

The men's wallets were being emptied, and food and ammunition wererapidly distributed, for not a scrap of provision nor a single cartridgewas left with the major's party. 

"Why, you are laughing at me, you dog, " cried the doctor, as he cameback for more provisions; "but just you have forty patients, BobRoberts, many of them wounded, and not a bandage to use, Bob, my lad!My handkerchiefs, neck and pocket, went first; then my Norfolk jacket, and then my shirt. Poor lads! poor brave lads!" he said piteously; "I'dhave taken off my skin if it would have done them good. "

"Ah, doctor, " said Bob, in a voice full of remorse, "I'm only a boy yet, and a very thoughtless one. Pray forgive me. I meant no harm. "

"God bless you, my lad; I know that, " cried the doctor, warmly. "You'vesaved us all. Boy, indeed? Well, so you are, Bob; but as long asEngland has plenty of such boys as you, we need not trouble ourselvesabout the men--they'll all come in time. "

It was a pitiful task, but every one worked with a will; and now thatthey were refreshed with food, reanimated by the presence of twentyfresh men, supplied with ammunition, and, above all, supported by theknowledge that not a mile away, through the newly-cut path, there lay ahaven of rest in the shape of the steamer--men who had been fit to liedown and die, stood up, flushed, excited, and ready to help bear thesick and wounded towards the river; while, to make matters better, theMalays had had such a thrashing in this last engagement that they madeno fresh attack. The consequence was that half-a-dozen weak men underMajor Sandars made a show in the rear, and all the strong devotedthemselves to helping to carry the invalids to the steamer. 

More help was afforded too from the steamer itself, as soon asLieutenant Johnson found that there was no fear of attack, and in theend all were got safely on board; and long before night Dr Bolter, clothed and comfortable, had all his sick men in berths and hammocks, well tended, already looking better, and he himself walking up and downthe deck chuckling and rubbing his hands. 

The losses had been severe, but far less than might have been expected, owing to the devotion of the men, who had struggled on till they couldget no farther, and would have perished one and all but for the timelysuccour brought by the middy, and indirectly by the emissary of RajahGantang, who little thought when he took the steamer, by his cleverruse, up the solitary river, that he was leading them where it would bethe salvation of the hunting-party, who were doomed to death. 

Not a moment had been lost, and as soon as all were on board, thesteamer recommenced her downward course towards the residency, where allfelt that help must be urgently needed, by the little party who had itsdefence. 

CHAPTER SIXTY TWO. 

CAPTAIN SMITHERS PROVES A TRUE OFFICER, AND PRIVATE GRAY A GENTLEMAN. 

In truth help was urgently needed at the little fort; but had itsdefenders been compelled to wait for that which the steamer wouldafford, every one would have been either butchered or taken off into aterrible captivity. 

Captain Smithers, when he looked round, had seen the enemy coming on insuch strength; and with a demonstration so full of clever plan, backedup by determination, that he could not help feeling that the criticalmoment had come, and that they must either surrender or meet death likemen. 

If he surrendered, the probabilities were that they would all bemassacred, save the women; and as he thought of them he raised his eyes, and found those of Private Gray fixed upon him, as if reading his verysoul. 

"You know what I was thinking, Gray, " he said, resentfully. 

"Yes, sir, " said Gray, sharply; "you were debating within yourselfwhether you should strike the Union Jack in token of surrender. "

"I was, " said Captain Smithers, angry with himself at being as it wereobliged to speak as he did, to this simple private of his regiment. "And you advise it?"

"Advise it, sir? For heaven's sake--for the sake of the ladies whom wehave to defend, let us fight till the last gasp, and then send a fewshots into the magazine. Better death than the mercy of a set ofcut-throat pirates. "

Captain Smithers was silent for a few moments, and then he saidquietly, --

"I should not have surrendered, Gray. You are quite right. " Hehesitated for a moment or two, and then said hoarsely, --

"Gray, we hate each other. "

"This is no time for hatred, sir, " said Gray, sternly. 

"No, " said Captain Smithers, "it is not. In half an hour we shall be, in all human probability, dead men. Rank will be no more. Gray, Inever in my heart doubted your honesty. You are a brave man. Now forduty. "

"Yes, sir, " said Gray, in a deeply moved voice--"for duty. "

_Crash_!

There was a sharp ragged volley from the enemy at that moment as a bodyof them advanced, and a shriek of agony from close by, followed by afall. 

"Some poor fellow down, " said the Captain, hoarsely. "Who is it, Sergeant Lund?" he said, taking a dozen strides in the direction of thecry. 

"Private Sim, sir. Shot through the heart--dead!"

The captain turned away, and the next minute the fight on all sides wasgeneral, the enemy winning their way nearer and nearer, and a couple ofprahus sending a shower of ragged bullets from their brass lelahs overthe attacking party's heads. 

"Stand firm, my lads; stand firm. Your bayonets, boys!" cried CaptainSmithers, as with a desperate rush the Malays dashed forward now tocarry the place by assault, and in sufficient numbers to sweep allbefore them--when _boom! boom! boom! boom_! came the reports of heavyguns, and the fire from the prahus ceased. 

"Hurrah! my lads; steady!" cried Tom Long, waving his sword. "Thesteamer! the steamer!"

"No, " cried Captain Smithers, "it is from below. It is a heavily-armedprahu. "

"No, " cried Tom Long; "a steamer! a steamer!"

He was right, for a little gunboat was rapidly ascending the river, andone of the prahus began to settle down in front of the fort, while theother used her sweeps to get away. 

Another minute, and just when they had won an entrance, beating back thedefenders of the barricaded gateways, a panic seized upon the Malays, for shell after shell was dropping and bursting in their midst; andbefore Captain Smithers and his brave little party could realise thefact, the enemy was in full retreat. 

A quarter of an hour later, and the gunboat was moored abreast of thefort, and congratulations were being exchanged. 

He had said nothing, not daring to hope for success; but Ali had, assoon as he could, sent a fisherman in his boat to try and convey word ofthe danger to the Dindings. The message had been faithfully borne, andthe little gunboat sent to help to keep the enemy at bay, till thesteamer could come from Penang with a detachment of infantry on board. 

The heavy guns were too much for the Malays; and just as it had beendecided that the gunboat should ascend the river in quest of the"Startler, " the latter came slowly down the river with her rescuedfreight. 

In a couple more days the Penang steamer had arrived with a battalion offoot, under Colonel Hanson; and the next thing heard was that the SultanHamet, with Rajah Gantang, had fled up the country, the minor chiefssending in their submission to the British and suing for peace. 

Doctor Bolter became almost the greatest man at the station after this, and he went about laughing as he kept--to use his own words--"settingmen up, " speaking of them as if they were natural history specimens. First he had to be thanked by Rachel Linton for saving her father'slife; then he found Captain Horton blessing him for his recovery; andone way and another he had a very proud time of it, though, to his greatregret, he had no chance of pursuing his favourite hobby. 

The Malay who acted as his guide was recovering fast from the tiger'sclawing, and had attached himself to the doctor as servant when matterssettled down; and it was affecting to see the poor fellow's delight uponencountering Ali alive and well. 

Matters were soon arranged, and a busy party were at work rebuilding theresidency, a number of Chinese joiners being enlisted for the task. 

Meanwhile the fort and barracks had to be the general dwelling; and BobRoberts and Tom Long were looked upon as heroes. 

It so happened, that one day Colonel Hanson entered the mess-room, whereCaptain Horton, Major Sandars, Captain Smithers, and the other officers, were grouped about. Mr Linton and the ladies were present; and on oneside stood a group of soldiers, foremost among whom were Sergeant Lundand Private Gray. 

Major Sandars advanced to meet the governor's messenger, and he wasabout to make some remark, when Colonel Hanson turned round, caughtsight of Private Gray, and started with astonishment. 

The next moment he had gone forward to where Gray stood, looking verystern and troubled, and caught him by the hands, dragging him forward, and evidently forgetting all the stiff etiquette of the army. 

"Why, my dear old Frank, " he cried, shaking his hands, and seeming as ifhe could hug him, "this is a surprise! this is a meeting! Why, wherehave you been? Soldiering too, and wearing the scarlet! My dear oldFrank, " he cried again, with his voice shaking with emotion, "I feel asweak as a child; upon my word I do. "

"Colonel Hanson, " said Gray, quietly, but evidently very much moved, ashe saw that they were the centre of every gaze, "this is indeed astrange meeting. I little thought it was you. But you forget; webelong to different circles now. "

"Forget? Different circles? Do we indeed?" cried Colonel Hanson, whoseface was flushed with excitement. "I forget nothing. Come here, " hecried, and dragging Gray's arm through his, he faced round to where theastonished officers and the resident were standing. 

"Major Sandars, Mr Linton, gentlemen, this is my very dear old friend, Francis Murray. We were schoolfellows together at Eton, and--and--and--I can't tell you now all the good brave things he has done for me. Foryears he has been missing; that wretched Overend and Gurney smash brokehim, and he disappeared. And, Frank, you foolish fellow, I have beensearching for you high and low to tell you that that cantankerous oldlady, your aunt, was dead, and had changed her mind at the last moment, quarrelled with that lot who had got hold of her, sent for hersolicitor, and left Greylands and every farthing she had to you. Thankgoodness I have found you at last. Now sign your application to buy outat once. I will forward it home, and take upon myself to consider itaccepted, pending the official discharge. "

While this was going on, Captain Smithers, whose heart felt like lead, had gazed from one to the other. Now his eyes were fixed with bitterjealousy upon Private Gray, and now upon Rachel Linton, though she sawhim not, but, pale and flushed by turns, she was gazing at Gray. 

He was a true gentleman at heart, and in spite of his misery anddisappointment, that which he had just heard gave him some satisfaction. It had been one of his bitterest griefs--one with a poisoned sting--that feeling which always haunted him, that Rachel Linton should prefera private soldier to him, an officer and a gentleman. For that she didlove Gray he had long felt certain. Gray, or Murray, then, was agentleman, who, like many other gentlemen, had enlisted, and served as avery brave soldier. Yes, he was, Captain Smithers owned to himself, avery brave soldier, though he had felt that he hated him; while now--now--

"I'll fight it down, " said Captain Smithers to himself. 

"Heaven helping me, I'll be a gentleman as well as an officer. He haswon, and I have lost. I ought to like him for her sake, and I will. "

It was a brave effort, and it required all his strength--but he did it. He looked first at Rachel Linton, and then at the sweet sympathisingface of her cousin, and went up close to them. 

"Rachel, " he said, holding out his hand and speaking in a low voice onlyheard by her and Miss Sinclair, "I give up. Let me be a dear friend, ifI can be nothing more. "

Miss Linton held out her hand frankly and cordially, and he held it amoment in his. Then dropping it, he walked straight across to whereColonel Hanson was standing with Murray in the midst of a group, andholding out his hand, he said, --

"Mr Murray, I am your debtor for my life. Henceforth let us, too, bevery dear friends. "

The two young men clasped hands in a firm strong grip, each reading theother's thoughts, and they instinctively knew that henceforth all enmitybetween them was at end. It was all Frank Murray could do to standfirm, for he knew how great an effort this must have cost his rival, andhe mentally vowed to repay him all. 

"Well, " said Major Sandars, laughing, "this is a surprise indeed. Gentlemen all, Private Gray was so good and true a man in the private'smess, that I for one am quite sure he will be a welcome addition toours. "

"Mr Murray will grant that I have always looked upon him with respect, "said Mr Linton, cordially. "I owe him too deep a debt, " he said, holding out his hand, "not to feel intensely gratified at this change inhis position. "

The other officers warmly shook hands, Tom Long amongst the number;while, when it came to Bob Roberts' turn, he said with his eyessparkling, --

"I say, Mr Murray, I am glad, 'pon my word. " Bob Roberts and Tom Longstrolled out together on to the parade ground, crossing it to get underthe trees where a group of soldiers and Jacks were standing. 

"I say, Tom Long, this is a rum game, isn't it?" said Bob. 

"I call it beastly, " said Tom. "Well, there's one consolation, youngfellow, your nose is out of joint in a certain quarter. "

"No, " said Bob, "it's yours. I've long enough given up my pretentions. Miss Linton and I are the best of friends; but I'm sorry for you. "

"Bother!" said Tom Long. "I wish I hadn't been such a fool. Why, whatever are they talking about?"

"I always knew he was a gentleman, " said Sergeant Lund, authoritatively. "The way he could write out a despatch was something wonderful, that itwas. Ha! I'm sorry he's gone!"

"Tell you what, " said old Dick, "its about my turn now. What would someof you say if I was to turn out to be a mysterious orphan, and be askipper or an admiral?"

"That's quite right, my lads, " said Bob Roberts, sharply. "Old Dick isa mysterious orphan, and if you open his shirt you'll find he's markedwith a blue mermaid. "

"That's a true word, " said old Dick, grinning. "But, Master Roberts, sir, don't you think you might pass your word for us to say a halfdollar down there at the canteen? What's just took place has been hardon our emotions, sir, and the consequence is as we are all werry dry. "

"I think you're more likely to turn out a fish, Dick--a shark, thananything else, " said Bob. "But I don't mind. Will you be half, Tom?"

Tom Long nodded; and the men went off laughing to the canteen, to drinkthe health of Frank Murray, late Private Gray, and ended by saying, through their mouthpiece, Dick, that, --

"This here is a werry strange world. "

CHAPTER SIXTY THREE. 

THE LAST OF IT. 

There is not much more to say about the various people who formed thelittle world at the jungle-station. 

Despatches were sent home, in which Major Sandars and Captain Hortondwelt most strongly upon the bravery of the young officers servingrespectively beneath them. Captain Horton said so much respecting BobRoberts, that poor Bob said he felt as red as a tomato; while Tom Long, instead of becoming what old Dick called more "stuck-upper" on readingof his bravery, seemed humbled and more frank and natural. Certainly hebecame better liked; and at a dinner that was given after the countryhad settled, and Colonel Hanson and his force were about to return, thatofficer in a speech said that from what he had heard, Mr MidshipmanRoberts and Mr Ensign Long would become ornaments of the services, towhich they belonged. 

And so they did, and the truest of friends, when they did not quarrel, though really their squabbles only cemented their friendship thestronger. 

They both visited Mr and Mrs Frank Murray at their pretty bungalow atParang, where Rachel was settled down so long as her father retained hispost at the residency; but their most enjoyable visits were, as yearswent by, to their friend the sultan, who was fast improving the country, and encouraging his people to become more commercial, in place of thearrant pirates they had been. For in a very short time in thesettlement of the country under British protection, the rank of sultanhad been offered to the Tumongong, who refused it in favour of his sonAli, and this was ratified by the Governor of the Straits--Sultan Hametdying a victim to excess, and the piratical Rajah Gantang of his wounds. 

Which was, so said old Dick in confidence to the two young officers, "ablessing to everybody consarned, for that there Rajah Gantang was aboutthe wussest nigger as ever suffered from the want of soap. "

The last the writer heard of Dick was, that he was the oldest boatswainin the service, and that he was on board that rapid gunboat the"Peregrine, " commanded by Lieutenant Robert Roberts, RN. 

It need only be added that Captain Smithers got over his disappointment, and two years later married Mary Sinclair, who makes him an excellentwife. So that none of those concerned had cause to regret the trip upthe Malay river in HMS "Startler. "

THE END.