rom them, and
that when rice, or fruit, or poultry was taken, the full market value
was paid in dollars, a strong friendly feeling sprang up mingled with
respect.

The news soon spread, and from that time whenever a trading boat came
down from the upper country, the sight of an English boat was sufficient
to make the Malays lie on their oars or pole, and await the coming of
the English officer to board.

There came quite a calm over the little settlement about this time. The
rajah was not heard of, and information, true or false, was brought in
that the prahus were high up the stream, where they had been rowed
during a flood, and taken up a tributary of the main river, where, on
the cessation of the flood, they remained grounded and out of reach.

The sultan seemed to have forgotten his disappointment about the ladies,
and the soldiers and sailors were enjoying a time of indolent ease,
their greatest excitement being a little drill. Provisions were
plentiful, fruit abundant, with as much native tobacco as the men liked
to buy, at a most moderate price, and in spite of the steamy heat the
people were perfectly happy.

Ali, the young chief, had been again to see Bob Roberts on board; but as
yet the visit had not been returned, the attack upon the residency
having put a stop to all leave for the time being; but as the officers
were getting less strict, the middy was looking forward to the day when
he could go ashore. In the meanwhile he indulged himself with a little
fishing from out the chains.

Doctor Bolter was about the happiest man at the island, for now that he
had got his sanitary matters put right, and his wounded men well, he had
ample time for following his favourite pursuit of natural history.

The sailors were in a high state of delight over what they called the
"Bolter's weakness," and out of gratitude to him for many a little bit
of doctoring, they took him everything they could get hold of that flew,
crept, crawled, ran, or swam, bothering him almost to death. For Jack
could not see the necessity for refraining from presenting the doctor
with a fire-fly, because Tom had taken him a dozen the day before, and
Bill two dozen the day before that.

"Wasn't his flies as good as Bill's, or Tom's? Well, then, mind yer own
business, and let him mind his."

Dick came back from the shore beaming one day, with a large black monkey
under his arm, held by a stout piece of chain, and a dog collar round
its l