quietly.

They all sat down together under the shade of the great tree where they
were, and the matter was talked over, it being decided that from time to
time Ali was to send messengers with news of his progress, if he could
find any trustworthy enough; and all being arranged, he left them, to
make preparations for his departure, shaking hands warmly with all, and
then going towards the barracks, but only to return directly.

"As you may suppose," he said, "my success depends upon my not being
apparently known to you; so if a strange Malay is seen leaving your
lines, don't let him be fired at."

"Of course not: I see," exclaimed Captain Smithers. "But shall we see
you again?"

"Not to speak to," replied Ali, smiling; and as soon as he had gone,
Captain Smithers walked across the ground to give orders about a strange
Malay being allowed to leave.

Lieutenant Johnson returned on board the steamer with Bob Roberts; and
Tom Long, after seating himself comfortably in one chair with his legs
in another, went off fast asleep.

Half an hour after, when all was very still in the burning heat of the
sun, when not a breath of air rippled the river or rustled through the
trees; when Englishman and Malay were resting, and the very sentries had
hard work to keep from going to sleep at their posts, there was a soft
rustling noise in the tree beneath which Tom Long was sleeping; and
after this had been repeated several times a lithe Malay softly
descended till he was within six or eight feet of the ground, when he
slipped and fell, but regained his feet instantly, as Tom Long started
into wakefulness and clapped his hand to his sword, upon seeing the
strange Malay just before him.

The Malay, however, raised one hand deprecatingly, and smiled a very
significant smile as he turned to go.

"Here, stop! surrender! Why--Oh! I say, Ali; that's capital," he said,
as the Malay still smiled at him. "You quite took me in."

The Malay smiled and nodded, and walked straight off to where a sentry
was watching them both; and the man, seeing the Malay come straight from
his officer, made way, saluted, and the dark figure passed from the
fortified lines and walked away towards where the enemy lay amongst the
trees.

"That's a brave thing to do," muttered Tom Long, and resuming his seat
he took another sleep, and was awakened the next time by Captain
Smithers laying his hand upon his shoulder.

"Ali has gone," he said.

"Yes, I kn