eople are
at war with mine. Why should I trust you? why should I believe in your
words? How do I know that I am not talking to one who believes it to be
a virtue to slay people of my creed?"

Ali looked at him wonderingly for a few moments before he spoke,
slowly,--

"Because you know that I am honest," he said; "and if I am not, you have
your resource there. Kill me."

Captain Smithers resumed his agitated walk to and fro.

"This is dreadful!" he said, excitedly. "Those poor fellows have been
inveigled away like the hunting-party, and perhaps by this time there is
a second massacre."

"I think you exaggerate," said Ali, quietly. "The hunting-party have
been led away by a ruse, and the steamer sent upon an errand by a clever
trick. But Captain Horton and Major Sandars are not men to give up the
lives of their following without a bitter struggle. And as for
Lieutenant Johnson--"

"And Mr Roberts," interposed Tom Long.

"Yes, with Mr Roberts," said Ali, "he is too strong in guns and men to
be easily overcome, unless by--"

"Treachery? Yes," said the captain. "And that is what I dread."

"To such an extent," said Ali, with a quiet smile, "that you doubt your
friends."

"For the moment only," said Captain Smithers, holding out his hand,
which the other frankly grasped. "You must remember--my position, sir."

"I do," said Ali. "Now give me a rifle and revolver; we may be attacked
at any moment."

"We?" said Tom Long holding out his hand.

"Yes," said Ali, smiling; "and if we get safely through this trouble you
will have to try and make me more of an Englishman than I am."

Even while he was speaking the Malays renewed their attack with the
greatest pertinacity, it being evident that their object was to capture
the fort before the steamer could render help. They seemed to be roused
to a pitch of mad fury by the resistance they encountered and their
losses, attacking with such determination that it needed no words on
Captain Smithers' part to warn his little garrison that they must fight
to the death.

With a civilised enemy it would have been quite reasonable to have
surrendered long ago, but with such a foe as Rajah Gantang, a pirate of
the worst Malay type, such an act as surrender would have meant giving
all up to a horrible death.

Never was daylight more welcome than when it appeared to the defenders
of that little stronghold, who, gaunt, haggard, and faint with exertion,
saw the sky sud