"Murder!" muttered Private Smithers in a hoarse whisper, as he finished corking the bottle by giving the neck a slap, stuffed it quickly into the pocket of his tunic, and then brought his piece up to the ready and began to back slowly from where he had been stationed.

"This is nice!" he growled, as he released his right hand to draw the back across his reeking brow. "Glad the missus ain't here. He warn't gammoning me, then. My, how thirsty I do feel! It's the perspiration, I suppose. Here, how plaguy dark it is! Course I've seen these 'ere things before, but it never seemed so bad as this.—Not fire? Won't I? Why, if I made out one of them things coming on up the bank, it 'ud be enough to make a decent piece go off of itself. Anyhow, it's fixed bay'nets, my lad; but I wonder whether the tool would go in. Phew! What does that mean? This is a blessed unked place, and it's getting darker and darker. It aren't fair to a British soldier to put him on a job like this."

As the man spoke he looked sharply to right and left and out into the river, fixing his bayonet the while.

"Do you hear that, you beggars? You come on, and you will get the bullet, and a dig as well. A-mussy me, I do wish it was relieve guard! And I have got to stop here facing this till daybreak almost. It's enough to make a fellow feel ill. I wonder what the missus would say if she knew. Hates—bless her!—hates me to touch the least taste of rum, but if she'd have knowed what I'd got to go through to-night she wouldn't have left out the sugar, and she would have put in a double lashing of something strong to keep the heart in her old man, as she calls me—when she's in a good temper," he added after a pause, during which he stood breathing hard and trying to make out whence came each splash or lash of a reptile's tail.

"Talk about facing the enemy," he muttered; "I don't wish old Tipsy any harm, but I should like him to have this job. It 'ud take some of the starch out of him, I know. Well, what's to be done? There ain't so much as a tree to get behind. The Red Book says you ain't to expose yourself unnecessarily to the enemy; but what's a fellow to do? if I go padding up and down there, it's like saying to them, 'Here I am; come on.' And they can see one so—them right down in the water and me high up on the bank. Let's see; what did the missus say? Out of two evils choose the least. Well, I know what it is for desarting your post, and that must be leaster than having one of them beggars getting hold of a fellow by the leg and pulling him under water. So hook it, I say; and I might manage to sneak back before rounds."

Private Smithers stood thinking and watching, hearing many a startling sound of the reptiles with which the river swarmed, evidently fishing after their fashion; and over and over again he took aim and nearly fired at some imaginary monster that appeared to be crawling out of the water to mount the bank. But after straining his eyes till they seemed to ache, he always ended by lowering his piece again and forcing himself to walk up and down his measured beat.

"I never knowed a hotter night than this," he muttered, as he took off his cap and wiped his dripping forehead; "and I do call it hard. I can't sneak off, because as soon as I was out of the way, as sure as I am alive somebody would be making extra rounds, so as to drop upon a fellow and ketch him when he ain't there. I can feel it in me to-night as old Tipsy would know it and drop upon me as soon as I had gone; and 'tain't being a soldier neither," the poor fellow half-whimpered. "I suppose it's cowardly; but who can help it, hearing them ugly, slimy things chopping the water and gnashing their teeth at you? I want to know what such things as them was made for. Talk about Malays and pisoned krises! Why, I would rather meet hundreds of them. You could bay'net a few of them, for they are soft, plump sort of chaps; but these 'ere things is as hard as lobsters or crabs, and would turn the point of a regulation bay'net as if it was made of a bit of iron hoop. I sha'n't never forget that, Mr Sergeant Tipsy," he continued, addressing the jungle behind him as he looked in the direction of the cantonments. "The underneath's the tenderest part, is it? Just you come and try it, old 'un. Savage old tyrant—that's what you are. Only just wish I was Sergeant Smithers and you was Private Ripsy. I'd make you Private Tipsy with sheer fright, that I would, and so I tell you. No, I wouldn't," he grumbled, as he cooled down a little. "I wouldn't be such a brute, for the sake of your poor missus. Ugh!" he growled, as he seemed to turn savage; and he went through the business of shouldering arms, with a good deal of unnecessary energy, slapping his piece loudly, and then stamping his feet as he marched up and down the marked-out portion of the bank, a little inward from the landing-place.

"I don't care," he muttered recklessly. "I can't see you, but I can hear you, you beauties! Come on if you like. My monkey's up now. Fire! I just will! It will only be once, though, and then s'elp me, I'll let whichever of you it is have it with a straight-down dig right between the shoulders—one as will pin you into the soft earth. I'll do for one of you at any rate, and then let them come and relieve guard. Relieve guard, indeed, when there won't be no guard to relieve! And old Tipsy won't have any more trouble with poor old Joe Smithers. Nay, my lad, put it down decent, as perhaps it's for the last time. Private Joseph Smithers, 3874, and good-bye, mates and comrades, and bless the lot of you! Poor old missus! She'll miss me, though, when she wants the water fetched, but it will only be larky Peter Pegg doing it twice as often; and she will be independent-like, for she always washes his shirt for him every week—a cheeky beggar! But somehow I always liked Peter, in spite of his larks as Mr Maine put him up to—chaffing and teasing a fellow. But he never meant no harm. You see, it seemed to make us good mates running in company like, for when the Sergeant wasn't dropping on to him he was letting me have it, to keep his tongue sharp. Yes, Peter Pegg will miss me, for they won't find Joe Smithers when they come; and if I desart my post, how can I help it if I am pulled under? But I won't desart it till I am. There," he cried, stopping suddenly in his angry soliloquy; and pulling up short, he stood ready, looking inward, forgetting the splashings of the reptiles, which were repeated from time to time. "What did I say? 'Tarn't rounds yet, and I should have been ketched, for here's some one coming. Out of regular time, too. One of the officers, for that spot of light's a cigar. Well, glad to see him. Company's good, even if you're going to be pulled under by a croc. Wonder who it is."



CHAPTER EIGHT.

A STRANGE PRISONER.

Private Smithers had not long to wait, for as the glow of the burning cigar came nearer he challenged, the customary interchange took place, and then Archie Maine took up the conversation with—

"Who's that? You, Smithers?"

"Yes, sir."

"I say, you have got a lonely watch here to-night. Heard any crocodiles?"

"Heerd any crocodiles, sir? Just you listen!"

"My!" exclaimed Archie.—"I say, Down, why, it can't be those reptiles, is it? What a row!"

"There's no mistake about it," said the Captain. "Why, they must be having a party." For the wallowing and splashing grew louder than ever.

"Here, I know what it is," cried Archie merrily. "They can smell Private Smithers here. He's such a big, well-fed chap that they have gathered together for a feast."

"Yes, sir; that's it," said the man.

"But they haven't been going on like this before, have they?"

"Just as bad, sir, all the time; and every now and then one of them barks at me just like a wolf."

"Just like a wolf?" said the Captain. "What do you know about wolves? You never kept a wolf."

"No, sir. They are not the sort of things I should like to make a pet dog on; but I've heerd them lots of times in Canady heigh-ho where they chase the buffalo."

"Ah, to be sure. You have been in the regiment longer than I have. Well, these brutes are going it! Why, Maine, we ought to have brought our guns and had some shooting."

"Too dark to see them."

"Why, what a noise! And they have been going on like this all the time you have been on duty?"

"Yes, sir; it's been precious cheerful."

"But what have you done?"

"Oh, just kep' on the move, sir, so as to baffle them a bit when they seemed disposed to come ashore and join one."

"But surely you haven't seen any of them come ashore?"

"Well, sir, to be downright honest, it's been too dark to see 'em; but I've seemed to feel one of 'em crawling ashore now and then; and then I always went right to the end of the beat, so as to get as far off as I could."

"I say, Down, this is horrible!" said Archie.

"Thank you, sir," said the man. "It ain't been nice."

"Nice—no!" said the Captain. "It seems like planting a sentry to act as a bait to draw the brutes ashore."

"I don't think, however, that they would attack a man who was on the alert," said Archie.

"I shouldn't like to risk it," said the Captain, "however much I were on the alert."

"But the Doctor says from long experience he never knew them attack any one moving about. Of course he says he wouldn't answer for the life of a man who was lying asleep close to the river's edge, and we know that they will pull in a woman bathing, or who has waded in to draw water."

"Yes," said the Captain, "I can answer for that. Why, they will seize an ox that has walked in to drink. But this is not right. The Major would be angry if he knew of a single sentry being stationed so close to the water as this on a dark night.—Look here, Smithers; move in yonder a bit—up to that hut we just passed. You can well command the landing-place from there, I think?"

"Yes, sir; thank you, sir. No boat could land there without my hearing and seeing it."

"Well, then, move up there; and when Sergeant Ripsy comes to relieve guard, tell him I changed your position, and that a sentry must not be posted here again on a dark night."

"Thank you, sir," said the private. "It has been awful, sir."

"Awful—yes, my lad. Well, we are three of us now, but I don't feel at all eager to stay. However, you will be quite safe there—eh, Maine?"

"Oh yes. The heavy, lumbering brutes are not likely to travel up there.—Seen or heard anything else, Smithers?"

"No, sir. I shouldn't think anybody else would want to come."

The officers stood talking to the man a few minutes, and then turned off to return to their quarters, while Private Smithers hugged himself with satisfaction as he picked up the still burning half-cigar the officer had thrown away, carefully put it out, and deposited it in his cartridge-box.

"You will do to cut up fine for finishing in a pipe to-morrow, my jockey," he said.

He stood listening till the faint sounds of his visitors' voices had completely died away, and then he settled himself by the hut.

"This is jolly," he muttered. "One's safe enough here. That's a capital lookout, for one quite looks down on the water. Yes; no boat could come up here without my hearing it, and I should see any one paddling along. Well, I will say this: our officers are gentlemen, and never want you to do anything that they wouldn't do theirselves. Glad the Captain was there too, for I don't suppose Mr Archie Maine would have ventured to change my place. But I do know what he would have done. I'd bet anybody sixpence, if there was anybody here to bet with and I'd got one, that he'd have stopped to keep me company and—I'm blessed! What's that?"

The man was standing beneath the spreading eaves of the palm-tree and bamboo hut, quite sheltered by the darkness, and he turned his head on one side to listen, for quite plainly from somewhere up the river, and apparently right under the bank on the other side, he heard the sound of paddles, as if a big boat were approaching.

"Why, I shouldn't wonder," he thought to himself, "if that boat has been hanging about there waiting till there was no one on the shore. Blessed if I don't think they heard us talking and fancy our officers have took the sentry away. Well, I shall jolly soon know. How rum! It must be a big boat; and it's scared the crocs away, for I can't hear them a bit now. All right; I'm ready for you, whoever you are. Not fire, eh? But I'll tell 'em I will if they don't give up. I wonder who it is. Only fishermen perhaps; but it will give one something to do."

He drew himself a little closer beneath the projecting attap roof, which extended three or four feet over the sides of the hut, and then felt startled, for suddenly there fell upon his ears, evidently coming from somewhere inland, a rustling sound of footsteps, accompanied by the hard breathing of some one suffering from over-exertion.

"Boat coming ashore! Some one coming down to the landing-place! What does this 'ere mean?" muttered the sentry. "Well, it's only one;" and he peered carefully from his shelter, trying to make out the approaching figure.

But it was too dark, and he waited a full minute before stepping out boldly; and his rifle gave a loud click, click, as he cried:

"Halt! Who goes there?"

His answer was a sharp half-cry, half-gasp of astonishment, and the loud breathing became quite a pant, like that of an excited dog.

"Here—yes—it—is—all right," came in rather a high-pitched voice, the accents being those of one not fully accustomed to the English language.

"Well, what's the word?" cried Smithers, who, with his piece presented, found himself close up now to a slight man of middle height, wearing a sun-hat, dressed in knickerbockers, and apparently having a fishing-creel slung from one shoulder, something like a tin case from the other.

"The—the—word?" he answered.

"Yes. What's the word?"

"Oh yes; it is all right," faltered the new-comer, with a half-laugh. "I was just going down to my boat. What a dark night!"

"Oh yes, it's dark enough," growled Smithers; "but what's the word?"

"The word? Oh yes. Good-night—good-night."

"Halt, I tell you!" cried the sentry in a deep tone. "That's not the password."

"Oh no; but that does not matter, my good friend. I tell you I am going down to the pier to my boat, which is waiting for me."

"Rum time to be going to meet a boat," growled Smithers; "and there's no boat waiting there. Can't you hear? They are paddling away down-stream as hard as eater they can."

The stranger uttered a sharp ejaculation of impatience.

"Oh, this is foolish—absurd!" he exclaimed; and his hands began to busy themselves about his waist.

Private Smithers might have been the worst man in his company, but somehow drill had made him a keen soldier and a good sentry.

"Hands up," he cried sharply, "or I fire!"

"Oh!" cried his visitor sharply, "don't be so foolish. Did you think I was going to do something?"

"Yes, with a revolver, whoever you are. I nearly drew trigger, and you not two yards away."

"Oh!" said the stranger, with a gasp. "It is foolish nonsense, and you have frightened away my rowing-men. Don't you know me?"

"No."

"I am a stranger. I come out in the forest to-night to collect the beautiful moths—butterflies, you call them. I have some in this case."

"It's all dark," said Smithers sourly. "Gammon! No one can see to catch butterflies at night."

"Ha-ha! You are a wise man. You English are so sharp. Look; I will show you."

"You had better mind what you are doing, sir, or my rifle may go off."

"What do you think of me, my friend? See here. There are many great, beautiful butterfly moths here in this grand forest."

"Yes; and if you come when the sun shines, with a net, you can catch lots."

"Yes; and I come at night. I put sugar on the trees. The foolish moths fly round to eat; and then I open this little lanterrne, which is not burning now, and then I see to catch the beautiful moths." As Smithers's visitor spoke, he tapped the dimly seen tin case slung under his right arm. "If I had time I should show you, sir. But my boat is waiting. I go down to the pier place and hold up my hand. My men see me, and come and take me off."

"And all in the dark, mister," said the sentry in his gruffest tones. "But you are not going down to the pier place to hold up your hand, and your boatmen are not coming to take you off."

"I do not see what you mean, sir. I say they do come to take me off."

"Oh, do you?" growled Smithers. "And I say they don't come to take you off, because my orders are to let no boat come in; and what's more, you are my prisoner."

"Your prisonare, sir!" cried the visitor. "You make joke."

"Oh no, that's no joke, mister," said Smithers. "That's only obeying orders."

"But, sir, I insist. I desire to go much."

"Can't help it, sir."

"Then what go you to do? You dare to say you shoot at me?"

"No, sir; not unless you try to run away. My orders would be to stop you, and I should fire at your legs; and it might hurt you very much. But whether it did or whether it didn't hurt, you wouldn't run any more to-night."

"Sir," said the visitor pompously, "you talk like madness. If you do not let me go down to my boat I shall report you to your officer."

"Yes, sir; that's what I mean you to do."

"What do you mean?"

"He will be here by-and-by to relieve guard, and then you can say what you like, and he will take you to our Major."

"What! Faith of a gentleman, this man is too much mad! But there, I forget myself. You like a glass of rack-ponch?"

"Yes, sir, I like it."

"Then I have none here; but I have in my pocket a Chinese dollar. It is worth shillings. You get many glasses of rack-ponch. You take it?" and as he spoke he thrust his hand into his pocket and drew out in the darkness a broad piece.

"It won't do," said Smithers. "You will be only getting me into more trouble, mister."

"You will not take it?"

"Not me."

"Then I shall keep it and spend it myself." With a good deal of gesticulation the speaker thrust the coin back into his pocket, and gave it a heavy slap. "Now, you say to me that my boat is gone, and you say that my men could not see me if I hold up my hand?"

"That's right, sir."

"Very well. You are very clever, but I know also two or three things. I shall go down to the pier, and call out to my men, 'Ahoy!' and then go into the water and swim till they pick me up and put me in a dry place in the boat. Now, what do you say to that?"

"Only this, mister. What do you think your men, if they come, will pick up?"

"Me—myself, sir, with my butterfly moths and my little lanterrne."

"Ho!" said Smithers dryly. "And what about the crocs?"

"I do not understand."

"I see you don't," said the sentry. "What about the great crocodiles that have been waiting about there all night?"

"The crocodile!" said the visitor; and it was not light enough to see, but the stranger's jaw dropped, and he remained silent till Smithers spoke again.

"Understand that, mister?"

"Yes; you say that to frighten me. You talk one minute about using your fusil to shoot me, and I am not afraid. Then you say you throw me to the crocodile, and still I am not afraid."

"Then look ye here," said Smithers, "you just give me that little pistol thing you were going to pull out."

"What! Sir, I re-fuse."

Smithers stuck the mouth of his rifle against the stranger's breast-bone, and pressed upon it heavily.

"Sit down," he said.

"I will not sit down! I re-fuse."

"Mind," said Smithers. "I don't want this rifle to go off."

"You dare—you dare not shoot," cried the visitor; but as he spoke he began to subside slowly, as if still mentally resisting, till the sentry raised his foot quickly, gave a sharp thrust, and his prisoner went down suddenly upon his back, with the sentry's right foot upon his chest.

"Now then, no nonsense. Hand up that pistol."

The prisoner's hand went rapidly to his waist as if with the intent of snatching out and making use of his revolver, but quick as a flash the sentry's rifle was pressed down harder now, close up to the man's throat.

"That's right," said Smithers. "Now drop it."

There was a few moments' hesitation, and then the revolver fell softly upon the earth just beyond the shelter of the attap mat.

The next moment Smithers had raised his foot and kicked the pistol aside, but with an unexpected result, for one chamber exploded with a loud bang.

"I've done it now," said Smithers to himself. "As for you, you lie still;" and he held his piece pointing still towards his prisoner while he cleverly retrieved the revolver. "Look here," he said, "I had orders not to fire, only if it was wanted particular. Well, I haven't fired, but they will hear that shot and be coming down before you know where you are."

"What!" cried the prisoner, starting up in a sitting position.

"Look ye here," cried Smithers; "do you want me to have an accident?"

"No, no; I want you to let me give you many dollars. You must let me go before your officers come."

"Nothing of the kind, sir. You must talk to them when they come. You are my prisoner, so just lie still."

As the sentry was speaking the notes of a bugle were ringing out upon the silent night. Hurrying feet could be heard, and it was evident that the night alarm had set the occupants of the cantonments buzzing out like the bees of a hive.

"They don't know which sentry it was," thought Smithers, and he was raising his piece to fire and bring the relief to his side, when it struck him that he should be leaving himself defenceless if his prisoner should make a dash to escape.

"Second thoughts is best, says the missus," he muttered, and taking the revolver from his pocket, he fired it in the air, and after a short interval fired again.

"That's done it," he said to himself.—"Hullo! what's the matter with you?" For his prisoner was rocking himself to and fro as if in pain, and grinding his teeth.

Directly after there was the light of a lantern showing through the trees, shouts were heard and answered by the sentry, and a strong party of the men, led by Captain Down and Archie, surrounded them.

"What's wrong, Smithers?" cried the Captain eagerly.

"Took a prisoner, sir."

"Corporal, a light here," cried Archie; and the man doubled up to throw the rays of the lantern upon the prisoner's face as he now rose to his feet.

"The Count!" cried Archie.

"Yes, sir. Your stupid sentry, he make a John Bull blunder—a mistake."

"A mistake?" said the Captain. "Why, how come you here?"

"Only I have my lanterrne and collecting-box, and come down the river to catch specimens of the beautiful moth for the naturalists at home in France. I land from my boat, and the boat come to take me away; but your sentry man re-fuse to let me go."

"Collecting—lantern!" said the Captain.

"Yes, sir. Look. I fear my beautiful specimens are spoiled in the pannier here. He use me very bad."

"You mean that you were collecting moths?" said Archie dubiously, as he recalled the rustling sounds he had heard below the veranda that night.

"Yes, sir," said Smithers gruffly. "I suppose it's right, what he says, about collecting. Here's one of his tools;" and he handed the beautifully finished little revolver to the young officer.

"Humph!" grunted the Captain.—"Well, sir, I'm sorry if our sentry behaved roughly to you, but he was only obeying orders, and you ought to know that you had no business here."

"All a mistake, Captain. You will please make signals for my boat to come."

"All in good time, sir," said the Captain, in response to a nudge given by his subaltern; "but you must come up first and make your explanation to the Major."

"What! It is not necessary, sir."

"You think so, sir?" said Captain Down. "I and my brother officer think it is."

Directly after the relief party and their prisoner were on their way to headquarters.



CHAPTER NINE.

THE MAJOR ON HEDGING.

"Look here, Dallas," said the Major; "I think your diplomacy and arguing and writing despatches is a great nuisance."

"You will think better of it some day, sir," said the Resident.

"Never!" said the Major warmly; and his ruddy, sun-browned face grew redder, while his stiff, silvery-grey moustache and short-cut hair seemed to bristle. "Of course I know you must have troubles, sir, with other nations, and people like these Malays, who are subservient to us; but when they come, let's fight and bring them to their senses.—What do you say to that, Archie Maine?"

"Spoken like a soldier, sir," cried Archie quickly.

"Good!" cried the Major. "Your writing despatches and minutes and red-tape and all the rest of it to a fellow like that Rajah Suleiman is all waste of energy. Here you are supposed to be guiding him."

"I hope and believe I am guiding him, sir," said the Resident coldly.

"Bah! He and his people are growing more impudent every day. It's bound to end in a blow-up. These imitation Scotch niggers in their plaid sarongs, as they call them, will be getting up a big quarrel with my men with their bounce and contempt for my well-drilled, smart detachment. Here's every common, twopenny-halfpenny Malay looking down upon my fellows, while there isn't one among my lads who isn't a better man than their Rajah. There will be a row some day; won't there, Archie?"

"I expect so, sir," replied the lad, who was listening to the conversation, and felt rather amused.

"I sincerely hope, Major, that you give strict injunctions to your officers and men about doing everything to avoid coming into collision with the natives and their traditions."

"You leave me alone for that, sir. I think I know what to do with my lads. You would like me to confine them to barracks, I suppose?"

"Well, I should be very strict with them, sir."

The Major grunted.

"I know," he said. "Some of you diplomatic people think British soldiers ought to be kept shut up in cages until they are wanted to fight. Don't you criticise me, sir. I have had a good many years with my lads, and they are pretty well in hand. If you come to criticising, you will set me doing the same with your methods. I shouldn't have let that French chap—Count, as he calls himself—go off so easy as you did the other day."

"What could I do, sir? He is a friend of Rajah Suleiman, and his guest. I communicated with the Rajah, and he answered for him at once, complained of his arrest, and demanded that he should be allowed to return to the Palace at once."

"Palace!" growled the Major. "Why, my lads could knock up a better palace in no time with some bamboo poles and attap mats."

"The natives are accustomed to simplicity in the building of their homes," said the Resident coldly.

"Oh yes, I know," growled the Major; "but I want to know what that fellow was sneaking about our cantonments for in the dead of the night."

"My dear sir," said the Resident, "his explanations were quite satisfactory. He is here studying the natives preparatory to writing a book about the manners and customs of these people, and he is collecting various objects of natural history, as he showed us."

"Yes; half-a-dozen moths with all the colour rubbed off their wings. Do you mean to tell me that that chap is catching those insects for nothing?"

"I am not ashamed to say that when I was young I used to collect butterflies, and if I am not very much mistaken, our friend Maine here has done the same thing."

"Oh yes, lots of times," said Archie.

"Of course," said the Major; "every boy does, some time or other. I did myself. But I am as sure as sure that Monsieur the Count is playing a double game, and I have been thinking a deal, Archie Maine, about you and Down hearing that rustling as if somebody had been listening outside the veranda to what we were saying."

"But I couldn't be sure, sir, that it was the Count."

"Count be hanged! It makes me feel savage. Say Frenchman, boy. No, you couldn't be sure, of course; but it couldn't have been one of the natives. They daren't have done it, with the sentry close at hand; and it looks very strange that he should be caught later on in the night going down to the landing-place, with a boat waiting for him. Once more, sir, what do you say to that?"

"That I felt bound to be satisfied with the gentleman's explanation, sir."

"Gentleman!" said the Major sourly. "I believe he's a mischievous hanger-on, and I should like to see him sent right away. There, I've done. As you, in your diplomatic fashion, would say, the debate is closed."

"Yes," said the Resident, smiling, as he uttered a sigh of relief. "Why, Major, it has made you quite cross."

"Not a bit, not a bit; only a little warm. But while we are talking, I do think a little more might be done in support of your position as Her Majesty's representative. And mind this, Dallas; I am not saying it unkindly, but really on account of the way in which your friend the Rajah swells himself out and behaves to me and my officers."

"Well, I must confess that his assumption of hauteur and the disdain which he has exhibited towards you on more than one occasion has annoyed me very much; but I set it down to his ignorance of England and our power."

"Yes," said the Major; "and I have seen him treat you in a way that has made me ready to kick the scoundrel out of the place, when he has been here."

"Well," said the Resident, "you must make allowances for the natural pride and conceit of these men. We know that they are half-savages, while they, as armed fighting-men accustomed to their petty wars amongst themselves, most likely look down upon us as half-barbarian people, whom they hope some day to subject in turn."

"Yes, that's it," said the Major. "But what I say is, we must teach them better."

"Well, that's what I am trying to do," said Sir Charles. "But I am trying the suaviter in modo, while you want to practise—"

"Yes, I know," said the Major; "the good old way: the forti—what's its name?—What is it, Archie?"

"I forget, sir. Fortiter something."

"Can't you combine the two?" said the Major. "Let them see something of our strength, Dallas. They certainly are getting more impudent and independent. Now, there's the question of our rations and supplies. The simple country-people are all right, and are glad to bring in all we want, and quite content with what we pay. But this Suleiman's people interfere with them and frighten them; and it's a bad sign, Dallas. What do you say to my arresting one of the most interfering of the Rajah's men and letting my fellow's give him a good flogging?"

"For goodness' sake don't dream of such a thing!"

"Then matters will go from bad to worse. You are too easy."

"And you are too hard, Major."

"All right; you are one side and I am the other.—Here, Maine, you are a very stupid boy sometimes."

"Yes, sir," said Archie dryly.

"What's that? Now, that's a sneer, sir; but let it pass. I was going to say, sir, you have got your head screwed on right, and sharp boys can see what's best sometimes. Now, speak out. I don't know why this discussion has been going on before you, but you have been taking it all in ever since we have been talking. Now then, speak out. Who's right— Sir Charles or I?"

"Oh, nonsense!" said Sir Charles. "I protest! You are his commanding officer, and he is bound to vote for you."

"He'd better not," cried the Major, with his grey moustache seeming to bristle. "If he doesn't speak out honestly what he feels I will never forgive him.—Now, Archie, who's right—your father's old schoolfellow or the Resident?"

"Both, sir," said the lad sharply.

"What!" roared the Major. "You are hedging, sir, and I didn't expect it from you. I wanted you to say exactly what you felt."

"Well, I am going to, sir; only you cut me off so short. I think you are both right, and both wrong."

"Well, don't you call that hedging, sir?" cried the Major, looking hotter than ever.

"No, sir. I think Sir Charles gives way too much to these people, these proud followers of the Rajah; but I think it would be disastrous and unfair if you tried force."

"Humph!" grunted the Major; and the Resident frowned.

"Well, sir," said the Major, "have you any more to say?"

"Yes," replied Archie thoughtfully. "I have mixed a good deal with the Rajah's people, and they are all very civil to me, but I never feel as if they are safe, and I often think that they are waiting for a chance to use the krises they keep so carefully covered over."

"There, Sir Charles!" said the Major, smoothing down his bristling moustache. "It's coming."

Archie did not seem to hear the remark, and he went on thoughtfully:

"I think as Major Knowle does, sir, that, out of sheer ignorance, they don't believe how powerful we are. You see, they are all armed; every man has a kris; and they are going about with those nasty razor-bladed spears that they can throw so accurately. Most of them carry the point in a sheath, but it is a sheath that they slip off in a moment, and then it is a most horrible, deadly weapon."

"Quite true," said Sir Charles thoughtfully.

"And then it seems to me, sir, that they feel a sort of contempt for our men, who are armed when they are on duty, but as a rule go about without so much as a bayonet; and even if they did carry that by way of side-arms, it's only a poor, blunt sort of thing that in their eyes does not compare with the kris."

"Don't you disparage army weapons, sir, that are sanctioned by the War Office and the wisdom of the great Department," growled the Major.

"No, sir, I don't wish to. But I was thinking that we ought to do something to teach these ignorant people how ready and well provided we are in case of any trouble."

"Of course," said the Major; "we must do something."

"Better wait patiently," interposed Sir Charles, "until we have real cause for using our weapons; and then I am quite for punishing them severely."

"Stitch in time saves nine," said the Major emphatically. "Why not nip the thing in the bud?"

"Why not?" continued Archie, who, now he was started, gained confidence every minute and did not seem disposed to stop.

"Why not what?" said the Major.

"Have a grand parade, sir. There's the Queen's Birthday next week."

"Yes," said Sir Charles.

"Eh?" grunted the Major. "Grand parade? You mean make a bit of a show? Full review order, and the band?"

"I'd finish off with that, sir," said Archie; "but I'd have every man out, and get up a thoroughly good sham-fight, burn plenty of powder, make everything as real as could be, and after plenty of firing and evolution, form in line and deliver a regular good charge."

"Yes," said the Major, "there's something in that. But what's the good of doing it with only the people of the campong to look on?"

"Oh, I wouldn't do it shabbily, sir. I think, in honour of Her Majesty's birthday, Sir Charles ought to give a big banquet here, and invite both Rajah Suleiman and Rajah Hamet to come in force with their followers, and after the sham-fight have it all arranged that their people shall be well feasted."

"But the expense—the expense, sir!" cried Sir Charles.

"You go on, Archie Maine," said the Major. "Capital! Hang the expense!"

"But all these things have to be considered, sir," said the diplomat rather coldly.

"Yes, sir; and I am considering them," said the Major. "I think the plan's excellent. It will be killing two birds with one stone. I'll make it so real that we shall overawe the people, and please them and make them more friendly, at one stroke. Why, it will be worth in prestige twenty times as much as the money it will cost."

"Then you think we ought to do it, Major?"

"Think we ought to do it, Dallas?" said the Major in astonished tones. "Why, of course. Don't you?"

"I think it's worth consideration, certainly, but I am not for coming to a rash decision."

"Rash!" said the Major hotly. "I don't call that rash. What is there rash in it?"

"Several things occur to my mind," said the Resident.

"Never mind the several; let's have one," said the Major, with the facial muscles making his moustache twitch sharply.

"Well, sir, we are few in number. Would it be wise to invite these two Eastern princes to come here in force and well-armed, so that they could combine and try to sweep us out of existence?"

"What! when our men are hot with excitement and ready to smell mischief in a good sham-fight? I should just like to see them try—eh, Maine?"

"Yes, sir," said Archie, with his eyes twinkling. "I think they would make a mistake."

"Yes," said the Major, leaning forward to give the boy a slap on the knee that made him wince. "And what about your despised British bayonets then—eh, sir? Eh?"

"Ah!" said the Resident thoughtfully.

"Oh, nonsense, nonsense, Sir Charles!" cried the Major. "Come, I think this is a grand proposal, and I can only see one failing in it."

"What's that, sir?"

"That I didn't think of it myself. Why, my dear sir, it's splendid; and I tell you what, we have got a pretty good supply in store. Our fellows shall give them a grand salvo of rockets at night from boats in the river, by way of a finish off, the band playing 'God save the Queen' the while, with plenty of big drum."

"And you might make the campong people illuminate all their boats on the river," said Archie.

"Capital! Of course!" cried the Major.

"Humph! Yes," said Sir Charles. "And I might send in my invitation despatch a request to the two Rajahs to arrange that their nagas shall be well hung with lanterns."

"Hear that, Archie?" said the Major, chuckling. "He's coming round."

"Well, yes, on further thought," said the Resident, "if such a fete were made of the matter it would be a great attraction, and must impress not only the followers of the two Rajahs, but the inhabitants of every campong within reach. But I am afraid—"

"I'm not," said the Major.

"I was going to say, of the expense."

"Oh, hang the expense! as I said before," cried the Major. "Let's do it well, and think about the cost later on. I say that these people, bloodthirsty as they are, quarrelsome, and generally spoiling for a fight, are such children at heart that they would be delighted, and believe more than ever in the followers of her they call the Great White Queen. Now, Sir Charles, are you with me?"

"Yes, Major," said the Resident, "I must confess that I am."

"Settled," said the Major, drawing himself up. "The Queen's Birthday, then. We haven't much time to spare.—What's that?" he continued, as Sir Charles left the Major's quarters, where the above discussion had taken place. "What's that you say—it might be dangerous to bring the followers of those two fellows together, seeing what enemies they are? I never thought of that, Maine."

"You see, they began using their krises, sir, that night of the mess dinner."

"Humph! Yes. Then they were hanging about with nothing to do but growl at each other. Oh, I don't think we need study that, my lad. You see, their attention will be taken up—plenty to see, plenty to eat and drink—and we shall have all our lads under arms and prepared for any little emeute. Oh no, my lad, we won't seek clouds where there are none. All the same, we'll be prepared."



CHAPTER TEN.

PETER TURNS MAHOUT.

It was the morning appointed for the review, the preparations having been all made on the previous day; and the reveille rang out, making Archie Maine turn over upon his charpoy bed with an angry grunt, for instead of unbuttoning his eyelids he squeezed them up extra tight.

"Mr Archie, sir, don't you hear the call?"

"Hear it? Yes. What does it mean?"

"Look sharp, sir. I'm putting your things straight. Tumble up and tumble in."

"Be quiet, you noisy rascal! What does it all mean? I say, we are in the middle of the night!"

"Not it, sir. Do look sharp, sir."

"But what for?"

"It's because of the review, I suppose, sir. The lads are all tumbling up as if there was some alarm. I ain't half dressed."

"Alarm! Nonsense! Sha'n't get up till the regular time."

"Hi! Hullo, Maine!" and Captain Down's voice was heard outside. "Are you nearly ready? Company's all turned out."

"Ready—no! What's the matter?"

"Don't quite know, but I think we are being attacked. The watch have come in with news that a strong party of the Malays are approaching by the forest path, out beyond the campong."

"What stuff!" cried Archie, beginning to dress sleepily. "It's the country-people coming in to see the show.—Here, you, Peter Pegg, why don't you get a light? Who's to see to dress?"

"Slip into your things, man," cried the Captain irritably. "No nonsense. Recollect where we are."

"Oh, all right," grumbled Archie. "I know it's only a false alarm."

"False alarm or no, the Major was half dressed before I came on here."

"Oh, all right," grumbled Archie again; "I'll manage.—Pete," he whispered, "try to get me a cup of coffee."

"Who's that?" cried the Captain.

"Sergeant, sir—Ripsy," came in that non-com's deep, important voice.

"Well, what's up?"

"Well, sir, they may be coming to see the review, but it don't look like it. There's a strong body of well-armed natives just the other side of the campong, and they may be friends or they may be enemies, but we have got to be ready for them, anyhow. You see, sir, it don't look right, because if they had been friends they would have been coming down the river in their boats. These 'ere must have been marching all night; and they have got elephants with them."

Whatever the body of Malays was, short as was the notice given, they found that the English cantonments were well guarded, and those who approached beyond the native village, where the main body had halted, were stopped before they could get any farther.

It was quite dark, and the whole appearance of the body of men suggested a night attack; but before long native messengers came into camp with a message from the chief officers of Rajah Suleiman to say that they had had a long night march so as to reach Campong Dang before sunrise, on account of the heat, and asking that they might be furnished with refreshments for His Highness, and be given permission for the elephants to be brought into camp by their mahouts, to be placed in the shade of the trees by the parade-ground while the grass-cutters went out for their food.

Messages then began to pass to and fro, and invitations were sent to the Rajah and his officers to join the officers' mess at breakfast and rest, as it would be hours before the military evolutions would begin.

The excitement and bustle quickly calmed down; pickets were stationed, with orders that none of the Malays were to come into camp; and the mess-men were almost ready to announce breakfast, when the Doctor came bustling on to the scene, and one of the first people he stumbled against was Archie.

"Oh, here you are," he cried, hastily fastening one or two buttons of his white flannels. "Just the fellow I wanted to see."

"Morning, Doctor. How are you?" replied the lad.

"Bad. Up nearly all night with a couple of sick people, and I was at last just sinking into a pleasant doze when those wretched bugles began to ring out. All your doing."

"My doing, sir?"

"Yes—upsetting our regular routine. It will be just as I expected when the Major arranged for tins absurdity. As if Her Majesty couldn't have a birthday without everybody going mad with a desire to get sunstroke."

"Have some breakfast, sir," said Archie quietly. "You will feel better then."

"Better, sir? Bah! Nothing the matter with me now. Eh, what? Is the coffee ready? Can't be. These princes and potentates haven't all come in yet, and I suppose we shall have to wait for them."

"No, you won't, sir. Captain Down and some more of us who will have to be on duty have got a snug corner to ourselves, and we are going to have a snatch meal before going out."

"Oh," said the Doctor in a more mollified tone. "Then there is somebody here blessed with brains! Who was it—Down?"

"No, sir; if I must confess," cried Archie, "it was I."

"Oh," said the Doctor. "Then you must have been thinking of number one, sir."

"No, Doctor. My fellow, Peter Pegg, got me a cup of coffee an hour ago."

Matters soon settled quietly down, and the swarthy-looking Rajah Suleiman, in gorgeous array and attended by quite a staff of his notables—Maharajah Lela, Tumongong, Muntri, Lakasamana, and the rest of them—was haughtily partaking of an excellent breakfast, with a string of followers behind the chairs of him and his suite—pipe-bearers, betel-box carriers, and other attendants; while a picked guard of his finest men in a uniform of yellow satin, all armed with the lim-bing or throwing-spear and kris, were drawn up in the veranda, carefully watching over their lord in the mess-room, and as carefully watched over themselves by a guard of quiet-looking linesmen with fixed bayonets.

It fell to Archie's lot to be near the clump of trees beneath which the half-dozen splendid elephants that brought in the Rajah were being fed and groomed.

They had come in covered with mud from their journey along the narrow forest path formed of a line of deep mud-holes made by the elephants themselves, every one of the huge animals invariably planting his feet in the track of the one which had preceded him. Their trappings during the journey had been carefully rolled-up, and now hung with the howdahs from horizontal branches of the sheltering trees.

As soon as it was light the great beasts had been marched down by their attendants to the landing-place for a swim, and brought out again back to the shelter to be carefully groomed, and now stood partaking contentedly of their morning meal, prior to being decked with their gay howdah-cloths and other trappings.

One of the first men that Archie encountered was Peter Pegg, who was standing watching the mahouts, who in turn were overlooking the attendants whose duty it was to groom the Rajah's stud.

"How is it you are not on duty?" he said.

"Am, sir," said the lad. "The Sergeant put me here to keep a heye on these helephant chaps and see as they don't get quarrelling with t'other Rajah's men."

"Why, they have not come yet, have they—Rajah Hamet, I mean, and his people?"

"Oh yes, sir; and they are out yonder—helephants and all. Joe Smithers is doing the same job with them."

"Did you see the Rajah?"

"No, sir," replied the lad; "only 'eerd he was there. I am to be relieved to go to breakfast in a hour's time."

Archie nodded and went on. The hour passed, and Peter, who had no further orders, forgot all about breakfast in the deep interest he took in the proceedings of those who had the elephants in charge; while as he waited for the bugle-call which would summon him to the ranks, he stood watching the finishing touches being given to the elephants, now browsing on the plenteous supply of fresh green leafage thrown before them by the grass-cutters, and began to make friends with the mahouts.

He tried one after the other, but on each occasion only to meet with a surly scowl.

He was going to cross to the man in charge of the finest of the elephants—a little, sturdy fellow, who only looked on while the attendants were busy over the showy trappings, the edgings of which glistened with a big bullion fringe, and who himself was showily dressed in the Royal yellow, which suggested that this must be the Rajah's own mount. Pete took a step towards him, but shrank back as if it were not likely that this chief among the others would receive his advances any better, when a voice behind him made him turn his head sharply, to find that Joe Smithers, now for the present off duty, had likewise been attracted by the elephants, and had strolled up for a look.

"Why didn't you come for your breakfast, comrade?" he said.

"Oh—wanted to see these 'ere;" and then, as an idea struck the lad on noticing the canvas haversack slung from Smithers's shoulder, he said quickly, "What you got in your satchel, comrade?"

"Only bread-cake."

"Give us a bit."

"Take the lot," said Smithers. "I don't want it. Only in the way. A drink of water will do for me."

Pegg gave him a peculiar look as he hurriedly transferred two great portions of the regimental bread to his own haversack.

"Thank you, comrade. I say—got any 'bacco?"

"Yes; but I want that."

"Never mind. Give it to me, Joe. I'll pay you with twice as much to-morrow."

Without hesitation Mrs Private Smithers's husband handed over a roll of about two ounces of tobacco.

"Thank you," said Pegg. "Now you shall see what you shall see."

Peter shouldered his rifle, marched straight up to the gaudily attired mahout, looked him up and down admiringly, pointed at his handsome turban, smiling the while as if with satisfaction, and then tapped the gilded handle of the ankus the man carried, drawing back and looking at him again.

"Well, you do look splendid," he said.

The swarthy little fellow seemed puzzled for the moment, but Peter Pegg's look of admiration was unmistakable, especially when he walked quickly round the mahout so as to see what he was like on the other side, before saying:

"Have a bit of 'bacco, comrade?"

Not a word was intelligible to the little, bandy-legged fellow, whose supports had become curved from much riding on an elephant's neck; but there was no mistaking the private's action as he took out the roll of tobacco, opened one end so as to expose the finely shredded aromatic herb, held it to his nose, and then passed it on to the mahout, whose big, dull, brown eyes began to glisten, and he hesitated as if in doubt, till the private pressed it into his hands and made a sign as if of filling a pipe and puffing out the smoke. The little fellow nodded his satisfaction, while Peter Pegg smiled in a friendly way and pointed to the huge elephant, which had ceased munching the turned-over bundle of green food at his feet, and now stood swinging his head to and fro and from side to side.

"My word," said Peter, "he is a beauty!" And then, looking about him first at one and then at another until he had bestowed a glance upon the other five great beasts, he turned once more to what proved to be the Rajah's special mount, and then spoke again to the little mahout.

"He is a beauty," he said; and once more his looks conveyed to the driver the admiration he felt. "May I feed him?" he added, taking out a piece of the white bread he had obtained, and making a sign as if holding it out to the elephant.

The mahout looked doubtful, but the elephant himself answered Peter Pegg's question by slowly raising his trunk, reaching out and closing it round the new white bread, prior to curving it under and transferring it to his mouth.

The mahout nodded and smiled at his new friend, and the elephant showed his satisfaction by extending his trunk for more.

"You are a splendid old chap," said Pegg, breaking another piece of bread inside his haversack and offering it to the monstrous beast, now slowly flapping his great ears.

This was taken, and bit by bit Peter doled out another portion of the white cake, venturing at the same time to stroke the animal's trunk.

"I'll risk it," he said. "If he tries to knock me over I can easily jump away."

But the elephant made no sign of resentment, only transferring the piece of bread and extending his trunk for more.

"Here you are," said Peter; "only you can't have any more goes. Wish I'd got a dozen quarterns, though. I want to mount you, old chap, and hang me if I know how to set about it. However, here goes; only I must look sharp."

The next minute as the elephant's trunk was extended to him he gave it another scrap of the bread, and followed this up with a few friendly touches, which the monster seemed to accept in a friendly way, before transferring the bread; the mahout looking on smilingly the while.

The trunk was raised slowly again, and the mahout uttered a few words, with the result that the private had to make a strong effort over self to keep from starting away from an expected blow; but in obedience to the driver's words the great beast slowly passed his trunk over the young soldier's shoulders and breast, and then, grunting, swung up the end as if asking for more of the bread.

"Only two bits more," said Peter; and he turned to the mahout and made signs to him that he should mount to the elephant's neck.

The young soldier hardly expected it, but his meaning was so well conveyed that the mahout uttered a command, when the elephant passed his trunk round the driver, swung him up, and dropped him easily into his seat, raising his ears the while, and then lowering them over the rider's knees.

"Bravo! Splendid!" cried Pegg, clapping his hands; and the next minute, after another word or two which the elephant evidently understood and obeyed, the little mahout dropped lightly down and stood smiling at his admiring audience.

It was not Peter Pegg's words, but the meaning must have been conveyed by his eyes to the mahout, for Peter said excitedly:

"There, I'd give a suvron, if I'd got one, to be able to say to our chaps that I'd had a ride on a helephant like that;" and then, to his surprise, the mahout looked at him, smiling, uttered a few words to him, and held out his hand.

"Eh? What?" cried Peter. "Let you hold my rifle? Well, I oughtn't to; but there aren't no officers near. There, I'll trust you, and I wish I could tell you what I want."

To his surprise and delight, as the mahout took hold of the rifle and examined it curiously, uttering another order to his great charge, Peter Pegg felt the great coiling trunk wrap round his waist, swing him up in the air, and drop him astride of the huge beast's neck. "Oh, but, I say, this 'ere won't do," cried Peter; "I am wrong ways on:" and scrambling up from sitting facing the howdah, he gradually reseated himself correctly, nestling his legs beneath the great half-raised ears. "My word! ain't it nice and warm?" cried the young soldier excitedly. "Shouldn't I like to ride round the camp now!—I say, Joe, ain't this prime?"

His comrade, who had been looking on admiringly, uttered a grunt, which was followed by an order from the mahout, resulting in the elephant reaching up his trunk, which coiled round the young soldier's waist, twitched him out of his seat, and dropped him at the driver's feet.

"Here, just a minute," panted the young soldier, thrusting his hand into his haversack and withdrawing the last bit of bread. "Here you are, old chap;" and he transferred the piece to the raised trunk, which he patted again and again before it was withdrawn.—"Thankye, comrade. You will find that prime 'bacco, and here's wishing I may see you again."

"Now, Pete," growled Smithers, for the first notes of the bugle-call rang out.

"All right. Give us my rifle, comrade. I'm off." Catching the rifle from the mahout's hand, he followed Smithers at the double; but he contrived to give one glance back at the magnificent beast upon which he had been mounted, with a strange feeling of longing for his lost seat.



CHAPTER ELEVEN.

FULL REVIEW ORDER.

"Ah, there you are, Knowle!" cried the Resident, bustling up to the Major, who was marching slowly towards the parade-ground in full uniform, carrying his sword under the left arm.

"Yes, here I am. Look all right?"

"Oh yes, yes," said the Resident impatiently.

"Don't show any spots, do I?"

"Spots?"

"Yes; this confounded, hot, damp climate—specks of mildew on my best uniform. I say: you look capital, Dallas," continued the Major, running his eye over the Resident's official dress. "That's the best of you young fellows; you only want a wash and a brush up, and you are all right. Get to my age, sir, and—"

"Oh, don't talk like that, Major. I was not thinking about uniforms."

"Eh, weren't you? I was. I don't mean about myself, but look at my lads. Aren't they splendid, in spite of all the knocking about and wear? But what's the matter? Not well?"

"No, sir; I am not well."

"Poor old chap! There's plenty of time; toddle up to the bungalow. Old Morley will give you a pick-me-up, and set you right in no time."

"I have been there, sir."

"Oh, that's right," said the Major, with a chuckle.

"For I am very anxious about the ladies there, and the other women we have in our charge, and I feel more than ever that we have been guilty of a great error of judgment."

"Eh? What about?"

"What about, sir? Look around you."

"Eh? Well, we have plenty of company, but I don't see any error of judgment."

"Why, my dear Knowle! Company! Look at the crowd."

"Well, we shall keep them back so as to allow plenty of room for the evolutions."

"Yes; but, let alone the country-people, every man with his kris, there are the military followers of those two Rajahs in full array."

"Military! Phit! My dear Dallas!"

"Ah, you laugh, sir. Why, roughly speaking, each of those two chiefs has got a following of about five hundred men—say a thousand."

"Yes, I dare say," said the Major; "but they are not all together."

"No, they are divided so that we have a strong force on either side. You despise them; but have you thought of the consequences that might follow our being enclosed by two such bodies of men?"

"Oh yes," said the Major coolly. "Might. But, my dear boy, have you thought of the consequences that might follow if I told my lads to close up and face outwards, and began to deal with our visitors? Look at them," he continued, as he pointed towards the perfectly drilled detachment drawn up in the centre of the parade-ground waiting for the order to commence the evolutions connected with the military display.

"Oh yes, they are everything that could be expected from a handful of British infantry."

"Handful, sir! Why, I've got three hundred men on the ground. Every fellow's under arms, and we are going to show these niggers what we could do if ever we were called upon. Error of judgment, sir! The whole thing's a grand idea; and after it's over, these Malays will go away with a ten times higher idea of England's strength than they had before."

"I don't know," said the Resident. "Look at those fierce-looking fellows there gathered round the elephants and their gaudily dressed chiefs. Look at that haughty fellow Suleiman, with his chiefs and spearmen clustering round him looking as if they were awaiting their prince's order to charge down upon us and sweep us all out of the district."

"Oh yes, I see," said the Major, chuckling.

"And here on the other side, right away to the river, there is this doubtful fellow Hamet with his lot of elephants and men, a stronger party than Suleiman's."

"I see. I hope there won't be any row."

"Oh, don't suggest such a thing!"

"Why not? They are in touch with the others."

"Yes; and at a word could combine."

"Ah, I am not afraid of that," said the Major. "I was thinking about their jealousy, and the possibility of a row between them."

"I don't believe in the jealousy. I believe it is all assumed," said the Resident, "and that they are ready on the slightest excuse to join forces against us."

"I don't," said the Major gruffly. "I am afraid they may draw knives against each other; but if they do I will give them such a lesson as will prove a startler. But, I say, have you noticed that chap Hamet?"

"Oh yes, I saw him. He did not march with his men, mounted on one of his elephants, but came up in his dragon-boat."

"Yes. Quite a fine show, with the amber-satin rowers, and the gongs beating. But you can't grumble about his appearance and theatrical robes. It's quite a compliment to Old England to see a native prince come simply in ordinary morning-dress. Hanged if he hadn't got lavender kid gloves!"

"Oh, don't talk about trifles, Major; but for Heaven's sake be on your guard!"

"Oh yes—guard mounted," said the Major. "Why, Dallas, my dear boy, I don't believe you told Morley to give you a pick-me-up. You have been fussing about down there at the bungalow, and fidgeting about what might happen to a certain young lady if the Malays turned nasty and rose against us."

"Major! No."

"Don't be cross, dear boy. I was in love too once upon a time, and fidgeted as much as you do about what might happen if—if—There, I only say if. Now, it's all right, my dear fellow, and it's time for the show to begin. The crowd must be getting tired of waiting; and I only see one error of judgment of which we have been guilty."

"Ah! And what's that?"

"Ought to have begun an hour sooner, for, my word, the sun is hot! Oh, by the way, I have not seen you since, but we were talking over what to do with our visitors and the crowd generally after the review. There will be the feeding, of course; but we wanted something to fill up time till dark and the fireworks begin."

"I have heard nothing about further plans."

"Well, the lads will keep an open course, and there will be some races and wrestling, and Sergeant Ripsy is going to show some encounters with the bayonet and a little sword-play."

"Well, as you like. I can think of nothing else but getting the affair over and the people dismissed."

"There, don't you be uneasy. There's a guard mounted to watch over our women folk, so come on."

The Major went on towards the centre of the parade-ground, while the Resident hurried away, looking hot and anxious, to where seats had been arranged beneath an open tent erected on one side of the parade-ground, partly sheltered by a cluster of palms.

At last, with colours flying and the loud martial strains of the band, doubled by a strange echo thrown back by the dense jungle, the solid little force of infantry, in brilliant scarlet and with the sun flashing from their bayonets, was put in motion; while a strange murmur of satisfaction arose from the crowd of gaily attired campong dwellers, which was caught up by the followers of the two Rajahs with prolonged cries that bore some slight resemblance to the tiger-like ragh, ragh of an American crowd.

And then, as the band marched by, Rajah Suleiman's group collected in front of the great clump of trees left standing when a portion of the jungle had been cleared, and the huge elephants, now gorgeous with trappings, and each bearing its showy howdah, in which were seated the Rajah himself and his principal chiefs, responded to a final blast of the highly polished brass instruments and the thunderous roll of the drums by a simultaneous uneasy trumpeting of their own, with which were mingled the cries of the mahouts, who had to ply their sharp-pointed goads to keep their charges in subjection.

Fortunately for the occupants of the howdahs, this was a final chord from the band, for the huge beasts were thoroughly startled, and the lookers-on noted that similar uneasiness was being displayed by the nine great elephants that appertained to Rajah Hamet's force, these in particular showing a disposition to turn tail and make for one of the jungle paths.

The silence that followed the band's final chord seemed, as Oliver Wendell Holmes says in one of his little poems, to have come like a poultice to heal the wounds of sound, and the great beasts settled down.

Then there was a bugle-call, and the evolutions began in regular review style, with plenty of fancy additions, such as had been planned to impress the great gathering of the Malay people. The troops marched and counter-marched, advanced in echelon, retired from the left, retired from the right, formed column and line, advanced in column of companies, turned half right and half left, formed three-quarter column; there was extended order and distended order, for Major Knowle's force was very small, but he made the most of it. Sergeant Ripsy, with a face quite as scarlet as his uniform, buzzed about like a vicious hornet, and, perspiring at every pore, yelled at the guides and markers, letting fly snapping shots of words that were certainly not included in the code of military instructions. But the men, as soon as they warmed up—which was in a very short time—went into the spirit of the thing; and when at last the officers had got through the regular evolutions, that seemed to consist in weaving and twisting the men under their command into a series of intricate knots, for the sole purpose of untying them again, and Archie Maine had been saved from disgracefully clubbing his men by issuing an order which the said men wilfully disobeyed so as to cover the lad's mistake, there was a general forming up again for a rest and cool down, while the band struck up, and, helped by the echo, filled the parade with sweet sounds, to the great delight of the gathered crowd.

There was a burst of cheering here, of a rather barbaric nature, for from Rajah Suleiman's gathering there came one solitary boom from a particularly musical gong. This rang out like a signal, and was followed by a score more from as many of the sonorous instruments, supplemented by an excited yelling from the spear-armed men.

This ended as quickly as it had begun, and, treated as a challenge, was repeated from the centre of Rajah Hamet's party, who followed with a yell that might have been taken as a defiant answer to hereditary enemies.

Matters seemed to be growing exciting, and Major Knowle, who was quiet and watchful as well as hot, despatched messages to the commanders of companies to be on their guard.

But now, as the last gong ceased to send its quivering jar through the heated air, to be reflected back from the jungle, a burst of Malay cheering arose from the excited crowd of spectators; the elephants joined in, trumpeting loudly; and then, as the strange roar died away into silence, the band-master took advantage of the opportunity, raised his instrument, made a sign, the big drum boomed its best in answer to six of the drummer's heaviest blows, and to the stirring strains of the favourite old march, "The British Grenadiers," the band moved off to take up a fresh position.

As soon as this was occupied the second part of the evolutions commenced. The little force was divided, and took up positions for attack and defence; men were thrown out, skirmishing began, and the Malay crowd cheered as the men in scarlet ran and took cover; and the field was soon after covered with advancing and retiring men, who ran, lay down, fired from one knee, fired from their chests, ran and took cover again; and the musketry began to roll in sputtering repetitions, till the retiring force seemed to take courage, gathered together, repelled their adversaries with half-a-dozen vigorous volleys, and advanced in turn, gradually driving their supposed enemies back, till, when the smoke was rising in a faint, misty cloud to float softly away over the river, the final stages of the sham-fight were nearly at an end, and for a concluding curtain to the mimic warfare the two little forces advanced as if to meet in contention in the middle of the field. But at a certain stage a bugle rang out, and with wonderful precision the men fell into column and marched away to the far end of the drill-ground, where they halted, turned, and then, in obedience to the Major's command, began to advance in line towards where, on their left, were the two bodies of armed men comprising the followers of the two Rajahs, above whom towered the two knots of elephants, while on their right were the gathered crowds from the nearest campongs, excitedly watching for what was to come next.

What was to come next and was now in progress was Britain's thin red line, and that line was on that occasion very thin, very, very red, and extremely long, purposely extended so as to make the most of the tiny force.

The crowds cheered in their fashion as the train moved on, and, excited by the yelling, the elephants began to trumpet as the troops were now nearly half across the parade-ground. Then the bugle rang out "Halt!" and the orders followed quickly: "Fire!" and with wonderful precision there was the long line of puffs of smoke as the volley roared and half obscured the advancing force in the thin veil of smoke.

There was a fresh burst of cheers from the crowds, who now saw that the little line of scarlet-coated men was marching out of the filmy, grey cloud and lessening the distance between them.

The next bugle-call was rather unsettling, and the next still more so, for it meant "Double;" while the last of all was more disturbing than anything that had taken place that day, for it was followed by a peculiar flickering of light as the brilliant sun played upon the glistening bayonets brought down sparkling in front of the line of men. The bugles now rang out "Charge!" followed by the good old British cheer given by wildly excited men with all the power left in them, and they bore the bristling bayonets on, racing down upon the spectators in front, as if the mimic advance were real.

The trumpeting that greeted the charge was not defiant, for the elephants turned simultaneously as upon a pivot and set the example of making for the nearest points of the jungle; and to the charging men it seemed as if they formed part of some immensely extended human hay-making machine, whose glittering spikes were about to sweep off a living crowd which, excited and yelling wildly, had turned and fled for safety.

The gaily coloured men of the two Rajahs, perhaps feeling in doubt as to their duty to fetch back the elephants—perhaps not: they may have been influenced otherwise—had dashed off after the huge quadrupeds at once, but the crowd of ordinary spectators were in nowise behind. Shrieking, yelling, and angry with each other as they dashed away, they made for shelter at full speed, and when the charge was at an end and the bugles rang out, the evolution had been so well driven home that a complete transformation had been effected.

Where the great gathering had spread from side to side of the parade, there was the long, halting line of panting and powder-blackened men, who, in spite of their breathlessness, had followed up their British cheer with a tremendous petillating roar of laughter, which ran along the line from end to end and back again—a roar of laughter so loud that hardly a man knew that the band was now playing in full force "God save the Queen," with an additional obbligato from the drums—that one known as the "big" threatening collapse from the vigorous action of the stick-wielder's sturdy arms.

It was only a few of the men who were cognisant of the fact that the Major was lying down exhausted, and wiping his eyes.

"Who's that?" he panted. "Who's that—you, Maine?"

"Yes, sir."

"Oh dear! Oh dear! I can't stop it! It's quite hysterical. Give me a water-bottle;" and then, after an application to the unstoppered mouth, "Oh dear! How they did run! I hope poor Dallas has seen it all. I wish he had been here. Hah! I'm better now. Why, Maine, we've swept them clean away. Are they collecting farther on?"

"No, sir; I can't see a single soul."

"Who's that?" said the Major again.

"Me, sir."

"I didn't know you, my man. What is it, Sergeant?"

"Well, sir, I was only going to say, as I was so near, what about them there squibs and crackers as was to be let off to-night?"

"Oh, the rockets and fireworks," said the Major. "They haven't gone off in the heat, have they? No accident?"

"No, sir; but there won't be nobody left to see them pop."



CHAPTER TWELVE.

SEE THE CONQUERING HEROES.

The line closed up, and marched "easy" back towards the upper end of the parade-ground, with not a single stranger to represent the spectators, and, half ironically, they were received by the band with "See, the Conquering Hero Comes." The review and sham-fight were over, and as the officers and weary men were dismissed, and the officers gathered where the ladies and others of the station were assembled, one of the first upon whom they set eyes was the young Rajah Hamet, who had just joined the Resident.

"Well, Dallas," said the Major, who was mopping his forehead, "what did you think of our charge?—Ah, Rajah Hamet," he continued, as he caught sight of the young man, who approached to hold out his hand, "what did you think of our sham-fight? Did you see it all?"

"Magnificent, sir; every bit."

"Where were you?"

"Down yonder, sir, in front of my elephants and men."

"Then you didn't run?"

"No, sir; I have been to Aldershot and seen a review before."

"I am afraid we scared your men," said Archie, to whom the young Rajah turned a few minutes later.

"Well, wasn't it quite enough to scare them?" replied the Prince. "It seems to me that a body of men, to whatever nation they belonged, would require a good deal of hardening before they would stand firm and receive a bayonet charge."

"Yes," replied Archie. "As far as I know, there are not many who can. It was rather comic, though, to see your men run."

"Well," replied the young Prince, "I don't think my men ran any faster than Suleiman's."

"Not a bit," cried Archie hastily. "I say, I didn't mean to insult you."

"Oh, I am not insulted," said the young man quietly. "I should have run too if I had not known that your men would pull up at the last moment. Well, good-bye."

"You are not going?" cried Archie. "You will stop and be our guest to-night? You were invited, of course. There are all the sports to come, and the illuminations and fireworks."

"Oh no, I must go," said the young Rajah. "I have got to rally my men, and see them safely back."

"Well, but some of your officers will do that, and bring them back."

"I doubt it," said Hamet, smiling. "If I know my people, they will not stop till they get home."

"Oh, surely not! They will all come here again and see the rest of our file—and Rajah Suleiman's too."

Hamet shook his head.

"Some of your people from the campongs, who know you—they may come back, but none of the others."

"Well, you stop at any rate."

"No," said the young Rajah. "If my people have forsaken me, I must not forsake them. Here, you promised, you know, to come and spend a few days with me, and have some tiger-shooting. When is it to be?"

"When my major gives me leave. Stop! Stop now, and ask him. He or Sir Charles Dallas will put you up for the night."

"No, Maine; they don't believe in me enough. Somehow they have no faith in me at all, and because I'm Suleiman's enemy—or rather, he is mine, for I have no feeling for or against the fellow—they think that I am opposed to the English, with whom I want to be friends and to get their help to civilise my people. No, I must be off to my boat at once, and try to get in touch with my people as soon as possible. They will keep to the lower elephant-patch, as near to the river as they can. There, try and get leave, old chap. I want you to come. I say, you don't mind my calling you 'old chap'?"

"Like it," said Archie, holding out his hand. "I am disappointed, however, for I should have liked you to stay. But hadn't you better try to bring some of your men back?"

"No. They wouldn't come now, for fear of being laughed at for being such cowards."

"Well, if you must go, you must; but, as I said, I should have liked you to stay. It would have looked so friendly to my people."

"I hope they will believe in me some day without that," said the young Malay. "But tell me, if you had been in my place, and seen your people scared away by the English soldiers, would you have stayed?"

"No; I'll be hanged if I should," said Archie with energy. "I should have felt too mad."

"Thank you," said Hamet. "That sounds frank."

"It is frank," said Archie. "But I say, now, tell me: has it made you feel mad against us?"

"No-o; only sorry for my people. I want to train them up to know you better, and to be ready to fight with you."

"Fight with us?"

"Yes; not against you—fight side by side with you, so that you may help me to civilise my folks more, and join us to put down the Malay chiefs like Suleiman."

"You don't like Suleiman, then?"

"Like him!" said the young man scornfully. "I like no man who cannot stretch out his hand to me and take mine in an honest grasp that I can trust."

"Of course," cried Archie. "But then our Resident believes in Suleiman."

"Yes, and distrusts me," said the young man rather bitterly. "Well, they think they are right; but we shall see. I say, though, I didn't see that French gentleman with Suleiman's people. I expected he would be mounted upon one of the elephants."

"No," said Archie; "he has not been here for the last few days."

"Forbidden to come?" said the young man.

"No-o," said Archie; "he wouldn't be. He is Rajah Suleiman's friend."

"Yes," said Hamet quietly. "That is why I thought he would be here. Do you like him?"

"Not a bit," said Archie. "Why?"

"Oh, I suppose it was because I dislike him myself. That is all. Good-bye. As we Malays say, apa boleh booat."

"What is to be will be," said Archie. "Good-bye."

The parade-ground remained deserted for quite an hour, and then some of the campong people had regained sufficient courage to begin dribbling back, to be followed by a few of the inhabitants of the neighbouring villages. But not one of the Malays who followed their Rajahs made their appearance. Consequently there was no attempt made to carry out the sports; but on being consulted, the Major gave orders that the illumination of the boats should be encouraged, and the display of rockets and coloured lights should follow; and as this news gradually spread, some of the nearest village people and fisher-folk joined in, to display their lanterns upon their boats, and a pretty fair gathering of the campong people were present as soon as it was dark, it taking very little in so effective a position to light up the river and jungle banks in a most attractive way.

The Doctor and his wife and niece, in addition to several of the ladies of the station, dined at the mess that night, so that they might afterwards stroll down to the banks of the river and watch the rockets burst and sprinkle the jungle with their stars; and just as the enjoyment was at its height, and the simple Malay folk kept on bursting out with their ejaculations indicative of delight, the Major went up behind the Resident, who had been chatting with the Doctor and his ladies.

"Well, Dallas," he said, "you don't feel nervous now, do you?"

"Hush!" was the reply, as the gentleman addressed looked sharply round. "More so than ever. I hope you have got sentries out to command the river approaches to the station?"

"Of course I have. But why?"

"Because see what an opportunity is offered for those two chiefs to take revenge upon us for what they must consider an insult to their dignity."

"My dear sir, you are giving reins to your imagination. They are well on the way now to their homes."

"Perhaps so," said the Resident in a low, nervous tone; "but suppose they have made a halt and are only waiting till their scouts have announced to them that we are quite unprepared?"

"You are assuming, my dear Dallas, that those two princes are working hand and glove."

"Well, you are quite of my way of thinking over that."

"Humph! No," said the Major. "I am beginning to think that our lavender-gloved young friend means well by us."

"Lavender-gloved young friend!" said the Resident. "Who knows but those soft kid gloves may not be worn to cover the tiger's claws?"

"Ah! who knows, my dear Dallas? But it is enough for us to know that if we can produce such an effect with blank cartridge and a sham charge, we have it in our power to protect the station and defend the honour of those we love, by using ball-cartridge and sending our bayonets home."



CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

THE DOCTOR'S CALL.

In spite of the Resident's doubts and expressed opinion that the two Rajahs would display resentment, the neighbourhood settled down calmly enough. The village people nearest, notwithstanding their being chased helter-skelter, mixed up with the Rajah's followers, very soon showed that they had thoroughly enjoyed the fun of seeing Suleiman's haughty, tyrannical gang scared away and running as if for their lives.

The people of the more distant campongs came in just as usual, bringing their fruit and poultry to market as before; and though the half-military-looking armed men did not make their appearance, the Resident was bound to confess that this was not a bad sign, as they had rarely approached the cantonments to mingle with the soldiers off duty.

A few days elapsed, and then a present was sent in, consisting of supplies, by Rajah Hamet; and the very next day two of Suleiman's chiefs brought in a letter, written in English, but dotted with French allusions which suggested its source.

It was an invitation for the Major and his officers to a tiger-hunt. This was considered, and then the Major replied in the most friendly way, begging to be excused on the ground that it was impossible to accept the invitation then, but asking for it to be repeated later on.

The weather was lovely, there being a succession of brilliant moonlight nights; while before the moon rose, even the Doctor declared that the display made by the fire-flies in the darkness was simply glorious.

One evening Sir Charles was dining at the bungalow, and, having got over his nervous doubts, upon hearing Minnie express a desire to go up the river and see the fire-flies first, and the rising of the moon after, the Resident at once proposed to have his smaller boat prepared, with a couple of his most trusty native servants to pole it a short distance up the river, and then bring the Doctor and the two ladies back to supper at the Residency.

Minnie was delighted; but, to the Resident's great satisfaction, her aunt declared at once that she would not go up the river by night on account of the crocodiles.

"I don't want to throw a wet blanket over Sir Charles's kindly suggested trip," she said, "but I certainly will not go."

"Oh, there's no danger to be feared, my dear madam," said Sir Charles. "The reptiles would never dare to attack a well-manned boat."

"Never," said the Doctor emphatically.

"But they might, my dear," replied Mrs Morley. "You can go, but I shall certainly stay."

"You talk very glibly," grunted the Doctor, "about my going; but suppose I am wanted?"

"Well, if you are, it will only be for some trivial ailment amongst the native people, and I should know what to give them."

"What!" cried the Doctor.—"Why, my dear Dallas, the last time she meddled with my bottles she nearly poisoned one of my patients."

"For shame, Henry!—Don't you believe him, Sir Charles. I am sure I did the poor woman a great deal of good."

"It's all very fine," said the Doctor. "I must confess the woman did get better; and if madam had quite poisoned her, as she was a native it wouldn't have mattered much."

"Oh uncle, for shame!—He doesn't mean it, Sir Charles," said Minnie.

"But it would have spoilt my credit," continued the Doctor; "and there, I don't want to see a lot of blow-flies with lights in their tails; so, once for all, I sha'n't go."

"But you ought to go, my dear," said Mrs Morley, who looked rather annoyed.

"Why?"

"Why? To take care of Minnie."

"It doesn't take two men as well as a couple of servants to take care of one little girl. Don't talk stuff, my dear. I'm sure Sir Charles will take every care of her."

Mrs Morley said no more, and Sir Charles left at last with the matter entirely settled to his satisfaction, while Minnie smiled in answer to a few words respecting the old folks leaving them to themselves.

The evening promised to be perfect, and Minnie was waiting for their visitor, when, just as she was beginning to be impatient, a note was brought from the Resident stating that Rajah Hamet had come up the river unexpectedly to discuss a question relating to the possibility of some stronger alliance.

"I am horribly disappointed," wrote the Resident, "but it is a Government matter, and your uncle will understand with me that I am only too much delighted to find that this again proves that my doubts were all wrong, and that I am glad to welcome the Rajah here. He evidently means to stop the night, and I have sent in for Major Knowle to join us. Under the circumstances I feel that I dare not come. However, you shall not be disappointed; the boat is waiting with two picked men, and I must beg that your uncle and aunt will be your companions."

"There, old lady," said the Doctor as, in a disappointed tone, his niece finished reading the letter. "It will be rude to Sir Charles, as well as a bitter disappointment to Minnie. Come, there's no cause for alarm. If there were I would not ask you. Say you will come."

"No, Henry," replied the lady firmly; "I will not."

"Oh, very well," said the Doctor, as he saw the tears rising in his niece's eyes. "You sha'n't be disappointed, Minnie. We will risk your aunt giving some poor woman a lotion to take instead of a draught. Get your cloak and veil. We mustn't have any trouble from the night air. I'll take you myself.—Hullo! What in the name of wonder does this mean? An elephant—another Rajah!"

"Two of them," said Mrs Morley anxiously, "and they are coming here."

"Yes," said the Doctor, stepping out into the veranda of his pretty bungalow to meet his visitors, as the great, soft-footed, howdah-bearing beast was checked by his mahout at the bamboo fence. One of the two Malay officers bent down to inform him that the Rajah Suleiman had been out shooting that morning with his French friend, and that, after firing at a tiger, the wounded beast had leaped upon the Rajah's elephant, and Suleiman and his friend had both been mauled. The bearers of the message stated that the Doctor must come at once.

"Can't help it, my child," said the Doctor. "I am sorry for your disappointment, but it is impossible for me to refuse. In an ordinary case I might postpone my visit, but, you see, Suleiman is our friend, and it is most important that I should be off at once."

"But, my dear," exclaimed Minnie's aunt, "it means your being away all night."

"Of course; and if he's very bad I may have to stay two or three days. There, I can't stop talking. Get me my little bag while I fetch my instruments and some dressing."

Without a word Mrs Morley hurried to obtain what was required, and the Doctor patted his niece on the shoulder.

"Never mind, my dear. We must give it up. Dallas will be able to go with you another time, and you will enjoy your trip better."

Minnie nodded.

"I won't mind, uncle—much. But it never rains but it pours: here's somebody else wants you."

"Young Archie! What does he want?"

He soon knew, for the lad hurried up, glancing at the two Malays upon the elephant, giving Minnie a quick nod, and then catching the Doctor by the arm and hurrying him into the nearest room.

"The Major sent me to know what these two swells want. He thinks they have come to your place instead of to him."

The Doctor explained at once, and then a sudden thought occurred to him.

"Look here," he said; "you know Sir Charles was going to take us up the river in his boat this evening?"

"Yes, I know. He's got Rajah Hamet, and the Major's going into the Residency. That's why the chief thinks those chaps on the elephant have come to the wrong house."

"Well, look here, my lad; you must take my place."

"What!" cried the lad, staring. "I could pour him out a dose of physic, or I could tackle a native, but I wouldn't undertake to dress a Rajah's wounds."

"What are you talking about, stupid?" cried the Doctor angrily. "I mean, take my place and escort Minnie up the river in the Resident's boat."

"De-lighted!" cried the lad excitedly. "Of course—but I don't know whether the Major will give me leave, as Rajah Hamet's here. Here, I'll run back as fast as I can, and be with you, if it's all right, in no time."