"Yes, sir," said Bob, smiling at Ali, "there was a good deal of
spear-throwing towards the last, and we had to dodge them."

"The enemy is not easily frightened," said the lieutenant, as the
propeller once more rapidly revolved; "but we must get back, for I fancy
I can hear firing below, and I am afraid they are attacking the fort now
for a change."

"What shall you do, sir?" said Bob eagerly.

"It is not the custom, Mr Roberts, for the officer in command to
explain his plans to his subordinates; but if you must know, I shall run
the steamer as close up to the fort as I can, and there keep her, if the
Malays do not prove too strong for us."

Then walking to and fro for a few minutes, he ended by going up to where
old Dick, with a bandage round his head, was calmly masticating a lump
of tobacco.

"I have never thanked you for your capital idea," said the lieutenant.
"That hot water saved us in a terrible pinch."

"Yes, sir," said Dick, grinning, "it saved us; but it warn't my idee at
all. `There's lots of boiling water, Dick,' says Mr Roberts, yonder;
`screw on the hose, and tell the engineer what you want. Then when
all's ready, and it seems a good time, lay hold of the branch, and play
up among the niggers,' sir; and I did as soon as I could, but my head
were in that muzzy state that--"

"There is firing going on," said the lieutenant. "Mr Roberts, clear
again for action."

"Action, eh?" said old Dick. "Then I can't do better than say another
word to the engineer, for of all the ways to clear the decks this hot
water system's about the best." So saying, Dick went to screw the hose
on the valve once more, muttering and talking to himself the while, and
ever and again slapping one of his legs and bursting into a series of
chuckles.

"Lor' a mussy me," he said; "and how I argyed with Mr Roberts there
about the niggers not being clean. Why that's what put it into his
precious head. I wonder what they looks like to-day, after their
washing."

"Took the skin off, I should say, Dick," said Bob Roberts, who had heard
the old man's words.

"And sarve 'em right, sir," said the old sailor. "What did they mean to
do to us but take us right out of our skins, and end us right off at
once? And them as plays at bowls must expect rubbers."

So saying, Dick, who had finished his speech without an audience, seemed
quite forgetful of his wound, and went down to the engine-room, where
the engineer and firemen sa