ped and laid his hand upon the other's arm.

"Listen!" he said; and as he spoke there was the distant sound of a
shot, then another, and other.

"Thank heaven!" cried the doctor, "they are making a fight for it. Get
on quickly."

They went on along an old overgrown track, with the sound of the firing
growing each minute nearer; and the doctor's heart beat joyfully as he
made out that a pretty brisk engagement was going on.

Soon, however, the firing began to drop off, to be renewed from time to
time in a straggling manner; and to his great joy the doctor found that
those who fired were coming along the track he was upon.

"Yes," said the Malay, who seemed to read his countenance; "but they may
be enemies."

Yielding to the latter's solicitations, they hid themselves amidst the
dense undergrowth a few yards from the track, and waited patiently.

It was not for long. Soon after they had taken their stand they could
hear voices; and directly after, the doctor hurried out as he saw an
advance guard of the men of his regiment under a lieutenant.

The men gave a hearty _Hurrah_! as they saw him, and the lieutenant
caught him by the hand.

"Glad to see you, doctor; we thought you killed."

"Yes; and I did you," cried the doctor. "How are you all?"

"They'll tell you behind," said the lieutenant. "Forward, my lads."

The guard moved on, and the doctor came upon the little force, firing
going on again in the rear.

He met Major Sandars directly, and their greeting was warm in the
extreme.

"The scoundrels tried to poison us," said the major.

"Yes, yes, I know," cried the doctor; "but is any one hurt?"

"A few scratches there in the dhoolies," said the major.

"No one killed?"

"Not a soul, thank heaven," cried the major. "But we shall have our
work cut out. Ah, here's Horton. All right in the rear?"

"Yes," was the reply; "we are keeping them back. Ah, doctor, I am glad
to see you again. You know what's happened?"

"Partly," said the doctor; "but tell me."

They were moving forward as he spoke, and he learned now that the little
force was working to hit the river higher up in its course, and from
thence try to communicate with the island and the steamer.

"You had not been gone above a couple of hours before, as we were
sitting smoking and chatting, and thinking of turning in, first one and
then another began to complain of pain and drowsiness.

"The major there was the first to take alarm,