s darling child, thus placing
himself between her and her pursuer, whilst he raised his rifle to his
shoulder, was an act of such lightning-like rapidity with Henderson that
he and his foe were almost within striking distance before either could
check his career. The next instant the crack of his rifle rang out
sharp and clear, and the Malay, with a convulsive bound, crashed face
downward at his feet dead, with the bullet through his brain.

Breathless with excitement and the exertion of his short run, his teeth
clenched, and the fierce eagerness for battle suddenly awakened to full
activity within him, the doctor stood waiting impatiently for the next
foe to present himself. But none came; only Manners and Nicholls now
appeared upon the scene with their rifles in their hands, and eager
questions in their eyes and on their lips for an explanation of the
sudden and tragic turn of affairs. To them in a few terse words
Henderson stated what had already taken place, adding an expression of
his apprehension that Gaunt and little Percy had fallen into the hands
of the enemy, and finally directing the two men to advance with caution
as far as possible with the view of ascertaining the whereabouts of the
missing ones, and of affording them help if help were indeed still
possible, and, when they had done all that they could, to the best of
their judgment, to return to the fort with intelligence. Having thus
dismissed his companions, the doctor tenderly raised the now insensible
Lucille in his arms, and, pressing her to his breast with a sob of
inarticulate gratitude to God for her preservation, he wended his way
back to the fort with a heavy, grief-stricken heart, wondering meanwhile
how he could best meet the anxious inquiries which he knew would be made
by poor Mrs Gaunt.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

AN ANXIOUS NIGHT AT THE FORT.

As Henderson approached the fort he saw the two ladies watching for him;
and anxious not to unduly alarm them, he cried out--referring to
Lucille--as soon as he had approached within shouting distance:

"It is all right; she is not hurt, only frightened a little. Get her
bed ready."

Upon hearing this, Mrs Gaunt, taking the notion into her head that her
husband and Percy were following at their leisure, hurried away to
prepare Lucille's bed for her, leaving Mrs Henderson to receive her
child. This afforded the doctor an opportunity which, to speak the
truth, was most welcome to him. He knew