d in that darkness Gray felt that
he really could not be sure about it. After all, the figure might be
lying where it had first lain. It was impossible to say.

His doubts were dispelled the next moment, for the figure was once more
in motion, and stopped short as the lock of the sentry's rifle clicked.

"Don't shoot!" said a voice in English; "I am a friend."

"If you move again, I fire!" said Gray in a low, stern voice. "Who are
you?"

"Is that Private Gray?" said the voice.

"Mr Ali, is that you?" cried Gray, leaning towards him.

"Yes, it is I," said the figure, crawling rapidly towards him.

"What are you doing with the enemy?"

"Trying to make my way to you. They will not see now. Give me your
hand, and I will climb up."

Gray leaned out over the breast-work, gave his hand to the young man,
and, with a little exercise of his muscular strength, half-drew,
half-aided him to climb into the stronghold--just as Captain Smithers
and Tom Long leaped upon them, seizing each his man, and holding his
sword to his throat.

"You doubly-dyed scoundrel!" cried Captain Smithers. "Caught him in the
act! Call the guard there!"

"Don't you know me, Long?" said a voice that made Tom lower his sword
point.

"Ali!" cried Captain Smithers; "you here?"

"Yes, I am back," said the young man sadly.

"Gray, my good fellow," cried Captain Smithers, "fate seems to have
ordained that I should doubt you."

"Fate is sometimes very cruel to us all, sir," said Gray, coldly, as the
captain set him free, and turned to Ali.

"You found them, then?"

"No," said Ali, sadly.

"But the stockade?"

"What stockade?"

"Where you found them. The steamer went off early in the night."

"The steamer went off? Where?"

"Don't waste time, man, in puzzles," cried the captain, excitedly, as he
felt that something was wrong. "You sent a messenger?"

"I sent no messenger," said Ali, excitedly.

"Yes, yes; the man with the writing in a bamboo?"

"I sent no man," said Ali, sadly. "You have been cheated--over-reached
by your enemies."

"But did you not find them?"

"No, I was hemmed-in at every turn; and at last, in despair I have
crawled back here, hardly saving my life, your sentries are so keen."

"This is dreadful," said Captain Smithers. "How we have been deluded!"

He took a few steps to and fro, and then paused before Ali, gazing at
him searchingly.

"Sir," he said, "we are each of different nations, and your p