with
his glass his countenance changed a little, for grave as had been their
position before, he felt now that unless help quickly came it was
absolutely hopeless.

CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE.

HOW THE HUNTING-PARTY FARED.

There was a thick mist hanging over the forest when the bugle rang out
the _reveille_, and, some eagerly, some thinking rest the better thing,
all the hunting-party began to gather outside their tents, where the
best apologies for tubs and baths were provided for the officers.

No sooner, however, did the Malays see this than they laughingly led the
way to a little river, evidently a tributary of the Parang, and setting
the example plunged into its deep, clear, cool waters, showing
themselves to be adepts at swimming, and laughing to scorn, the idea of
there being any crocodiles there.

The water was deliciously cool, and one and all the officers gladly
availed themselves of the jungle bath, emerging fresh, and their nerves
toned up ready for any work that was to fall to their lot that day.

By the time they returned to the camp an _al fresco_ breakfast was
ready, half English, half Malay. There were tea and coffee, potted
meats and sardines, and side by side with them, delicious Malay curries,
made with fresh cocoa-nut, sambals of the most piquant nature, and fresh
fish and blachang--that favourite preparation of putrid shrimps. Fruits
were in abundance--plantains of various kinds, mangosteens, lychees, and
durians smelling strong enough to drive away a dozen Tom Longs, had they
been there. In short, the sultan had given orders that his cooks should
do their best; similar instructions had been given by Captain Horton and
Major Sandars; and the result was a breakfast fit for a prince--who
could put up with a picnic and a camp-stool, beneath an umbrageous tree.

"Whatever you gentlemen do," said Doctor Bolter, "pray restrain your
appetites. You see," he said, taking his seat cross-legged, like the
Malays, in front of a dish of blachang, and its neighbour a delicious
chicken curry, "you will to-day be exposed a good deal to the heat of
the sun; you will exert yourselves, no doubt; and therefore it is
advisable that you should be very moderate in what you eat and drink.
Thanks, yes, major, I will take a glass of claret before my coffee.
What a thing it is that we can get no milk."

So saying, the doctor set to work, "feeding ferociously," so Captain
Horton said, with a laugh, and partaking of