he rifle he still carried, and stood there, proud and
defiant, like a bronze statue, he was so motionless and calm.

"I didn't mean to offend you, Ali, old fellow," cried Bob. And as the
young Malay saw the open, frank, laughing face before him, and the
extended hand, he seized it in his.

"I am not offended," said Ali, "but I'm afraid for you and your men."

"What of?" said Bob.

"That!" said Ali, as a spear whizzed through the reeds and stuck in the
bamboo deck.

"Yes, it was close," said Bob coolly. "Who has the matches?"

"Here you are, sir," said one of the men.

"All right," said Bob, taking the box. "Down into the boat, all of you.
Go on too, Ali."

"No, I stay with you," said the young chief, just as another spear stuck
quivering in the deck.

"Ah! I left it a bit too long," said Bob, striking a match as he dived
into the cabin, and the next moment a volume of smoke rolled up.

He then lit another match, and held it to the soaked oakum on the deck,
spear after spear being thrown, several of which he escaped as by a
miracle. Another moment or two, and the thick smoke formed a veil
between the two young men and their enemies, who threw spear after
spear, but without effect.

"Won't they be fine and mad?" cried Bob. "Here, give me your rifle,
Ali, old fellow, and I'll have a couple of shots at them. No, I won't,"
he said, handing the rifle back; "I can't shoot in cold blood. Come
along, or we shall be roasted ready for our friends there, if they are
disposed to be cannibals. My word, how she burns!"

His last words were not uncalled for, as the light wood of which the
Malay vessel was composed began to blaze furiously; so fast indeed, that
the middy and his friend were driven into making rather an undignified
retreat before the great leaping tongues of flame and the rolling
volumes of smoke that in a few minutes ran from end to end of the
vessel.

"Push off, my lads," cried Bob, as he took his place in the
stern-sheets, coughing and sneezing from the effects of the pungent
smoke. "Give way!" he cried; "there's a signal flying for our return."

Just then a shot came from the steamer as well, and with the Malays
beginning to fire at them from among the reeds, the cutter was rowed
rapidly back to the steamer's side, the prahu meanwhile blazing
furiously, and promising soon to burn down to the water's edge.

"Come, Mr Roberts," cried the lieutenant impatiently; "you have been a
long time."