agerly grasped. "But no larks, you know."

"Larks! what is larks?" said Ali, eagerly.

"I mean, no sticking that kris of yours into a fellow on the sly."

"Nonsense! What bosh!" cried the young Malay.

"Bosh, eh?" said Bob, laughing. "I say, Master Ali, you are civilised,
and no mistake. It is only our very educated people who say _Bosh_!"

"You took the word from us," said the young Malay. "Bosh is good
eastern language, and means _nothing_."

"I've heard it was Turkish," said Bob, drily.

"Well, Turkish; the language of Roum. We look upon the Sultan of Roum
and Stamboul as our greatest chief."

"Oh, I say," cried Bob; "I can't stand this, you know. I thought you
were a young Malay chief, and you are talking like a professor. Look
here, Ali, is there any good fishing here?"

"Yes, oh yes. I'll take you in my boat, and my men shall catch plenty."

"No, no," said Bob. "You take me in the boat, and I'll catch the fish.
But is there any shooting?"

"Shooting!" said the young Malay, laughing; "everything; bird that
flies, bird that swims, tigers, buffalo, deer."

"Where?" cried Bob, excitedly.

"In the great forest--the jungle. Will you come?"

"Will I come?" cried Bob. "Won't I! I say," he went on, excitedly,
"you can't shoot, can you?"

"I practise sometimes," said the young Malay, quietly.

"What with? A blow-pipe?"

"Yes, I can use the sumpitan," said the young Malay, nodding; "but I use
a revolver or a rifle."

"I believe I'm half asleep," muttered Bob. "Haven't got a gun, have
you?"

"Yes; an English gentleman changed with me. I gave him ivory and gold,
and he gave me his double gun."

"Not a breechloader?" said Bob.

"Yes, a breechloader--a Purdey he called it, and a bag of cartridges."

"Oh, I say," cried Bob; "this is rich, you know. I am sorry I was such
an idiot with you at first. But do you mean it? If I get a day ashore,
will you take me where there's some good shooting?"

"Oh, yes, plenty;" was the reply.

Bob Roberts was thoughtful for a few moments.

"I say," he said at last, "I wish Tom Long were here."

"En-sign Long?" said Ali.

"Yes. He's a very cocky fellow, you know; but he's a good one at
bottom."

"Should I like him?"

"Yes, when you got to know him; but he only shows some fellows his
clothes."

"I don't want to see his clothes," said Ali, smiling.

"I mean, some people never get to know what's inside him," said Bob.

"What is `inside him'