e two prahus went away from the island after
the attacking party had scrambled in, was sufficient to show those on
board the "Startler" how impossible it would be to overtake them by
means of boats. The only way would be to surprise their crews, or to
sink them with the guns of the steamer next time they tried to pass down
the river.

Congratulations in plenty were exchanged as soon as the communications
were effected, though a good deal of annoyance was felt at being again
out-manoeuvred by the Malay cunning.

One thing was very evident, and that was that there would be no safety
for the residency while so daring a chieftain as Rajah Gantang was at
liberty, with his two cleverly managed prahus.

No further alarms took place during the night, and in the morning the
amount of damage done was found to be nothing more than a little
carpentering and painting would restore. The real damage done was to
the British prestige, which, in spite of the brave defence, had received
a blow in the eyes of the Malays.

Judging the matter fairly next morning, Mr Linton and the officers came
to the conclusion, after a careful inspection, that though it would have
been necessary for the occupants of the residency to have fled to the
little fort, half-a-dozen such desultory attacks would have done the
latter no real harm.

"No," said Major Sandars, aloud; "for my part, if provisioned, I should
see no difficulty in holding our place against half-a-dozen rajahs.
There is only one way in which we could be hit."

"And that is?" said Captain Horton.

"By a surprise such as they treated us to last night. There is no other
way in which they could harm us."

Adam Gray heard his words, and in silence made an addition to them.

"They could harm us by treachery, or by the neglect of our sentries."

The dark scene of the previous night flashed across his mind as he
thought this, and he recalled Private Sim's recumbent form amidst the
grass, wondering the while whether he ought not to relate what had taken
place, and so obtain for the fellow the punishment he deserved.

Finally, he made up his mind to let matters take their course, after
giving Sim to understand that he should report him if such a thing came
under his notice again.

The sultan sent word that he was most grieved to hear of this new
attack, and begged the resident to spare no pains to root the rajah and
his followers off the face of the earth. He assured Mr Linton, by hi