ound that the ladies were there,
in company with the major's wife, talking to a couple of Malays in a
sampan laden with fruit and flowers.

The ladies were making liberal purchases of the delicious fruit and
sweet-scented flowers, when, to the astonishment of Bob Roberts, he saw
that one of the Malays, was the man who had made so fierce an attack
upon Tom Long over the durian affair.

Seeing this they both stepped forward, when the Malay recognised him,
said a few hasty words to his companion, and they both leaped ashore,
the man of the kris salaaming profoundly, and remaining half prostrate
before the young ensign.

"Dullah asks pardon of his excellency," said the other man in good
English. "He thought him an enemy who had insulted him, and he drew his
kris. He asks now that his excellency will forgive him."

"Yes, yes," said the offending Malay, without raising his head or his
pleading hands; and then he repeated what seemed to be the whole of his
stock of English, "Yes, yes."

"Dullah asks your excellencies to forgive him, and to let him bring
fruit and flowers, and to make offerings to the English princes he has
offended."

"Oh, I say, Tom Long," said Bob; "that's a little too strong, isn't it?
English princes!"

"What are we to do about the fellow?" said Tom Long; "tell the sentry to
turn him off?"

"No; what's the good?" said Bob. "Here, leave it to me. I'll settle
him."

He glanced merrily at Rachel Linton as he spoke, seeming quite at ease
in her society now; while Tom Long appeared to be buttoned up in his
stiffest uniform, though he was in undress white.

"Go on, then," said Tom Long in a whisper, "but don't say anything
stupid; the ladies can hear every word."

"All right," said Bob. "Look here, old cockolorum," he continued to the
Malay who interpreted, "what has become of that Kling who was here
before?"

"Gone Mirzapore, most excellent prince," said the man.

"Come, that'll do," said Bob impatiently; "drop all that eastern sugar
wordings, my fine fellow, and look here!"

The Malay salaamed again.

"My friend here isn't an English prince. We are English officers. And
my friend here says you may tell Mr Abdullah there that he does not
bear any malice against him for the attack. If he asks pardon, that is
enough."

This being interpreted to Abdullah, who remained humbly bent, he started
up, and catching Tom Long's hands, kissed them both, and afterwards
Bob's, very much to that