Squash—suck—squash—suck, on and on through the forest shades, and as the boughs of the jungle trees hung over here and there lower and lower in the great tunnel of greenery, so cramped in size that there seemed to be only just room for the elephant to pass along, Peter kept on looking back nervously, half-expecting to see his companion swept away from his precarious perch.



CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

PHOONK!

"I'm getting better fast, Pete," cried Archie Maine, his voice sounding clearly above the suck, suck of the elephant's feet in the deep old tracks, and the whisk, whisk of the green cane-sprouts that shot out on either side from the wall of verdure.

"That's right, sir. You do comfort me. I've been thinking that it wasn't fair of me to be riding comfortable here while you've got nothing but a bit of rope to hold on by except your balance. But, I say, it ain't all best down here, for, my eye, ain't it 'ot!—quite steamy."

"Yes; this tunnel is steamy and hot," replied Archie.

"Oh, I don't mean the tunnel, sir. I mean Rajah's neck and these two great fly-flaps of his keeping all the wind out. I tried lifting up one of them, but I suppose it tiddled him—fancied he had got a big fly about him, I suppose. I say, Mister Archie, ain't it prime! He don't seem to be going fast, but, my word, with these long legs of his how he does get over the ground! But, I say, look ye here; wouldn't this be a jolly place if we was out for a holiday, instead of being like on furlough without leave?"

"It's beautiful," said Archie; for after they had travelled for some time in deep shadow, completely covered in, the jungle suddenly opened out, and their way was now between two perpendicular walls of dense green verdure. Just in front a couple of brilliantly green-and-gold, long-tailed paroquets suddenly flashed into sight as if about to alight, but, startled by the elephant, they flew off with sharp screams.

And now time after time large, wide-winged, diurnal moths and glistening butterflies flew up from where they had settled on the dew-drenched herbage and fluttered before them. Not far onward a flock of finches flew from the tops of the green banks, twittering loudly as they displayed the brilliance of the blue and yellow and green of their plumage and its varying shades. But this was only for a time. The jungle growth rose higher on either side till it shut out the sunshine, and once more the elephant-path wore the aspect of a deep, shadowy tunnel, while the air grew more moist and steamy, seeming stagnant to a degree.

"All right, sir?" cried Peter, straining to look round.

"Yes, yes, Pete. My fall shook me a bit, and seemed to bring back the old aching in my head. But don't mind me. I feel quite happy now that we are getting farther and farther from our prison. We are free, and if I could only feel that we were going in the right direction I should not care."

"Oh, don't care, sir; don't care a bit. It's chance it—chance it. Old Rajah's taking us somewhere, and why shouldn't it be to headquarters?"

"It's not likely, Pete."

"Very well, sir. Then I will have another go. What do you say to its being to the Rajah's palace? I don't know where it is—only that it is somewhere in the jungle, not very far from the river. You've never been there, have you?"

"No, Pete, I haven't. But, as you say, it is not far from the river."

"Well, sir, we can't be far from the river. It must be somewhere off to our right flank, and old Rajah here must know his way, or else he wouldn't be going so steadily on; and the beauty of these places is that when once you are on the right road you can't miss your way, because there ain't no turning."

"But we passed one turning to the right."

"Yes, sir. That's where the helephants went down to drink, and you see if we don't come to another farther on. But this is splendid travelling. How he does get over the ground! And if it warn't for the commissariat department one could go on day after day, just making a halt now and then for this chap to take in half a load of growing hay and suck in a tubful of water, and then go on again."

"Hush! Don't talk so, Pete."

"Why not, sir? I am doing it to keep up your sperrits."

"But I want to listen."

"Hear anything, sir?"

"I am not sure. But I keep expecting to hear some of the Malays in pursuit."

"Not likely, sir. If they are they must be coming on one of the other helephants, and I don't believe any of them can walk as fast as this one does, so they are not likely to overtake us. We are safe enough so long as we can get old Rajah here to keep on. The only thing that fidgets me is the eating and drinking."

"I should be glad to have some water," said Archie, "but I can wait till we come close to the river."

"That's right, sir; but what about something to eat? Old Rajah seems to have thought that all that was in the basket was meant for him, and he's tucked it inside and chucked the basket away. So don't be hungry, sir."

"I have two of the cakes, Pete, inside my jacket."

"What! Oh, who's going to mind? That's splendid noos, sir.—Go ahead, old chap. What are you flapping your ears about for? Think you can hear water?"

"There, Pete," said Archie eagerly, "I am nearly sure now I heard a faint cry far behind."

"Oh, some bird, sir. Don't you get fancying that. We are miles and miles away from where we started, and as most likely we are pretty close to the river, it's one of those long-legged heron things, and if you hear anything else it's like enough to be one of them big frogs or toads. If it was to-night instead of being this afternoon, I should say it was one of the crocs. But I should know him pretty well by heart."

The great elephant went patiently trudging on, mile after mile, with the heat so intense that Archie Maine had to fight hard to keep off a growing drowsiness, and he now welcomed the fact that the portion of the jungle through which they were being carried kept on sending down trailing strands of the rotan cane and other creepers which threatened to lasso him and drag him from his seat.

But no further cry or note of bird came to suggest danger from the rear, and as the drowsiness at length passed away, the question began to arise: what was to happen when darkness came on?—for the afternoon was well spent.

It was after a long silence that Archie broached this question.

"What are we going to do when it's dark, sir?" said Peter. "Well, I've been a-thinking of that—not like you have."

"How do you know what I've been thinking?" asked Archie sharply.

"Well, I ain't sure, of course, sir, but I should think you are wondering what we should do if we come across a tiger. It strikes me that we needn't mind that—at least, not in front, for Mr Stripes wouldn't face these 'ere two great tusks. One of them would go through him like a shot. What I'm thinking of is the making of a halt, first clearing we come to. But if we do, who's going to tie up Rajah so that he sha'n't go back? He might take it into his head to stop by the river-side for some water, but it strikes me, sir, that as soon as we got off he'd go back to the old stable to see if he couldn't find something to eat and drink."

"Hush, Pete!" cried Archie excitedly.

"What for, sir? Afraid he will understand what we are saying?"

"Hush, I say!"

"All right, sir," said Peter, speaking in a whisper. "But he does keep cocking up his ears and listening."

"Yes," said Archie; "I was in doubt before, but I am sure now. It's some one keeps on hailing us from behind. Drive him on faster, for I am sure we are pursued."

"What! make him gallop, sir? Why, it would chuck you off directly."

"No; I think I could keep on. We must try and leave whoever it is behind. I couldn't bear for us to be taken again."

"We ain't a-going to be, sir, so long as we have these 'ere toothpicks to fight with."

"That's a last resource. Try to hurry the beast."

"He won't hurry, sir. 'Tisn't as if I'd got one of them anchors, as they call them; and even if I had, poor old chap! I shouldn't have the heart to stick it into him as the mahouts do."

"It wouldn't hurt him more than spurring does a horse, with such a thick skin."

"But I ain't got one of them boat-hooky tools. Look here, sir; hand me that there kris. Ain't poisoned, is it?"

"The Doctor says they are not."

"Let's have it, then, sir.—Why, what game do you call this?"

For at that moment, before any experiment could be tried with the goad, a faint, unmistakable hail was heard from far behind, running as it were along deep, verdant tunnels, and Rajah, after flapping his ears heavily, uttered a low, deep sigh, stopped short, and began to tear down green branches from overhead and convey them to his mouth.

"Oh, this won't do!" cried Peter angrily.—"Get on, sir—get on!"

The elephant uttered what sounded to be a sigh and raised one huge leg as if about to step out, but only planted it down again in the same deep hole, went through the same evolution with another leg, subsided again, and went on crunching the abundant succulent herbage.

"It's no good, Pete," said Archie bitterly. "They are in full chase. The elephant recognises the cry, and you will never get him to stir."

"An obstinate beggar!" grumbled Peter. "Makes me feel as if I could stick that there spike right into him, though he is fanning my poor, hot legs with these flappers of his. Well, Mister Archie, I suppose it's no use to fight against him. He has got the pull of us, and there's only one thing for us to do now."

"What's that, Pete?"

"Act like Bri'ish soldiers, sir," said the lad through his set teeth. "Hold the fort, and fight."

At that moment the cry was more audible, and the elephant gave his ears a quicker flap and said, Phoonk!



CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

PETER'S RAJAH.

"Ain't it been a mistake, sir?" said Peter Pegg. "We ought to have risked it both of us together, stirred him up with the spears or the point of that kris, and made him go on."

"No mistake, Pete. He would have turned savage, and dragged you off as easily as he lifted you up, then knocked you down with his trunk and perhaps trampled you into the mud."

"Perhaps you are right, sir; and it wouldn't have been very pleasant. But hark! There's a helephant coming, and you can hear the suck, suck, suck of his feet in the mud plainer and plainer. I wish whoever they are upon it would holloa again. I want to know how many that helephant's got on board."

"I think only one," said Archie.

"Oh, well, we are not going to give up to one, sir. I was afraid—I mean, 'spected—there'd be a howdah full, all with their spears and krises, and a mahout as well. Have you got any orders to give me, sir, about dismounting?"

"No; we must do the best we can from where we sit. What could we do if we got down into this narrow path full of mud-holes?"

"Nothing at all, sir," replied Peter. "I think just the same as you do. The helephant's getting very close now, so keep telling me what you see from up there, for I can see next to nothing where I'm sitting. Now, sir," whispered the lad, "can't you see him yet?"

"No; the path bends round."

"But you must see directly, sir.—Here, you keep quiet, Rajah, and leave them boughs alone."

"I can see now, Pete," said Archie eagerly. "It's the smallest elephant, with a tiger pad on its back."

"Yes, sir; but who's on it?"

"Only one man—the mahout, in a turban."

"Oh, him! That little, squatty driver! I can finish him off with one on the nose."

"No; I think—yes, it is the mahout who rode into camp at the review."

"What! him, sir? That's Rajah's own mahout—I mean, Rajah's his helephant. That's why he stopped. Phee—ew!" whistled the lad. "Why, he's a friend of mine. I say, sir, we are not so bad off as I thought."

"You've met him before, then, Pete?"

"Course I did, sir—day of the sham-fight. But I didn't know he was up yonder. He must have been there all the time, though he didn't show up. That little, squatty chap used to do all the work of taking the helephants to water, while he stopped back, too big to do any of that dirty work, and ready to ride when he was wanted."

It seemed plain enough now that when the big elephant was missing, his mahout had come in search of the huge brute himself, and directly after the small elephant he was now riding bore him close up, butting its head against Rajah's hind-quarters and uttering a squealing, muttering sound, while, without turning his head, Rajah seemed to answer, and went on breaking off succulent boughs of leafage, to go on munching as if quite content.

But, heard directly above the gruntings and mutterings of the two elephants, the fierce-looking little mahout raised himself as high as he could in his seat and burst into a furious tirade in his own tongue, not a word of which could be grasped by his hearers, but its general tenor seemed to be a series of angry questions as to how dare these two English infidels take away his elephant, and bidding them get down directly.

"Can you understand all that, Mister Archie?" said Peter as the man paused to take breath.

"No," was the reply. "Can you?"

"No, sir; but it's all plain enough. Now, will you drop upon him?"

"I think you had better."

"So do I," said Peter, changing his position so that he could stand up on Rajah's neck, steadying himself by one of the pendent boughs, and resting the butt of one of the spears upon the animal's neck.

He had just finished this when the mahout, who had evidently prepared himself for his journey by donning his turban and his showy yellow baju and sarong, recommenced his torrent of abuse.

"Yah!" roared Peter as loudly as he could. "Hold your row, you ugly, snub-nosed, thick-lipped, little cock-bantam of a man!"

The mahout stopped short and sat staring in wonder, with his mouth wide open and the corners of his lips ruddy with the juice of the betel-nut he had been chewing.

"How dah you?" roared Peter, in the loudest and best imitation he could produce of the Major in one of his angry fits. "How dah you? I say. How dah you? You flat-nosed little run-amucker! Speak like that to a British officer!" And he emphasised his last words by raising the spear and bringing the butt down again heavily on Rajah's neck, his energetic action making the great elephant stir uneasily, so that the speaker was nearly dislodged. "Quiet, will you?" roared Peter, making a fresh grab at the branch he held. "Want to have me overboard?"

The elephant grunted.

"Yah-h-h-h-h!" roared Peter, raising the spear he held; and poising it after the fashion he had learned from the Malays, he seemed about to hurl it at the little mahout, whose head and shoulders he could see plainly now just beyond Rajah's shabby little tail. "You dare to say another word, and I will pin you where you sit, like the miserable little beetle you are! Now then.—Here, steady, Rajah!—Hold tight, Mister Archie! I am coming to you; but just you make a show of that other spear. You needn't get up, but make believe to be about to chuck it at him if he isn't pretty careful."

Archie held on more tightly to the rope girths by which he had kept his position so long, while Peter rather unsteadily joined him, bringing himself so much nearer to the mahout that he could have pretty well touched him had he extended his spear.

"I say, Mister Archie," he said, "if old Rajah takes it into his head to move on now, I shall pitch right on to old Chocolate there.—Yah-h!" he roared again.

The mahout, who had apparently begun to recover from his astonishment, had changed his ankus from one hand to the other, and was in the act of drawing his kris, when Peter yelled at him again and made so fierce a thrust with his spear that all the little fellow's pugnacity died out, or, as it were, passed away in a shriek of fear.

"Ah, that's better," cried Peter. "Now then, you have got to do what I tell you."

The mahout's eyes rolled as he thrust back his kris into its sheath, the man's face turning from a rich, pale-brown hue to a dirty, pallid mud colour.

"Here, give us that kris, Mister Archie," continued Peter in a blustering tone.

"You are not going to use it, Pete?" half-whispered the subaltern.

"You will see, sir," cried the lad fiercely; and then he almost roared, "He'd better not give me any of his nonsense!" And taking the kris in his hand, he held the blade threateningly towards the mahout and beckoned to him to come.

His gestures were so plain, and the manifestations with the little, wave-bladed dagger so easily comprehensible, that the poor, shivering, little wretch dragged himself out of his seat and knelt upon the head of the smaller elephant and bowed down with his hands extended as if asking for mercy.

"Ah, you know you deserve it!" roared Peter. "Now then, give me that weapon—quick!"

The man raised his head a little and looked up at the lad, who was making a horrible grimace and rolling his eyes; and then seeming to fully grasp his meaning, he quickly drew kris and sheath from the folds of his sarong, and held them out to Peter, who snatched them away and handed them to Archie.

"Now then," shouted Peter, "don't you pretend you can't understand plain English, because if you do I'll—" He raised the spear on high and made as if to deliver a thrust, with the effect that the mahout uttered a shriek of fear and banged his forehead heavily down between his hands. "Now get up," roared Peter; and the man raised his head and displayed a face and lips quivering with fear, shrinking sharply as the lad reached out and laid the blade of the spear upon the thinly covered shoulder. "Now, you understand: if you try to play any games you will get this. D'ye 'ear?"

The poor fellow uttered a few words in his own tongue, and raised his hands together towards Peter as if begging for mercy.

What followed took some considerable time and proved a difficult task, for the mahout was almost beside himself with fear; but as soon as he grasped Peter's meaning he set to work excitedly, and with the cleverness born of experience he loosened the ropes of the tiger pad upon the lesser elephant, unlaced them, and with Peter's assistance dragged it on to the back of the larger beast, Archie having changed his place to Rajah's neck, where he sat facing the workers with a spear in each hand.

"Don't look so good-tempered, sir," Peter stopped for a few moments to say. "Squeege your eyes up, sir, and show your teeth, as if you meant to eat the little beggar."

"Oh, nonsense!" replied Archie. "You have regularly mastered him now. The poor little wretch is half-dead with fright."

"Yuss!" growled Peter, turning to give a savage look at his panting little companion. "He knows what Great Britons are, sir; and it's lucky for him he does.—Now then," he roared, "let's get this job done."

The mahout winced, and after a time the task of securing the big, comfortable pad was finished, and, in obedience to Peter, Archie took his seat upon it, while the mahout made a gesture as if asking whether he should go back now to his old seat on the lesser elephant, which all the time was following Rajah's example and making a hearty meal of the succulent leaves.

"What does he mean by that, Mister Archie?" whispered Peter. "No, no, don't tell me! I see;" and turning to the mahout, he roared out "No!" and pointed forward towards Rajah's neck. "That's your place," he shouted; and the little fellow, grasping Peter's meaning, crept past Archie and took his seat, settling himself, with a sigh, with his legs beneath the great beast's ears.

The big elephant, though apparently intent upon demolishing as many leaves as he could contain, proved himself to have been busy with his little, pig-like eyes the while, for as the mahout took his seat he began muttering and chuntering again, and dropping a bunch of the green food, he turned up his trunk and began to pass it over the body of his rider.

The look of fear had died out of the mahout's countenance as he turned his face to the two Englishmen, and he nodded and smiled rather pitifully, as he seemed to be feeling now that his life was going to be spared.

"All right!" shouted Peter; and the mahout winced again as he drew his ankus from where he had tucked it in the folds of his sarong, as if to signify that he was ready to perform any duties his masters wished.

"That's done it, Mister Archie," said Peter. "One can't understand everybody's lingo, but good, loud English goes a long way if you put plenty of powder behind it. You see now.—Forward!" roared Peter, and the mahout, who had been nervously watching his every movement, turned and spoke to Rajah, when the monster moved on at once into the deep, rich glow that was now penetrating the tunnel-like road, while the lesser elephant stayed for a few minutes to collect a good-sized bundle of twigs, and then moved after its fellow as contentedly as if everything were right.

"Then you are going to make him take us right back to camp, Pete?" said Archie.

"Yes, sir; that's the marching orders, if we can do it; but it won't be very long before it's dark."

"Yes; it will soon be sundown. How long do you think the elephant will go on?"

"I d'know, sir. It's chance it—chance it, just as it's been ever since we started this morning. I say, though, this 'ere's more comfortable than riding barebacked, holding on to a rope, sir, eh?"

"Pete, my lad," said Archie, with a sigh, "it's wonderful! How did you manage it all?"

"Oh, sir," said the lad modestly, "it's only having a bit of a try. One never knows what one can do till you sets to work, and when you puts your back to it and goes in for chance it as well, it mostly turns out pretty tidy."

"Yes, Pete; but what worries me now is what we are going to do when the elephant stops to rest or sleep."

"Don't you worry your head about that, Mister Archie. I know you are weak and pulled down, but just you pay a bit more heed to what I say. It's what you ought to do now, and what we must do—chance it, sir, chance it, same as I'm doing about something else."

"What else?" said Archie wearily, as he let his aching body sway with the movement of the great steed.

"About whether this is the right way or the wrong, sir. I don't know; you don't know. But perhaps old Rajah does, so what we have got to do, as I said before, is to keep our eyes on that little bantam of a Malay, and chance it, sir—chance it."



CHAPTER THIRTY.

A JUNGLE NIGHT.

It was just as the shades of night were coming on that the great elephant stepped out of the tunnel into comparative light. The wall of verdure opened out on either side, and a natural clearing lay before the travellers, while, still bearing what looked like the pale stain of sunshine, there flowing from right to left was the river.

There was a regular track marked out by the various animals that frequented it; and the mud-holes formed by the elephants grew deeper and more given to spurt out water as the great animals passed on till the edge of the river was reached, when they plunged in on to what now seemed to be firm, gravelly soil, with the clear stream pressing against their sides, till the smaller elephant was pretty well breast-deep.

Here Rajah stood, setting the example and drinking deeply, while those he bore began to suffer the pangs of Tantalus as they saw the clear stream gliding by.

"I can't stand this much longer, sir," said Peter. "Think there's any crocs up here?"

"It is impossible to say, Pete."

"Yes, sir; but I am ready to risk it. But what I want to know first is: are we going back, or is this 'ere a sort of ford, and the path goes on the other side?"

He had hardly spoken before Rajah uttered a snort and went splashing on towards the opposite shore, with the water growing shallower and shallower till the two beasts were walking on firm, gravelly ground, the water flying up at every step, and they soon stood out on dry ground, with the dimly seen track going on before them.

Here, at a word from the mahout, both animals stopped short, and Rajah kneeled, when the mahout descended nimbly and began trotting back to the water's edge.

"Not going to cut and run, is he, sir?" began Pete. "No; it's all right. I can't quite see, but ain't that a cocoa-nut he's stooping to dip?—Yes; that's right. Good old chap! He's bringing us a drink."

This proved to be the case, and the little fellow brought the refilled half-cocoa-nut-shell he had taken from somewhere in his baju, and it was handed up to the two lads four times, before the little fellow went back to the river, filled it for himself, and finally returned to his place and climbed up once more.

Directly after, the elephant rose and continued along the track to where, in the darkness, it was evident the marshy land began, and beyond it seemed the jungle once again.

Peter was ready enough to begin his favourite advice soon after, and bid his companion chance it, as on this side of the river the open land grew more moist, and in the darkness the elephant's huge feet sank in deeper and deeper, till at every step they plunged in quite four feet, and it needed a sturdy effort to withdraw them. Then all at once the Rajah uttered a grunt, half-turned as if to retrace his steps, and then stood fast, while his companion, making use of the prints he had left, half-turned likewise as if to meet him; and then both stood fast, pressing their heads together with a grunt.

"What does this mean?" said Archie with a look of wonder.

"I d'know, sir. Looks to me as if they are going to sleep."

It was soon proved that the lad was right, for the animals, after uttering a low sigh or two, remained perfectly still, with the mahout dimly seen in his place and his head lowered down upon his chest.

"Well, sir," said Pete, "this is all plain enough, and it looks as if we may as well go to sleep too."

"Sleep!" said Archie. "With the risk of falling off this pad?"

"Oh, we sha'n't do that, sir. We must take it in turns."

"Will they stand like this till morning?" said Archie.

"Suppose so, sir. They can't fall over sideways, because their legs are stuck fast in these holes. Here, you have first go, sir, and I'll keep watch. Think this is a tigery sort of place?"

"They are fond of the river-side, Pete," said Archie sadly; "but I was thinking about crocodiles."

"Haven't heard anything of them, sir; but, anyhow, we are safe up here, and we have got to chance it."

"Oh," exclaimed Archie impatiently, "how sick I am of hearing you say that!"

"Yes, sir; you're a bit sleepy now. Just you slip one arm under this pad rope, and lie right over on your side, and you will go off. You may trust me, sir. I won't go to sleep."

Utterly wearied out, the subaltern began to make some opposition, but he obeyed his companion's order, and five minutes after Nature had asserted herself and he was fast asleep.

How that night passed he could never afterwards recall, but he had some dreamy notion that he woke up and took Peter's duties of watchman, telling him to slip his arm under the pad rope and lie over upon his side so as to get his turn of rest. But it all proved to be imaginary, for the poor fellow, weak and still suffering from the effects of his wound, did not start up until the great elephant had begun to drag his legs out of the deep holes, when he trudged on towards where the track ran once more between two walls of densely matted palm growth; and he stared in wonder at his companion, hardly able to collect his thoughts so as to put the question that was troubling him and say:

"Have I been asleep all night, Pete?"

"Yes, sir; like a top. Feel better now?"

"No!" cried the lad passionately, for the confusion was passing off. "I trusted you."

"Yes, sir. All right. I have been listening to one of them great cats singing and purring right back on the other side of the river, and I never slept a wink."

"Oh!" ejaculated Archie; but Peter chose to misunderstand him.

"Oh it is, sir," he cried ecstatically. "Take another look before we are shut in amongst the trees. It's lovely! It's the beautifullest morning I ever did see."



CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

AN AWAKENING.

"You can't be sure, Pete. These elephant-paths through the jungle are all alike. There's the same half-dark, dense heat, the tangled walls on either side, the overhanging trees and loops of prickly rotan suspended overhead ready to catch you. How can you be sure that this is one that you have been along before?"

"I d'know, sir. What you say is very right, but I seem to feel that I've been along here before, and old Rajah must have been, or he wouldn't go swinging along as if he felt that he'd got nearly to the end of his journey. Shall I try and ask Mr Bantam there?"

"Oh no," said Archie wearily. "It's so hard trying to make him understand, and I always feel in doubt when you have tried."

"Well, sir, we shall soon know whether it is, for I don't believe we are more than two or three miles from headquarters."

"I'd give anything for you to be right, Pete, for I am nearly done up."

"I know you are, sir, and I might say, so am I; for long enough it has seemed as if the hinge of my back was giving way, and when the helephant gives one of his worst rolls it just seems as if he'd jerk my head off. But cheer up, sir! I think it's all right, and we have done splendidly. We might have had to pull up and fight all the Malay chaps from up there by the Rajah's hunting-box. Of course we should have made a good stand of it, but how are you going to dodge spears in a narrow place like this? There, cheer up, sir! When you look happy over it I feel as if I am ready for anything; but when you go down in the dumps I haven't a bit of pluck left in me."

"It will be dark soon, Pete. If we have to spend another night out in the jungle I must lie down under some tree."

"Mustn't sir. Cold, rheumatiz', and fever. You will have to stick to your warm bed up here. But talk about a warm bed—you should have tried sitting like a mahout."

"It will be dark in an hour, Pete," said Archie, who seemed to pay no heed to his companion's brisk chatter.

"Not it, sir. Two hours—full, though I ain't got no watch. Not as that much matters. Old Tipsy has got a big, old silver one, but he says you never can depend upon it in this damp place. We have got plenty of time to get there yet, and see how old Rajah is swinging along! I am sure he knows his way."

"Don't—don't—pray don't keep chattering so! It makes me feel worse than ever."

"You think so, sir," said Peter stubbornly, "but it don't; it rouses you up, sir, even if it only makes you turn waxy and pitch into me."

"Yes, yes, I know, Pete. It's because I'm so ill. It's like having a touch of fever again. Then you must think what a beast and a brute I am to you—a regular burden. I could feel it in my heart to slip down under the first big tree and go to sleep, even if I were not to wake again."

"Hah!" said Pete dryly. "That sounds bad, if it was real, sir; but it's only what you fancy. How's your head now?"

"That old pain seems back again worse than ever."

"Wish we'd stopped an hour ago when we crossed back over the river again, and had 'nother good drink. That must have been about one o'clock, I should say. I don't know, though—I've about lost count. Ain't it rum, sir, how rivers wind about, and how the elephants' paths go straight across them?"

Archie looked at him piteously; his eyes seemed to say, "Pray, pray don't keep talking!"

The look silenced his companion, and for half-an-hour at least not a word was spoken.

Plosh, plosh, suck, suck of the elephants' feet went on in the same monotonous way. A gleam of sunshine now and then lightened the gloom of the tunnel-like path, but besides the dreary sound the silence was awful. By this time Archie seemed to be quite exhausted, and as Pete passed an arm round him and lowered him back on to the pad before slipping a hand into his waistband to ensure his not slipping off, the poor fellow's eyes were half-closed, while those of his companion were fixed with the lids wide apart, and with a fierce, staring look gazed forward over the mahout's head in the wild hope of seeing something that he could recognise, something that would prove that they really were on the path that led to headquarters.

"I'm about beat out," said poor Peter to himself. "A chap wants to be made of iron to keep this up much longer, and I ain't iron, only flesh and blood and bones, and them not best quality—upper crust. Oh! if I could only—" He stopped short with his lips apart, face down, and one ear turned in the direction in which the mahout was staring.

"Oh!" he panted once again, "is it, or am I getting delirious? Ah! there it goes again—or am I wrong? What's a bugle going for at this time in the afternoon? I'm a-dreaming of it. No, I ain't! Hooray!— Look up, Mister Archie, sir! It's all right. Cheer up, sir!"

"What! What! Who spoke?" said the exhausted lad, making an effort, catching at Peter, and dragging himself up and sitting clinging tightly to his companion's arm.

"Close in, sir. We shall be at the campong in five minutes, and in less than another on the parade-ground. Hooroar, sir! There's no place like home, even if it's out in a savage jungle.—Here, what are you panting at, sir, like that? Don't do it! You ain't been running."

"You're saying this to keep me up, Peter."

"I ain't, sir; I ain't. Look! Look! You can see for yourself now. There, them's the big trees where all the helephants sheltered at the review, and—brave old Rajah! He's making for it straight. There's a peep of the river too, and you can see the hut above the landing-place where I kept guard that night and listened to the crocs. Now then, what do you say to that? Am I right?"

Archie made no reply that was audible, but his lips parted as he muttered two words in fervent thanks; and the next minute Rajah had increased the rate at which he made his strides upon hard ground, and the open space before them was becoming dotted with moving men in their familiar white jackets, in consequence of an order that had been passed after a glass had been directed at the advancing elephant; while, as the great beast, as if quite accustomed to the place, strode in beneath the sheltering trees and stopped short, to stand with slowly swinging head on the very spot where Peter had first made his acquaintance, a burst of cheers rang out from officers and comrades, who came up at the double to welcome back those who had been given up for lost.

One of the first to reach the elephant's side was the Doctor.

"Archie, my lad!" he cried. "Minnie! My poor girl! Speak, lad— speak!"

Archie's lips parted, and his old look of despair deepened as he tried to answer; but no word passed his parched lips, cracking now with fever and exhaustion. He only looked wildly in the Doctor's imploring eyes and shook his head.

The Doctor uttered a groan, and then, as the elephant knelt in response to the mahout's order, the Doctor's despair died away to make room for duty.

"Now, my lads," he cried, "half-a-dozen of you help them down and carry them carefully into hospital.—Cheer up, boys! I'll soon put you right.—Ah, Sir Charles! You here? I can't go.—Hold up, man!—Go up to my place and speak to my wife. But after this—be a man, sir!— there's hope for us still."



CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

IN THE DOCTOR'S HANDS.

"Lie still. What have you got to fidget about? I have done all I can, and made a decent job of your head. It looks quite respectable now, after what I have done with the scissors. That hair ought to have been cut close off first thing, so as to afford a place for decent bandages, and I feel quite astounded to see how kindly Nature has treated you. It must have been an awful blow, my boy, and if you hadn't been of the stupid, thick-headed breed, you would have suffered from a comminuted fracture of the skull. Can't you lie still?"

"No, Doctor. I want to get up."

"And make yourself worse?"

"No; but after what you have done, I feel so much better and more comfortable that I want to be up and doing."

"Nonsense! You have been doing ten times too much, and I tell you seriously, sir, that another day or two of what you have gone through in making your escape, and you must have been dangerously ill with fever."

"But I feel so much better, Doctor."

"Of course you do. I was just able to catch you in the nick of time, and now I have done my part, and you must leave the rest to Nature."

"But I want to go out with one of the detachments."

"What for? To break down directly, and interfere with the good four or half-a-dozen of the lads would be doing, from their time being taken up in carrying you on a bamboo litter?"

"Oh Doctor, I shouldn't break down."

"Oh, wouldn't you? Nice piece of impudence! Here am I, who have devoted half my life to the tinkering up of damaged soldiers, and know to a tittle how much a man can bear, all wrong, of course! And you, a young jackanapes of a subaltern, a mere boy, tell me to my face that you know better than I do!"

"No, no, Doctor; I beg your pardon!" said Archie. "I don't mean that. It is only because I want to be out with the fellows, trying to run that brutal scoundrel down."

"Yes, yes, my boy, I know. But wait. Everything possible is being done, and any hour the news may come in that my poor child has been found and some one has been shot down. Archie, my boy, nothing would afford me greater delight than to see that lurid-looking heathen brought in half-dead, and handed over to my tender mercies."

Archie burst out into a mocking laugh.

"What do you mean by that, sir?" said Dr Morley.

"I was thinking, Doctor, you would set to at once attending to his wounds, and making him well as soon as you possibly could."

"What! A treacherous, cunning savage! I'd—Well, I suppose you are right, boy. Habit's habit. But the British lawyers would tackle him afterwards, and he would get his deserts. They'd put a stop to him being Rajah of Dang any more. There, I've no time to stop gossiping with you."

"But when may I get up, Doctor? It seems so absurd for me to be lying here."

"That's what you think. Well, there, I won't be hard on you. If you keep quiet now, and are as much better to-morrow as I found you to-day, and you will promise to be very careful, I'll let you get up. Now I must go and see to that other ruffian."

"Peter Pegg? But you are not keeping him in bed?"

"Oh no. He didn't get it so badly as you."

"I say, Doctor, he's been hospital orderly before: send him to attend on me."

The Doctor frowned, and hesitated.

"Oh, very well. He might do that. He was as mad as you are two days ago, and wanted to go off with his company."

"Send him in at once, Doctor."

"For you two to talk too much? There, I'll see."

A couple of hours later Peter Pegg entered Archie's quarters, looking very hollow-cheeked and sallow, and displaying a head that had been operated upon by the regimental barber till there was nothing more left to cut off, and stood holding the door a little way open, and showing his teeth in a happy grin.

"Ah, Pete! I wanted you," cried Archie.

"Did you, sir? Here I am, then. Doctor says I am to do anything you want, only you are not to talk."

"All right, Pete. Then tell me, what's being done?"

"Three detachments is out, sir—one under Captain Down, one under Mr Durham, another under old Tipsy."

"Yes? Go on."

"They're a-scouring the country, sir; and I hope they'll make a clean job of it."

"Yes, yes; but tell me everything."

"Ain't much to tell, sir; only one party's gone up the river in Sir Charles's boat, and he's with them."

"Yes?"

"And another party's gone down the river to search Mr Rajah Hamet's place."

"But I heard that he came up here and brought in my boat, and spread the news of our being killed."

"Yes, sir; and the Major, when we came back, said he'd been gammoning him, and that he must have been in the business."

"No, no," said Archie thoughtfully; "I'm sure the Major's wrong. Well, go on. Which way has Captain Down gone?"

"He has gone along the road to the Rajah's palace, to take him prisoner and make him give an account of himself."

"Right away in the jungle, along that elephant-track? They have taken tents, of course."

"I d'know, sir; but they've took possession of Mr Suleiman's two helephants."

"Ah, capital!" said Archie. "This is fresh news."

"Yes, sir; and I suppose Mr Suleiman will never get them again. They ought to be prize money. We took them, sir. My word, I should just like to have the old Rajah!"

"Of course," said Archie contemptuously. "Nice thing for a private soldier! A white elephant, Pete."

"Why, he's a blacky-grey 'un, sir. Wish I could be his mahout."

"Stuff! Where's Mr Durham gone?"

"Don't know, sir. Private instructions. Through the jungle somewhere, I expect, so as to take Mr Suleiman in the rear. But I say, sir, you don't mean to be kept in horspittle, do you?"

"No, Pete; I'm to be up to-morrow."

"Hooray, sir! I'm all right too—ready for anything. Try and put in a word for me."

"Of course, Pete."

"Thank you, sir. You and me has had so much to do with this business that they ought to let us go on in front over everything."

"We can't help it, Pete. Soldiers must obey orders. Still, there's one thing: they can stick our bodies into hospital, but they can't stick our hearts. They go where we like. Now, is there anything more you can tell me about what's going on?"

"Can't recollect anything, sir. But I shall pick up everything I can; you may depend upon that. I suppose you know, sir, that the Major's chucking out the orders right and left, and it's all just as if we were surrounded by the enemy."

"No, chuckle-head! How could I know all that? You mean, I suppose, that the garrison is in a regular state of siege?"

"Yes, sir, that's it; only I couldn't put it like that. Don't be waxy with a poor private as old Tipsy says is the most wooden-headed chap in the company."

"Now go on telling me."

"Sentries are doubled, sir, and the chaps says it's precious hard now we are so short of men."

"Then they should draw in the lines," said Archie eagerly.

"Yes, sir; that's what they have done."

"Oh, of all the thick-headed—Here, I won't get cross, Pete. But you do make me wild. Why didn't you tell me all this?"

"Too stupid, I suppose, sir. But don't give me up. I will try better next time. Want to ask me anything now, sir?"

"No. Be off."

"You don't mean you are sacking me, do you, sir?" half-whimpered Peter.

"No-o-o-o! Be off. Go amongst the men and pick up every bit of news you can, and don't shrink—"

"Not me, sir."

"And what you can't get from the men, ask any officer you meet."

"I say, Mister Archie, sir!"

"Say you are asking it for me."

"That's better, sir. Then I'm off."

It was quite dark when Peter entered the room again, hurried to Archie's bedside, and then stopped short.

"Fast asleep," he said to himself. "Ought I to wake him? Oughtn't I to wake him? Chance it.—Mister Archie, sir! Asleep, sir?"

"What? Yes—no! Oh, it's you, Pete!"

"Jump up, sir. You won't hurt," said the lad breathlessly. "It's a beautiful, hot night. I've picked something up, and I've run up to tell you. Come to the window, sir, and look out."

Archie sprang out and followed Peter to the open window, from which they had a full view of the landing-place, where lights were moving and their bearers could be seen hurrying to and fro.

"What boat's that?"

"Resident's, sir. I have come up to tell you."

"Yes—be smart! Tell me what?"

"Sir Charles and his party have come back, sir."

"From the up-river expedition?"

"Yes, sir. I got hold of one of the chaps who went with him."

"Well, go on; I'm burning to hear. What have they found out?"

"He says, sir, that the Major did not want Sir Charles to go, and they had words together. He heard Sir Charles say the attack was made on the boat up the river, as well you and me know, sir."

"Yes, Pete," said Archie, who was listening and watching the movements of the boat at the same time.

"And that he felt sure Miss Heath must have been carried right up-stream, and that they should find her in one of the campongs, or kept shut up in some place belonging to the Rajah."

"Well, go on."

"And then the Major said, sir, to Sir Charles that they weren't quite sure that the Rajah had done this, and that he should be obliged if Sir Charles would stay, and let one of the officers go instead. Then Sir Charles says that he's morally sure that it was the Rajah's doing, and that he feels he must go. And then they went, and they've been right up the river as far as they could get the big boat; and they landed over and over again and searched the campongs and examined the people, who all said they did not know anything about it, and looked stupid, as these Malay chaps can look when they don't want to tell tales; and at last Sir Charles had to give up, after he had been down with something like sunstroke."

"Yes—go on quickly," said Archie.

"And he went onsensible like, and there was nothing else they could do but bring him back."

"And they brought him back ill?"

"Yes, sir; and those chaps you can see there with the lanterns are coming back from carrying him up to the Residency."

"Poor chap! Poor fellow!" said Archie. "Well, go on."

"That's all, sir. Don't you see they're tying the boat up for the night? I thought you would be satisfied if I picked up something."

"Too much this time, Pete," said Archie sadly.

"Too much, sir?"

"Yes. It's all bad."

"But you said I was to bring everything, sir."

"Yes, yes; that's quite right. But it is so disheartening. They must have taken her up somewhere; for aught we know, poor girl! she may be a prisoner somewhere in one of the places near that elephant-shed."

"Near what elephant-shed, sir?" said Peter rather vacantly.

"Why, where we were prisoners."

"Oh no, sir. Didn't I get out that night and go and look everywhere?"

"No. There might have been scores of other buildings up there. You couldn't have seen much."

"No, sir, I didn't. It was so dark, and there was that tiger."

"Here, I've got leave to be up to-morrow, and I must see what I can do."

"Don't think you could have done any more than I did, sir, that night."

"I know that, Pete; but I want to be trying now all the same. Here, I know; I'll get the Major's permission to go up and join Sergeant Ripsy and make a better search up there."

"Spite of the tigers, sir?"

"In spite of ten tigers, Pete, for I shall have men with me, and rifles."

"Think old Tipsy will like it, sir?"

"I think Sergeant Ripsy is a stern old British soldier who would do his duty, Pete."

"Well, yes, sir. He's a hard nut, but he's all that you say. I'd rather be under anybody else, but you talk about ten tigers: I'd go under ten Sergeant Tipsys if it was to bring Miss Minnie back."

"I know you would, Pete. And poor Sir Charles was knocked over by the fever?"

"Sunstroke, sir."

"Well, sunstroke. He's hors de combat, and we want to take his place."

The next day Archie signalised his permission to be about by asking for an interview with his commanding officer, who congratulated him warmly, and then replied to his request with an imperative:

"No! Quite out of the question, sir. I have weakened my force too much as it is, and I cannot spare another man."

"Horribly disappointing," said Archie to himself as he came away—"but he did call me man!"



CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

A DESPATCH.

Archie Maine had been round visiting posts in the faint hope of picking up some fresh news from the men, after the hurried mess dinner, glad to get out into the comparatively cool, soft night air; for the Major had sat in his place, hardly speaking a word to any one present, and for the most part with lowered brows, deep in thought.

The night was as beautiful as ever; the brilliant stars that spangled the sky looked twice as large as those at home, and the reflections, blurred by the motion of the river, seemed larger still. The fire-flies sparkled in every bush, and the distant cries of the jungle floated softly on the night air. But everything seemed to bring up thoughts of trouble and misfortune. The native messengers sent in from the search-parties brought no good tidings, and to the lad, still suffering to some extent from his injury, everything seemed to suggest despair.

"I can't help it," he said to himself. "I'm sure I'm strong enough. I'll go round by the Doctor's and beg and pray him to tell the Major that I might very well go to the front, if it's only to join old Ripsy. I might be of some help to him. Yes, Pete ought to go with me. We know more about the part there by the elephant-stables, and with him and his men we could follow up some of the paths where poor Pete dared not go."

On the impulse of the moment he turned back and made for the mess-room, to try there first, though half in doubt as to whether he might find that his chief had gone back to his own quarters, where he was now prone to shut himself in.

The lad had been sauntering very slowly and doubtfully before. Now he quickened his pace as he thought over his adventures when a prisoner in the elephant-stable; and as he recalled watching the going to and fro of the elephants, he felt more than ever that he ought to be there helping the surly old Sergeant.

"Not gone," he said, as he came into sight of the open window of the mess-room, where the shaded lamp was casting down its light upon the stern-looking, grey head of the old officer, who had a paper lying before him, which he was scanning, while just at the other side of the table the lad could see the swarthy countenance of a native, whom he recognised at once as one of the followers of the regiment.

Archie's heart began to beat fast, for he grasped the fact at once. This was evidently the bearer of a despatch from one of the detachments, for a private was standing in the shade resting his piece on the floor, after bringing in the man handed over to him by a sentry.

As Archie passed into the veranda the Major heard his step and looked up.

"Who's that?" he said.

"Maine, sir."

"Oh, just right. Come here. You may as well know. This is a rough scribble from Sergeant Ripsy."

"Good news, sir?" burst out Archie sharply.

"Not likely, my lad—no. He writes of his safe arrival at what he calls the elephant-pens, and as a matter of course too late. The place is quite deserted—not a man there—and the elephants have all been driven off. But he adds that he is following up the trail as well as he can, and that it is very hard to trace, because the great animals always step into the old tracks, and you can't tell which are the new; but that he means to follow them until he comes up to where they have been driven. There, I have no more to say."

Archie, seeing that his presence was not needed, stepped out into the darkness again, walking some minutes without any definite aim, till, finding himself near the Doctor's bungalow, he thought he would call in there and give him the news, such as it was.

But as he neared the gateway and saw through one of the open windows a bent figure just shown up by the lighted lamp, his heart failed him, for thoughts full of memories of the past came to him with a rush; and he stepped on, when, just as he was at the end of the creeper-burdened bamboo fence, a gruff voice exclaimed:

"Who's that? You, Maine?"

"Yes, sir."

"What is it? Want me?"

"No, sir. I was only just going by."

"Humph! That's a sign you're better. Why didn't you call in?"

"I hadn't the heart, sir. I could see Mrs Morley sitting there with her head resting in her hand, and it set me thinking, sir."

"Good lad! Yes, of course. But she'd have taken it kindly, my lad, if you had dropped in to see her now that she is in such trouble."

"But I was afraid she would think I had brought some news, sir, and then she would have been disappointed."

"No, boy. She and I are both getting hardened to trouble now. We have pretty well given up hoping for anything good. There, come in, my lad."

He laid his hand on Archie's shoulder, and they walked into the house together, Mrs Morley startling the visitor as he noted how thin and old-looking she had grown.

"Ah, Archie," she said, as he saw by the lamp that the tears had started into her eyes, "I am so glad to see you—so much better, too. But—"

She turned quickly away, tearing her handkerchief from her pocket, and the next minute she would have thrown herself sobbing in a chair but for the entrance of one of the native maids, who in her broken English announced that there were two people wanting to see the Doctor.

"Not the proper time for them to come," said that gentleman. "Who are they? People who have been here before?"

"Yes, sahib," said the girl. "It is Dula, with her husband."

"Child bad again!" muttered the Doctor. "Where are they? In my room?"

"Yes, sahib."

"Don't go away, Archie. Stop and talk to the wife till I come back."

The Doctor passed out of the room, and Mrs Morley turned to Archie, to say imploringly:

"Have you brought any news?"

He shook his head.

"Nothing—nothing?" she cried, in a tone of voice which made the lad feel almost ready to reproach himself for being alive and well when his companion whom he had taken light-hearted and merry from that very room, so short a time before, was—where?

"Here, Maria—Archie!" came in a sharp tone of voice which made them both start. "Here—quick!"

There was only a little lamp, which gave forth a faint light, upon the table of the Doctor's surgery and consulting-room, but it threw up the figure of a slight, graceful-looking native woman and a tall, fierce Malay; and, jumping at conclusions, Archie judged by the man's bandaged head that he had been wounded, and that his companion had brought him to the Doctor for help.

The Doctor sprang from his seat as his wife entered, drew his chair on one side, and thrust her in.

"Now, be calm, my dear. Be a woman! You know these people?"

"Yes, yes!" exclaimed Mrs Morley in agitated tones, as the woman stepped forward, to go down on one knee and kiss her hand, while the man muttered something and then drew himself up rigidly.

"And you think we can trust—depend upon what they say?" continued the Doctor, with his voice quivering.

"Yes. Speak! Tell me, what is it?" cried Mrs Morley excitedly.

"Well, be calm, then. Be quite calm and firm, as I am. Minnie is alive and safe."

"Ah!" ejaculated Mrs Morley, as she sank back and buried her face in her hands; while the woman now fell upon her knees, catching up Mrs Morley's dress and holding it to her lips as if to choke back her sobs.

"And I told you to be firm," said the Doctor pettishly. "This man has escaped from up-country somewhere—I don't know the confounded place's name. He was overtaken and wounded by some of Rajah Suleiman's people, so that he shouldn't tell tales, I suppose. But he says he can show us where the young English lady has been kept a prisoner, and that she is quite safe.—Isn't that so?" he added, turning to the man.

The Malay stared, muttered something, and then turned to look appealingly at his wife.

"Oh, of course! You didn't tell me; it was she. Let's see. You are the man that came to me months ago for—" The Doctor finished in pantomime by making believe to take hold of his own jaw, apply a key, and wrench out a tooth.

The man smiled and nodded, and the Doctor added a few words in the Malay tongue; while the woman now sprang up and began to talk volubly in her own language, uttering short, sharp sentences, which the Doctor punctuated with nods and:

"Yes—yes—I see—I see—exactly. But, hang it all, my good woman!" he exclaimed in English, "don't talk so fast. I only know a smattering of your tongue.—She puzzles me, my dear. It's all tongue.—Who the British Dickens wants to know that your little one is quite well again and strong, at a time like this?"

He spoke again in Malay, and the woman nodded and began to gesticulate again, in company with a fresh flow of words.

"Yes, yes, yes," said the Doctor; "I am very glad, of course.—Now, my dear, this is not like you," he continued. "Remember you are a doctor's wife.—Did you ever see such a woman, Archie?"

"Never, Doctor," replied the lad, coming forward out of the darkness to take Mrs Morley's hand and kiss it.

"There, I am quite firm now, Henry," said Mrs Morley; and drawing the native woman towards her, she kissed Dula on both cheeks.

"Now let's have a few quiet words together," said the Doctor.—"No, no, Archie; what are you going to do?"

"I thought I ought to go and tell the Major, sir, at once."

"Not yet. Wait a bit, my lad. We must have a consultation here. I feel as you do, my dear boy; I want to rush back with these people at once. But this is a ticklish affair, and we must do nothing rashly. You see, we have learned this. It's been a bad case, and we must run no risks. We have learned this—for certain now. It was Suleiman's men who carried Minnie off and nearly killed you, and, with all the native cunning, he sent his people here to fetch me to doctor him for his so-called tiger scratch. By Abernethy! if I'd known, I'd have poisoned it so that it wouldn't have got well for a year.—No, I wouldn't," he grunted. "I am getting a tongue as bad as that woman's. But steady, steady! We know for certain that he carried her off; and this man, being a fisherman, has been living at a spot up the river where our poor darling has been taken and kept hidden. And just think of it, Archie: how clever a blackguard needs to be when he's going to do anything wrong! Talk about Fate! See how busy the old girl has been here! The blackguard, with all his crafty cunning, hides her somewhere close to the place where two of my best patients live, and they have had an eye upon her ever since, and just when we were in our most despairing time come and tell us of her fate."

"Yes, sir; and now—"

"Stop a minute, my boy. I just wanted to say to you, I am ready to draw the teeth of all the Malays in the district without fee, and I am prepared to say that some of them are as grateful as we can be ourselves."

"Yes," cried Archie; "but business is business."

"Thank you, boy; thank you for pulling me up. I can't help it just now. Poor Minnie is to me just as dear as if she were my own child, and I am quite overturned—hysterical as a woman, more shame for me! Here, it was only the other day you came whining to me about being all wrong because you are such a boy. You said you thought you were not as you should be—that you wanted to be a man. Didn't I tell you, sir, to wait—that all you wanted was a little real trouble, and that it would come fast enough and make a man of you? Well, do you feel like a man now?"

"No, sir, not quite; but I feel man enough to start to-night as one of a strong party to go and rescue Minnie Heath, even if we die in doing the good work."

"Well said, my lad; and I'll go with you, and you sha'n't die, any of you, if I know anything of wounds. There, I'm pulled up now, and ready for anything.—Maria, my dear, see to these people—rest and refreshment, anything they want—while I'm gone; and you can set the girl to work talking to this Dula here. Make her your interpreter.—As for you—here, I know what you'll like."

The Doctor took a cigar-box from the shelf, snatched out three or four, pressed them into the fisherman's hand, and then almost dragged him out into the veranda, where he thrust him into a cane chair and gave him a light. "One moment, Archie;" and he spoke to the man, who was smiling up at him. "That's right, Archie; they came in a boat. Come along up to the Residency.—No; I'll go there. You run on to the Major and ask for orders. He'll find us a little detachment to take with us in the Resident's boat. This means good business, my lad, for we have found out the real seat of the disease."



CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

THE MAGAZINE.

"You don't say so, my lad! A Malay and his wife who have been patients of the Doctor bringing in such news as that! Why, it's grand! Poor, dear girl! Tut, tut, tut, tut, tut, tut, what she must have suffered! Well, Mr Rajah Suleiman will have to pay for it. Morley says he believes in these people. Not some trap, is it?"

"He feels sure not, sir. The people are grateful to him for all he has done for them. Oh, I am certain it is genuine, sir."

"Don't be too sure, my lad. These people can't help looking upon us as their enemies, and they are as treacherous as they are high. Look at this Suleiman. I have been trusting him. I looked upon him as a sensual brute, but it was so much to his advantage to be friendly. The fool! He's given his country away. He will be either shot or made prisoner, and then another Rajah who is friendly to us will reign in his stead."

"Rajah Hamet, sir?"

"No," said the Major shortly. "And look here, young fellow, don't you mention him to me again. He's your friend, and you have a strong bias towards him."

"I can't help believing in him, sir."

"Then you must, sir, as a British officer, working for your country's good. I presume you don't know that I have it on trustworthy authority that Rajah Hamet has been for some little time past strengthening his position and gathering his men, like the savage he is, to go out on the war-path? And all the time he has been educated in England! A young fool! Well, this news is splendid, but it comes at a horrible time. Here is Suleiman hanging about, dodging our men; Hamet in all probability waiting for us to be in a dilemma, and then he will come down; and my little force here depleted till we are as weak as weak. I ought to say I can't spare a man. I feel it's my duty to refuse to send an expedition to save that poor girl. It means sending up a couple of boats with not less than twenty men, for Suleiman is sure to have a certain number of the brutes in charge of the place. But of course it must be done, and they must start at once. Where's the Doctor?"

"Gone on to the Residency, sir."

"Yes. And I want Sir Charles. Send a man to ask him to step here.—No; go yourself—save time."

Archie was making for the door, when steps and voices were heard, and the Resident hurried in, closely followed by Dr Morley.

"You have heard this news, Knowle?"

"Yes; everything."

"And you will send a party of men at once?" said the Resident in a half-suffocated voice.

"Directly we can man the boats."

"Ah!" exclaimed the Resident, sinking into a chair, with his hand to his breast.

"But you are not fit to go with them."

The Resident smiled faintly and made a gesticulation.

"It's no use to waste words, Knowle," said the Doctor. "I know better than you what he can stand, and I have told him it is madness to think of it."

"Yes; and I am going to be mad," said the Resident bitterly. "If you have not given your instructions already, sir, pray do so at once. At all costs I must go."

The Major shrugged his shoulders.

"I want two boats," he said. "I am going to take yours, of course. But one of my difficulties is, who is to take charge of the expedition?"

Archie started, and his lips parted to speak.

"I shall take charge of it," said the Resident.

"Very well.—You are not fit to go, Maine?" said the Major.

"Oh yes, sir," cried Archie eagerly.

"No, sir," cried the Major; and the subaltern's brow puckered up in his disappointment. "And I can't spare you," continued the Major. "But under the circumstances I must, for I can spare no one else. Of course there will be a sergeant and a corporal—and a nice state we shall be left in here!—You, Dallas, take my advice. If you really mean to go, leave all the preparations to the Doctor. But really I think you had better let him go in your place."

"Yes," said the Doctor; "and it is my duty to my child."

Sir Charles made an angry movement, and the Major was about to issue his orders, when he sprang from his seat, for a rifle-shot rang out on the still night.

"What does that mean?" exclaimed Sir Charles.

There was another shot, followed by another and another.

"Attack, and in force;" cried the Major, crossing to the side of the room, to catch up hurriedly his sword and belt; and he was busy buckling the latter as the bugle rang out the assembly.

By the time he was out in the front the sentries were being driven in, and announced that the Malays were advancing in force; and almost immediately two of the men hurried out of the darkness supporting one of their comrades, who was bleeding profusely from a spear-wound, the weapon thrown by one of the attacking Malays being carried by a fellow-soldier.

The men turned out without the slightest confusion, and fell into their places under the direction of the officers remaining for the defence of the cantonments, and so well had the arrangements been previously planned out that the rush of the advancing enemy from three sides of the cantonments was temporarily checked by the steady fire of the defenders; but not before two more of the sentries had been carried into the mess-room, where the Major, hurrying in to see what was being done, found the Doctor in his shirt-sleeves busily attending to the men's wounds.

"Oh, there you are, Major!" he said, speaking with a strip of bandage in his mouth. "This looks like my taking command of the expedition, doesn't it?"

"Yes. Impossible," said the Major. "The brutes are coming on in numbers, and much as I regret what you must feel, I am only too thankful that your party has not started. But there, you see I can do nothing until we have driven these scoundrels back, and then—we shall see."

"Yes, I know," grumbled the Doctor.—"You can take hold of one end of that bandage yourself, my lad. That's right. Nasty cut; but you are not going to lose the number of your mess this time."

"Oh no, sir!" said the wounded man excitedly. "Tight as you can, please, sir. I think I can go back to the firing-line, and—ah!"

"I don't," said the Doctor grimly. "Poor lad—talk about British pluck!"

"Not a bad wound, is it?"

"Quite bad enough," said the Doctor. "An inch lower, sir—"

"Yes, I know," said the Major, as the firing increased. "Why, they've got muskets! There, Doctor, I felt that I must speak to you, and I am afraid you are going to have your hands pretty full."

"But you should keep your men more under cover, sir," said the Doctor pettishly. "Look! They are bringing in two more."

"Under cover!" said the Major angrily. "Every fence, wall, and breast-work is occupied, and the men are holding the Residency according to orders. These poor fellows were speared at their posts."

The Major hurried out, to busy himself with seeing that the various occupants of the place were provided with shelter in the officers' quarters and the other buildings of the cantonments, the upper windows of which were occupied by the little force, with instructions to retire to the Residency, which was so situated that it would lend itself well to being treated as a sort of citadel in case they should prove to be hard pressed.

Fortunately for the defenders, as the night advanced the smoke from the firing hung low, prevented as it was from rising by a gathering river mist; and as not a light was shown in either of the buildings, the firing of the Malays from the sheltering trees and cultivated gardens of the station had little effect, while of the many spears that were thrown after the first attack was made, hardly one found a victim.

The men, in obedience to orders, were now firing only from time to time at the sheltering Malays, who kept on creeping up to hurl a spear in at a dimly seen open window, more than one not being sharp enough in jumping back, for his activity was checked by a bullet which sent him tottering for a few yards before falling heavily with a groan.

This had the effect of bringing the flash and heavy, dull report of the old, cast-off military muskets which the Malays were using; and as these weapons flashed, the defenders of the various buildings seized the opportunity to return the fire, guessing at the enemy's position by the light.

Just about this time, when a loud yelling from the direction of the river suggested that a fresh party of the enemy were landing from boats, a dimly seen officer hurried through the darkness to one of the upper rooms.

"Who's in here?" he cried angrily.

"Me, sir—Smithers, sir."

"You are wasting your cartridges."

"Am I, sir?"

"Yes. Wait till we get some daylight, unless you can make sure of your man."

"All right, Mr Maine, sir. It is you, isn't it? I was getting a bit excited-like. One moment, sir: have you seen my missus?"

"Your wife? No. Why?"

"She telled me she was coming up to help the Doctor."

"Oh, nonsense! She ought to be with the women. I will tell her if I see her.—There, look," whispered Archie—"to your left! There are half-a-dozen fellows at least creeping through that patch of fog."

"They look big 'uns, too, sir," whispered the man excitedly, as the indistinct figures were magnified by the mist. "Would it be waste of cartridges, sir, to get two in a line and let go?"

"No. Fire!"

Crock went the rifle, and the figures that had loomed up seemed to melt away. But as soon as the rifle had flashed there was the fad, fad, fad of hurried steps, something whizzed in at the window, and with a dull thud a spear stuck in the floor of the room.

Crack, crack came from Archie's revolver as he fired it twice in the direction of the spear-thrower, an answering yell suggesting that one of the shots had had effect.

"There, keep a sharp lookout, and only fire when you are sure," said Archie as he made for the door, striking against the bamboo shaft of the spear. "This didn't graze you, did it, Smithers?"

"No, sir. I was afraid you had got a touch by your whipping out your pistol so quickly. But please, sir, don't tell my missus to go into shelter. She likes a job like this, and she's very useful with a basin and sponge."

"All right; all right," replied Archie; and hurrying away, he took the mess-room on his way to the post he was about to visit, and stepped to where a faint light rose from behind a Japanese screen which shut off one corner of the big room.

There he came upon the Doctor busy over one poor wounded fellow whose head was resting upon the arm of a kneeling woman, who held a sponge in the hand at liberty, while a great brass lotah of water was at her side.

"Very useful with basin and sponge," said Archie to himself, as he smiled grimly.—"Can I do anything for you, Doctor?" he said.

"Not unless you have come to help, my lad."

"No, sir; I can't do that."

"Well, you can stop some of these scoundrels throwing these abominable spears."

"Not till daylight, I'm afraid, sir; and I fear that this light will be seen outside."

"Can't help it," said the Doctor. "I can't play Blind-Man's Buff and stitch up wounds without a lamp. I want more help."

"Shall I ask Mrs Morley to come, sir?"

"My wife? No. She is busy with the women and children, and running off now and then to give the poor fellows a drink of water. Here, I know: set some one to find that ragamuffin Pegg. He'd be worth anything to me now, for he's handy over this sort of thing."

"Yes, Doctor; but he's one of our best shots with a rifle, and the Captain has posted him where he covers the river path."

"Oh, well, then, you can't spare him, of course. But look here, Archie; the wounded are being brought in too fast. Tell the Major that I say that he must blaze away a little to hold the enemy back."

"Do you want him to cut me down, sir? He's in a furious temper."

"Enough to make him. So am I. I nearly stuck a lancet into Sir Charles Dallas a few minutes ago for coming and worrying me about the possibility of a party of men stealing off to one of the boats with him. The madman! All men are mad when they're in love. Never you catch that complaint."

"No, sir," said Archie.

"Well, I'm keeping you, my lad; but I'm glad of a minute's cessation from this work. There! I think he will do now, duchess.—What do you say?"

"Poor fellow! You have done it all beautiful, sir," said Mrs Smithers, smiling, as she passed a cool, wet sponge across the wounded man's brows.

"There, off with you, Archie, my lad. Keep out of danger."

"Of course, sir," was the reply.

"I mean it, for you have had more than your share of my attention lately. But I say, my lad; feel very boyish now?"

"If you tease me again about that, Doctor," said Archie, "I'll never consult you again."

"Till next time," said the Doctor, with a chuckle.—"Great heavens! what's that?"

That was a tremendous puff of wind that knocked the Japanese screen over against the wall, and sent Archie staggering so that he nearly fell over one of the wounded men. Then almost instantaneously came a terrific roar as if a sudden burst of a tropical storm had followed the flash of light which blazed through the lightly built place, the walls of which had rocked, and seemed to be tottering to their fall.

"Anybody hurt?" panted the Doctor, his first thought being that he must render aid.

"I—I don't know, sir," stammered Archie.

"Glad of it," said the Doctor. "The worst storm I ever saw."

"Storm, sir?" said Archie. "It's the magazine gone!"



CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

THE FLIGHT OF A LIM-BING.

It was no rash assertion. The small erection that it had been the Major's pride to erect by means of the men a short distance back and just inside the jungle, and to which he had brought to bear all the ingenuity he possessed, so as to ensure safety—sinking it deep in the earth, protecting it by a chevaux de frise, and then thickly planting the outside with a dense belt of the closest and most rapid-growing of the jungle shrubs—had been levelled with the earth, and its framework was now blazing furiously.

The first few moments after the explosion, it had seemed to the besieged that defence now would be madness, and that nothing was left for them but to throw themselves on the mercy of the Malays. But that natural desire of the Briton to make the best of things exemplified in the Latin proverb Nil desperandum soon began to assert itself. A sergeant suddenly shouted, "Look out there, my lads! Want to see the place burnt down?" And first one and then another made a rush towards the different buildings to pick or knock off fragments of burning wood and bright embers, cast by the tremendous force and scattered by the powder, that were beginning to threaten destruction on the roofs where they had fallen. The example set was quite sufficient for the rapid stamping out of the fires.

Meanwhile the remains of the magazine were burning furiously, and though the river was so near, it was no time for any attempt at checking the fire's progress.

"Let it go, my lads," the Major had said, "and be ready to take cover again, for we shall have the enemy back directly."

For, instead of taking advantage of the explosion and the temporary bewilderment that had been caused to the besieged by the shock, the Malays, utterly demoralised by the terrific roar, had to a man made for the shelter of the jungle.

The silence that had succeeded the roar was intense. Where, firing their clumsy old muskets and increasing the noise by their savage yells of defiance all round the cantonments, the Malays had been tearing about and rushing from tree to tree, peace now reigned, while the snapping and crackling of the burning wood, the deep-toned, half-whispered orders of the officers, and the talking of the men seemed to sound unnaturally loud.

In a short time now all risk of further spreading of the fire was at an end, and the question arose, to be discussed by officers and non-coms, as to whether, as the Malays seemed to have retreated, something should not be done in the way of extinguishing the flames by bringing entrenching tools to bear and smothering them out with earth.

"No," said the Major; "it will be useless toil. Let it burn out."

"But the fire's getting brighter, sir," protested Archie.

"Well, sir," said the Major peevishly, "that's plain enough; you needn't tell us that. What then?"

"We shall be having the enemy back directly, sir, and all of us standing out against the light as a mark for their spears."

"Tut, tut!" exclaimed the Major. "How absurd! I had not thought of that. But, all the same, the explosion seems to have completely scared them away, for I don't hear a sound. Do any of you?"

There was no reply.

"Yes," continued the Major sharply.—"Here, Sergeant; half-a-dozen men, and spades. Do the best you can to smother the flames.—The rest take cover, for this can't last. We shall have the enemy back directly."

The Major's directly did not prove to be correct, and while a careful watch was kept on the surrounding jungle and the little patches of fire that were flickering here and there amongst the trees, where goodly pieces of the woodwork had been cast by the explosion, a little meeting was held to discuss their position and the consequences of the catastrophe.

"You had all your ammunition stored there, had you not?" said the Doctor.

"All but what was in the men's pouches," replied the Major.

"Then what do you mean to do?"

"Fix bayonets," said the Major quietly.

"And not surrender?" said the Resident.

"Not while we have any fight left in us, Sir Charles. We have our women to protect; and besides, there are the three detachments out in the jungle. I begin to think that this explosion will prove to be a blessing in disguise, and act as a rallying-call to bring the men back and take the enemy, if they come on again, in the rear."

"Yes, to be sure," said the Resident, who stood half-turned from his companions in distress, and was gazing hard in the direction of the river.

"Well, Sir Charles, I presume you agree with me that we must stand to our guns—or, I should say, hold to our bayonets—till the very last? Help may come at any hour now."

"Yes, certainly, sir," replied the Resident; "but I am afraid—"

"I wouldn't say so, sir," said the Major, with a bitter laugh.

"You know what I mean," said Sir Charles sternly. "I fully expect that we shall have another body of Malays, to join in the attack, from down the river—I mean, the Rajah Hamet's men."

"Well," said the Major, "our little citadel will hold us all, and when the last cartridges are fired we can make such a breast-work of bayonets as I don't think, in spite of their spears, these Malay scoundrels will pass."

"We shall do our best, I am sure," said the Resident quietly. "But what do you make of this explosion?"

"Ruin," said the Major bitterly.

"No, no; I mean, what could have caused it? You have all your rules—no fire is ever allowed to approach."

"Ah yes, to be sure," said the Major sharply, "what could have caused it?" and he looked round from one to the other. "I have been so wrapped up in the consequences that it has never occurred to me to think of the cause. We could have no enemy within the camp."

"Look here," said Archie to the Doctor; "one of these fellows is coming to say that the more they throw on earth the more the wood blazes up.— What is it?" he continued, to the shovel-bearing private, who now joined them, his streaming and blackened face showing plainly in the bright light.

"We've just come upon a wounded man, sir."

"Why didn't you bring him in?" said Archie sharply.

"I don't mean only wounded, sir. He's all black and burnt. Seems as if the blow-up had sent him ever so far away, and he's lying yonder amongst the stripped trees."

"Eh? What's that?" said the Major excitedly. "Not one of my lads?"

"No, sir. As far as I can make out by what's left of his clothes, he's one of the enemy."

"One of the enemy!" cried the Major. "Why, we are coming to the truth, then. No one of the enemy could have been there—unless—"

"Look here," said the Doctor in his busy way, "you said wounded man, my lad?"

"Yes, sir; he's alive, for he moved when we touched him, and groaned. But he's got it badly."

"Well," said the Doctor sharply, "a wounded man, whether he's one of ourselves or an enemy, is all one to me;" and he walked with the rest, after a glance or two in the direction of the silent forest, from which the attack had come, towards the still blazing fire, where a little group of the spade party was standing round a dark object lying at some distance on the other side of the ruins of the magazine.

The party drew back a little to make way for their officers, and Archie shuddered as he caught sight of the horribly blackened object before them.

"A litter here," said the Doctor shortly. "I will have him up into hospital, but I'm afraid it's a hopeless case."

As the Doctor rose from one knee, something bright caught Archie's eye and somehow brought to mind the gold bracelet he had seen the French Count wear. Then thought after thought flashed through his mind, as he heard a deep, muttering groan, and the man who had brought the tidings whispered to his young officer:

"That's the same as he did before, sir—just cried 'Lo-lo-lo!' or something like that."

"Why, Doctor," said Archie excitedly, "did you hear the rest—'De l'eau'? He was asking for water."

"Yes—for the love of Heaven! what does this mean? He can't be a Malay."

"No," said Archie excitedly. "It's impossible to recognise him for certain now, but I feel sure it's the Rajah's French friend."

"What!" said the Major excitedly. "What could he have been doing here?"

"What could he have been doing here, sir, that night when Captain Down and I were startled by hearing some one outside the veranda—some one who must have been listening to you and Sir Charles when you were talking together?"

"Here, I don't understand," said the Major petulantly. "What could the Rajah's friend have been doing here listening to our talk?"

"Playing the spy, sir, in his master's interest."

"Pooh!" said the Major angrily. "This is no French friend of the Rajah's. He's a Malay. That's a piece of a silk sarong clinging to his waist, with a kris stuck in it."

"Yes, sir," said Archie; "but those are European trousers he's wearing underneath, and—yes!" cried the lad, as he bent nearer and shrinkingly touched the blackened wrist, just as a fresh flight of flame rose from the ruined magazine—"I am certain that's the gold bracelet the Rajah's friend used to wear. It's got a French motto on it, which you could see if you took it to the light. But I know it by the shape, and I thought that it was a silly bit of effeminate foppishness on the part of a man."

"Yes," said Sir Charles; "I remember thinking so too. Why, the scoundrel must have been in the pay of the Rajah, and played the spy here to pretty good purpose. I don't think you need search for the cause of the magazine being exploded."

Further conversation was ended by the report of a musket, which served as the signal for several more, all fired from beyond the parade-ground, and doing no harm, though the whiz and phit of the bullets passed close by, and could be heard striking against the nearest buildings.

"Cover," said the Major sharply. "Never mind the fire now. It will do them as much harm as it does us, for we shall be able to see its glint reflected in their eyes at the edge of the jungle. Quick, every one— cover!"

"Wait a minute, four of you," said the Doctor. "I want my patient carried in."

"Your what!" said the Major fiercely. "The renegade who has dealt us this cowardly blow?"

"I never ask questions about a man's character," said the Doctor gruffly. "If he wants a surgeon's help, that's character enough for me. If I save his life, and you like to prove all this is true, and court-martial him and shoot him afterwards, as a spy, that's not my business, and I shall not interfere.—But look sharp, my lads. These big musket-balls are coming unpleasantly near, and they make very bad wounds. I can't afford to get one in me, for I am afraid you will want your surgeon for some time to come."

It was a horrible task, but the four men who raised the injured man to bear him in could not forbear a chuckle at the Doctor's remark.

But the order to take cover was none too soon, for the musket-bullets were flying faster, fortunately without aim; and as shelter was reached it became evident that the scare caused by the explosion had died out, for by the light of the burning ruins the flash of a spear-head could be seen every now and then at the jungle-edge, and as the enemy once more gathered as if for a rush, their threatening yells grew plain.

"Well, young Maine," said the Major slowly, as he passed his hand over his grizzled moustache just as Archie was going round from post to post, "this seems rather hard for you."

"For me, sir?" said the lad, gazing at his commanding officer wonderingly.

"Yes, because you are such a young fellow. There, go on. Don't let the men waste a cartridge, for they must be made to last until one or the other of our detachments comes in—I hope well supplied, for if they've been using what they have, they will be in just as bad state as we are."

"Oh, they'll be coming in soon, sir," said Archie cheerily.

"I don't know. I hope so, my lad, for everybody's sake; but it's tough work getting through the jungle—and there, look at that! These fellows have plenty of pluck, or they wouldn't expose themselves as they do. I expect to find that we have very little more ball-cartridge. Well, it will be bayonet against spear, and if it were only equal sides I should back our lads. As it is, Maine, we must hope, and pray for our lads to come in with a run. Have you any idea what time it is, my lad?"

"No, sir. But it can't be near morning yet."

"I suppose not. There, let's go and see how the Doctor's getting on with his new patient. You are right, my lad; I am sure now. You young fellows jump at a thing directly. We old fellows want a good deal of thought over anything before we will accept it as a fact."

"Are you looking for anything, sir?" asked Archie, as the Major walked close to the window and stood looking out.

"Yes, my lad; I was looking for morning, and I can't see it yet.—Why, what—" The Major went heavily against the side of the window, as a result of a violent thrust from Archie, who swung out his sword and struck up the shaft of a spear with one cut, sending the spear to stick into the upper framework of the window, his next stroke being delivered with the pommel of his sword crash into the temple of a Malay who had crept up in the darkness and made two thrusts at the gallant old soldier, who said dryly, as one of his men made a thrust with his bayonet and rendered the treacherous enemy hors de combat.

"That was very soldierly and smart, Maine. They're as treacherous as the great striped cats of their jungle. Well, I suppose I ought to thank you for saving my life, but we soldiers don't talk about this sort of thing."



CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

A STRANGE CONFESSION.

The Doctor was busy with his patients in the heat of the day, loosening one poor fellow's bandage, and tightening another that an irritable sufferer had worked loose; while Mrs Smithers was thoroughly proving her ability at using basin and sponge over the brows of some poor, fevered fellow whose pillow-less head rolled slowly from side to side. Archie was taking the mess-room on his way to visit the chamber where Peter Pegg was stationed, and from whose window an occasional shot rang out from time to time, with the result of the gaudily robed Malay in a smart, cavalry-like cap, who had drawn the shot, being seen no more.

"How am I, Mister Archie, sir? Oh, it's rather hot here, sir," said Mrs Smithers; and then, in response to a second: 'Yes, old lady, or, I should say, Madame la Duchesse'—"Now, please, sir, don't you get calling me names too. I don't mind from the Doctor, but it teases when it comes from a young gent like you. No, sir, I ain't cross, only a bit worried by the flies. They are terrible, and it's all due to its being so hot."

"Yes, Mrs Smithers," said Archie meaningly. "It is hot, and no mistake. But how beautiful and tidy you have got everything!"

"Well, it is a bit better, sir. I have been collecting all the mats I could find for the poor boys. Do you hear any news, sir, of reinforcements coming up?"

"Not yet, old lady."

"I do wish they'd come, sir; and oh, Mr Archie, can't I do anything for you?"

"Me? No! I am not wounded."

"No, sir; but, oh dear, what a state you are in! Some clean things would be a blessing to you."

"Oh, wait a bit. One's got something else to think about now. Where's the Doctor?"

"He was here just this minute, sir; and he's sure not to be long, for I never see such a man for watching everybody who's in hospital. There, I thought so! Here he is, with the mess water-can and a clean glass. He might have asked me to fetch some water if he wanted it. But he always will interfere with what's in my department."

"Hullo, Maine, my lad, you here! You are just in time. I've been fetching a can of this clear, sparkling water for my poor fellows. Look sharp, for I can see several eyes looking at it hungrily—I mean thirstily," he added quickly.

He filled the glass after the fashion of Dickens's butler, trying to froth it up with a heading of sparkling beads.

"May I drink this, Doctor?" said Archie.

"Drink it? Of course! You are one of my patients still."

"Thanks. But ladies first.—Here, Mrs Smithers; you look tired and hot. I will have the next glass."

"No, sir, please," said the woman firmly. "You want it worse than I do."

"Don't waste time," said the Doctor sternly. "Drink the water, my lad."

The deliciously cool draught trickled down Archie's throat till the bottom of the glass became top.

"De-licious," he said.

The Doctor took the glass, filled it, emptied it, smacked his lips, and then refilled and handed it to Mrs Smithers.

"Your turn, nurse," he said. "Then take the can and go all round, and finish off by taking a glass up to the Frenchman."

"Ah, I was looking round, sir, for him," said Archie.

"Yes, I am getting too full here, my lad. I have had him carried up to that room where Pegg's on duty."

"Oh, I'm going there, sir, and I shall see him."

"One moment, Duchess; half a glass, please. I feel like a volcanic cinder.—As you say, my lad—de-licious," he continued, as he handed back the glass. "I am proud of that water, and so you ought to be."

"I am, Doctor."

"That's all due to me, sir. When we first came—you know the Major's way—'Nonsense,' he said. 'There will be three hundred idle men here with nothing to do, and they can fetch as much water as we want for the day's supply from the river.' And I said, 'No. In a hot country like this I want my men to have good, pure, sparkling well water, and not to be forced to drink croc and campong drainage soup. I want a thoroughly good well dug by an engineering company.' I got it, too, just when he was red-hot over his idea for a magazine. And now, sir, there's my well, always full of that delicious spring water that will do the men more good than any medicine I can exhibit; and where's his magazine? You tell me that."

"If he were here, Doctor, he'd tell you that he'd rather have the magazine intact than the well."

"Never mind. I've got the water."

"Yes, Doctor. But how's Mrs Morley?"

"Ah, poor dear soul!" replied the Doctor, and his eyes looked moist. "Worked to death, thank goodness!"

"Thank goodness?" said Archie wonderingly.

"Yes, my lad. It keeps her from thinking and fretting about Minnie. I'll tell her you asked after her, my boy. It will please her, for she doesn't know what a reckless young scamp you are, and she always talks of you as if you were her own boy. Going?"

"Yes, Doctor."

"All right and square, my boy? No shot or spear holes in you?"

"No, sir; I'm as sound as sound."

"That's right. If you do get into any trouble, you know where I am; and though I don't want you, you will be welcome to our mess—and a nice mess we are in, eh, Archie?—Come, look sharp, you British soldiers, and clear away all this scum."

"Only too glad, sir," said Archie, and he hurried away to have a few words with the sentry who commanded the landing-place, and who was so intent at the window, watching the edge of the jungle, that he did not hear his visitor till he spoke.

"Got company, Mister Archie, sir? Yes; that French chap. Doctor said if he was not brought up here where he'd be quiet he would go off sudden like. Not very cheerful company, for he's awful bad, and when he does talk it's all in his parly-voo, kesky say, pally wag bang lingo that don't mean nothing as I can make out."

"Ah, poor fellow! I suppose he's very bad."

"Oh, that's right, sir! Poor fellow, and we are all very sorry for him and much obliged because he was kind enough to come and blow all our cartridges to Jericho, or elsewhere, as they say on the soldiers' letters. You stop here a little while, sir, and you will hear him begin to jabber. Talk about that mahout's pa-ta-ta-ma-ta-ja-ja-ja—this chap goes twice as fast."

"Well, Pete, I can't stop talking to you. I only wanted to take you in my round. Are you all right?"

"Right as a trivet, sir; only I am getting awful short of ammunition. I don't want to keep on potting these 'ere fellows, but somehow I took to rifle-shooting. There's some fun in hitting a mark at a distance, and that's the only thing I ever got a kind word for from old Tipsy. He said I could shoot."

"Yes, you are a very good marksman, Pete; and that's why you are stationed here."

"Yes, I suppose so, sir. But 'tain't my fault that I'm a good marksman, as you call it. It come quite easy like. I suppose it's good for us, but it's very bad for these 'ere Malay chaps, and it does make me feel a bit squirmy when one of them gives me a chance, and then it's oracle, phit, and down he goes, and me loading again. I don't want to shoot them. But then if I don't keep on knocking them over they'll knock us over, and I've got such a kind of liking for PP that I'd sooner shoot one of them than that they should shoot me. Still, there is something a bit queer about it."

"You are doing your duty, Pete, fighting for your country."

"I say, sir, that ain't quite right, is it? Seems to me that I'm fighting for these 'ere people's country."

"We needn't go into that, Pete. You are doing your duty—fighting for your comrades in defence of this station and the women and children."

"There he goes again, sir. Just you listen. It makes me wish I could understand what he's saying."

Archie turned sharply, for from the part of the room where the Frenchman was lying upon one of the mats Mrs Smithers had placed for him, with another rolled-up to form his pillow, came the quick, excited utterance of the terribly injured man.