n held it aloft toward Henderson.

"Um! a letter," muttered the doctor; "possibly from Gaunt. Have you any
string, either of you?" turning to his companions.

Nicholls happened to have a small ball of spun-yarn in his pocket, and
this being produced, was unwound and the end lowered down to the letter-
bearer, who gravely attached the letter, or whatever it was, to it, made
an oriental obeisance, and promptly retired, followed by his companion.

"Now, Nicholls," said Henderson, as he hauled up and secured the
document, "you mount guard here, keep a sharp look-out, and give the
alarm the moment you note anything suspicious. Mr Manners and I are
going below to see what news this letter contains."

That the letter was not from Gaunt was evident the moment it was opened,
for it consisted of nothing more than a series of roughly but vigorously
executed drawings.

The first sketch, or that which occupied the top of the sheet, consisted
of a straight horizontal stroke with markings underneath it, which were
evidently intended to represent waves; and on the centre of the
horizontal line stood a semicircle with straight lines radiating from
it, with a bold single upright stroke to the left of it. Though roughly
executed, there was no doubt this was intended to represent either the
rising or the setting sun, probably the former, the upright stroke being
perhaps intended to indicate the first sunrise, or that of the next
morning; at all events, so Henderson interpreted it.

The second sketch rudely but unmistakably represented the fort, with the
exception that, in order to make his meaning perfectly clear, the artist
had been obliged to add a door. Out of this door several white men were
walking, with guns in their hands, which the leading figures were either
delivering up, or had already delivered up, to a body of Malays. A
second group of whites and Malays were shown to the right of the sketch,
the Malays being represented as handing over to the unarmed whites two
prisoners with ropes round their necks and their hands tied behind them.
One of the prisoners was an adult, whilst the other was much smaller;
and there could be no doubt whatever that they were intended to indicate
Gaunt and Percy.

The, third and last sketch was also a representation of the fort, but in
this case it was drawn without a door. Looking over the parapet were a
number of white men with guns in their hands, which they were pointing
at a party o