, and a deep gloom sank upon all within the fort.

There was not a man present who would not willingly have gone to the
help of those on board the steamer; but not only were they hemmed-in,
but had they made a successful sally they had no means of reaching her.

Nothing could be done, then, but wait, in the hope that some on board
would escape and join them; and to this end a constant watch for
fugitives was kept up, a dozen men standing ready at the gate to rush
out and bring any stragglers in.

Just when they had descended to the greatest depths of misery, and Tom
Long was debating with himself as to whether he ought not to go to Miss
Linton and try to comfort her, telling her that so long as his arm could
wield a sword she might reckon herself to be perfectly safe, there was a
peculiar crashing sound, with a fresh burst of yells and cries.

The ladies shuddered, and longed to go in and be alone, but their
excitement was such that they felt obliged to stay out there in the
opening, risking many bullets, so as to be face to face with the worst.

Something terrible had happened they all knew, and at last the suspense
was so great that in the presence of the ladies Captain Smithers
exclaimed,--"Long, you will have to take a dozen men and learn the
worst!"

Tom Long glanced at Miss Linton, and for answer tightened his sword
belt, and then examined the chambers of his revolver.

"I'm ready, sir," he said, and he set his teeth, for he felt that he
should not come back alive. Still he was a soldier, and he accepted his
duty without flinching, though it did need an effort to be calm.

Just then, as he was about to ask what men he should choose, all ears
being attentive to catch the faintest sound from beyond the
trees--_Boom--crash_! went a big gun report and the blow it struck,
coming almost simultaneously; and as in his excitement Tom Long sent his
cap high in air, there was another echoing report, with a familiar
beating and panting sound.

"The steamer's off!" Tom Long cried. "Hurrah!"

Discipline was forgotten for the moment, and every man shouted with
delight, his cheery "Hurrah!" the cheers being renewed directly after by
the following reports of the steamer's guns; and they knew by the beat
of the engines that she was going up stream, firing as she went,
evidently in pursuit of a prahu.

They had plenty of evidence directly after that the Malays had been
beaten, for hurrying parties kept coming from the