at is, sir?" replied Gray.

"Yes, that you are not a sailor; that is all," said the lieutenant,
smiling. "I shall not forget this affair. I believe you twice over
saved my life."

"And you, too, friend Ali," continued the lieutenant, laying his hand
upon the young chief's shoulder. "I have often called the Malays a set
of treacherous wretches, but I find that there are Malays and Malays.
Sir, I hope some day that you may rise to power, as in you England will
always have a trusty ally."

Ali bowed gravely, and his eyes betokened the pleasure he felt as he
thought of the possibility of his raising the people of this land to
something better than the slothful, betel-chewing, piratical race they
were.

The steamer was now rapidly making her way back, the men furling the
sails, and the screw as it revolved sending a wave washing in amidst the
roots of the trees on either side of the river; while, now that the
present danger was over, the lieutenant went round to visit his
patients, leaving Bob Roberts in command, and a man with the lead in the
chains.

"I think the central channel is safe enough, Roberts," said the
lieutenant; "but keep him heaving the lead."

"Trust me, sir," said Bob rather importantly.

"Yes, I'll trust you, Roberts," said the lieutenant. "I'll be frank
with you, my lad, and tell you something that will please you, I know."

"What is it, sir?" said Bob eagerly.

"I don't think I shall ever look upon you again as a boy?"

Bob coloured with pleasure as soon as he was left alone; but his common
sense prevailed the next moment.

"That's very kind of him," he thought, "but it's all gammon; I am only a
boy yet. And there--hang it all! since Miss Linton spoke to me as she
did, hang me if I care if I am!"

Fortunately for the party on board the steamer, the Malays had carried
off their wounded as they fell, so that there was no trouble with either
them or prisoners, who would have been highly inconvenient at such a
time, especially as there was no knowing how soon there might be another
attack. For though beaten as to their prahus, the Malays almost to a
man succeeded in reaching the shore, to join those besieging the fort,
and at any time a new attack might be made.

As they came abreast of the prahu that was run ashore and forsaken,
Lieutenant Johnson determined to run no risk of its being floated once
more, and used, after patching, to annoy; for giving the order to
reverse the engine, t