poor lads," he groaned, "my poor lads!" And he
wondered whether he could have done anything else to lead them to
victory, instead of this bitter defeat.

It did indeed seem to be all over, for the fresh boats had reached the
steamer, and their men were swarming over the side, when suddenly the
remembrance of his orders flashed across old Dick's clouded brain,
bringing with it renewed strength, for the faintness seemed to be driven
away.

Abdullah, or rather Rajah Gantang, saw the fresh forces arriving, and he
shouted to them to come on, stepping back half-a-dozen yards, and then
leaping on to one of the wired skylights, kris in hand.

Close beside him he saw a rough old wounded sailor screwing on something
bright that looked like a copper pipe, and then seize hold of an iron
spanner; and out of sheer thirst for blood the rajah, after waving to
the new comers to come on, made a leap down at the old sailor, who faced
him with what seemed to the rajah like a copper gun, presented, and
fired--

No, that's wrong, he watered; for Bob Roberts' commands were at last
executed, and a shower of scalding water from the boilers was sent by
means of the hose and branch full in the rajah's face, driving him away
yelling with agony, as Dick made a dash along the deck, the hose
trailing after him, took the Malays in flank just as they were making
their final dash at the hemmed-in defenders of the vessel, and the
fortunes of the day were changed.

_Whizz, squish_, out flew the steaming water in a scalding shower, and
in an instant the fierce crowd of Malays were turned into a set of
agonised, dancing, maniacs, a dozen of them turning furiously on Dick,
and rushing at him, kris and spear in hand; but with a grim smile on his
rough visage, old Dick gave the copper branch a waving motion, and the
scalding shower stopped the fiercest of them, drove them back, and as
they fled the fresh party summoned by the rajah came running along the
deck.

Dick did not flinch, but mentally praying that the supply might hold
out, delivered the stream full in their faces as they came yelling up,
and after a brave effort to withstand it for a few moments, sending them
back, crushed and beaten, stamping, shrieking, leaping overboard, making
frantic efforts to escape the pain, while Dick steadily followed them
up, playing the boiling water amongst them, and literally cleaning the
decks, amidst the cheering of the men.

"Quick there," cried Lieutenan