oned themselves in positions which gave them a view of the spot
indicated; and, looking intently, they presently detected in the deepest
shadow of the bush two or three other shadows, which they speedily
identified as human figures, the more readily from the fact that a stray
moonbeam occasionally fell upon and glinted from their naked weapons.
The two or three were quickly joined by others, who emerged silently
from the pathway through the bush until the watchers were able to count
a dozen in all.

"Now, sir, what do you say? Shall we open fire upon them, you and I,
with Mr Gaunt's repeaters, and Nicholls with his rifle? We could bowl
over at least half of them before they could get away," eagerly
whispered Manners in Henderson's ear.

"No, no; not for the world," was the answer. "Let us watch them and see
if we can get an inkling of what their intentions may be. They at least
cannot get at _us_ here; and any precipitate action on our part may only
make matters worse for poor Gaunt. Our policy is to keep them in the
dark as long as possible as to the number of their opponents."

The Malays having gained--unperceived, they doubtless hoped--the cover
afforded by the deep shadow of a dense clump of bush, some two hundred
yards distant from the fort, were now clustered closely together
therein, apparently engaged upon a careful inspection of the curious
building before them, and probably comparing notes thereon. They
evidently seemed quite unable to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion
with respect to it; and the fact that everything was perfectly dark,
silent, and motionless about the fort--all the shutters in the exterior
walls having been carefully closed--seemed to excite misgiving rather
than confidence in their breasts, for a figure would now and then detach
itself from the rest and, on hands and knees, advance cautiously a
little way through the long grass into the open, as though to gain a
nearer view of the building, and then somewhat precipitately retire
again, as though the courage of the adventurer were not equal to the
task which he had undertaken. At length these tactics ceased, and the
party, seeming to have finally made up their minds to be at least doing
something, began, still clinging tenaciously to the deepest shadow, to
move quietly along in a direction which would eventually lead to their
discovery of the ship-yard.

"That will not do," whispered Henderson to his companions as soon as he
o