rst where the Malays
were thickest, sending them scurrying like wild rabbits to the nearest
cover, while the steamer now glided slowly down, closer and closer in
shore, till at last she covered the river-face of the fort like an
outwork, and a cheer rose from the little garrison, and was answered
from the "Startler" as the forces, so to speak, combined, ready to act
together for their mutual defence.

As the steamer was rapidly moored in her new position, men being sent
ashore with cables from head and stern to make fast to the great trees a
few yards from the bank, a rush at them was made by the Malays, but a
few well-directed shots from the marines' rifles were sufficient to keep
them at bay till the task was done; and the little garrison now joined
hands with the steamer's crew in clearing the space between them.

The first step taken by Captain Smithers was to regain possession of the
outworks--the portion he had given up from being so short of defenders.

This was accomplished without bloodshed; for upon the Malays gathering
in force to withstand his efforts, they were scattered by a shell from
the steamer, which cleared the way at once. This being done, and a
meeting effected full of hearty congratulations, both soldiers and
sailors set to work, armed with spades, to throw up a trench from the
outworks of the fort to the river, the ditch being so arranged that it
took in for safety the trees to which the steamer was moored, and this
latter now became as it were the river-face of the fort.

Night had fallen long before the work was left, and this rendered it
necessary for a retreat to fort and steamer, for the hours intervening
till daybreak, when, no interruption having occurred, the digging was
resumed, every man toiling with his rifle at his side till the task was
done.

The next question was whether it would not be safer for all to take
possession of the steamer, even though the extra defences had been made.

Lieutenant Johnson argued that this would be the better plan, as then
they could at any time effect a retreat down the river, and make for
Singapore or Penang.

But Captain Smithers refused to listen to this proposal.

"No," he said, "it was quite open to the ladies to take up their abode
on board, and probably they would be more secure there than on shore;
but so far," he said, "all was surmise about the expeditionary party.
For all they knew, Captain Horton, Major Sandars, and their men, might