gurgle of the river, and the mournful sighing of the night breeze
through the foliage; but the whereabouts of the Malay camp was faintly
indicated by an occasional gleam of ruddy light flashing upon the
branches and leaves of a lofty tree in the direction of the creek; and,
most gratifying sight of all, away to the eastward the sky was
brightening into silvery radiance, showing that the full moon would
shortly shed her friendly light upon the scene.

The two men soon returned from below in the performance of their several
tasks, Manners having had the forethought to load the firearms by the
light of a lantern whilst still in the armoury.

A few minutes later the moon rolled slowly into view from above the low-
lying land beyond the Malay encampment, flooding the whole scene with
her soft subdued light; and Manners then cautiously went from loophole
to loophole looking for signs of the enemy, but without detecting any
indication of their presence. Though neither of them had the slightest
appetite for food, the three men now proceeded to force a little
refreshment down their throats, knowing full well that ere long they
would have need of all their strength; and, whilst they ate, the
conversation naturally turned upon the two hapless prisoners, and the
best means for effecting their rescue. Henderson, indeed, had been able
to think of little, else since the moment when his child had recovered
sufficiently to relate her terrible experience; and whilst turning the
matter over in his mind a hopeful thought had suggested itself. What,
he asked himself, could have been the motive of the Malays in making
prisoners of those two? Was it not likely that their object was
plunder, and the extortion of a ransom? And, if so, he was resolved
that _anything_ in reason which might be demanded--anything, in short,
which should leave the party with the means of defending themselves and
providing for their ultimate safety--should be granted. Let the
wretches but be persuaded to give up their prisoners unharmed, and to
leave the island, and he would not haggle about the price to be paid.

The trio were anxiously discussing together this hopeful view of the
matter when the watchful Manners, who had stationed himself at a
loophole for the purpose of maintaining a ceaseless look-out, suddenly
raised his hand warningly, and then pointed in the direction of the
pathway to the creek. Springing to their feet, his companions at once
stati