oys' tricks. What do
you say; shall we go?"

"I should enjoy it immensely," said the major. "I long for a shot at a
tiger."

"Wait a little, gentlemen," said the resident, smiling; "the interview
is not at an end. What shall I reply about the hunting-party?"

"Oh, we shall be delighted to go. You'll go too?" said Captain Horton,
answering for both.

"If matters are pleasantly settled," said Mr Linton. Then turning to
the two Malay officers, whose dark restless eyes had been scanning the
faces in turn, he said that they would be most happy to accept the
sultan's invitation.

The officers were delighted, and declared that the sultan's joy would
know no bounds.

They had previously declined all refreshments, but now that their
business was at an end they accepted cigars, and laughed and chatted,
evidently enjoying the visit immensely, and accepting a proposal to walk
round the grounds, with alacrity.

As they went into the verandah, the resident found a couple of the
sultan's men waiting, with a present of the choicest fruit the country
produced; huge durians, and fine mangosteens, with the most select kinds
of plantain, known for the delicacy of their flavour.

The visitors took an almost childish delight in the fish in the two
fonts, and smiled with pleasure at the sight of the large selection of
flowers; but a keen observer would have noticed that as they walked
round the fort and earth-works, the muntri eagerly scanned every
preparation for defence, though apparently more attracted by the
uniforms of the sentries than anything else.

As they were crossing the little parade ground, with its well-trampled
soil, on their way back to their boat, Tom Long was encountered, on his
way to the mess-room.

He started, on coming upon the little party so suddenly, but saluted and
went on.

Oddly enough that brought to the muntri's memory a little affair that
had happened on the previous day. Two young officers of the ship had
been ashore shooting birds, and they found a party of the country people
behaving rather ill to a couple of slave girls, and naturally enough,
like all young men would, they took the girls under their protection,
and brought them to the residency. Was it not so?

"Yes," the resident replied; "and they are now with the ladies."

That was so good and kind, and so like the English, who were a great and
generous nation. The sultan had been terribly annoyed at his people
behaving so ill t