ry one worked with a will; and now that
they were refreshed with food, reanimated by the presence of twenty
fresh men, supplied with ammunition, and, above all, supported by the
knowledge that not a mile away, through the newly-cut path, there lay a
haven of rest in the shape of the steamer--men who had been fit to lie
down and die, stood up, flushed, excited, and ready to help bear the
sick and wounded towards the river; while, to make matters better, the
Malays had had such a thrashing in this last engagement that they made
no fresh attack. The consequence was that half-a-dozen weak men under
Major Sandars made a show in the rear, and all the strong devoted
themselves to helping to carry the invalids to the steamer.

More help was afforded too from the steamer itself, as soon as
Lieutenant Johnson found that there was no fear of attack, and in the
end all were got safely on board; and long before night Dr Bolter,
clothed and comfortable, had all his sick men in berths and hammocks,
well tended, already looking better, and he himself walking up and down
the deck chuckling and rubbing his hands.

The losses had been severe, but far less than might have been expected,
owing to the devotion of the men, who had struggled on till they could
get no farther, and would have perished one and all but for the timely
succour brought by the middy, and indirectly by the emissary of Rajah
Gantang, who little thought when he took the steamer, by his clever
ruse, up the solitary river, that he was leading them where it would be
the salvation of the hunting-party, who were doomed to death.

Not a moment had been lost, and as soon as all were on board, the
steamer recommenced her downward course towards the residency, where all
felt that help must be urgently needed, by the little party who had its
defence.

CHAPTER SIXTY TWO.

CAPTAIN SMITHERS PROVES A TRUE OFFICER, AND PRIVATE GRAY A GENTLEMAN.

In truth help was urgently needed at the little fort; but had its
defenders been compelled to wait for that which the steamer would
afford, every one would have been either butchered or taken off into a
terrible captivity.

Captain Smithers, when he looked round, had seen the enemy coming on in
such strength; and with a demonstration so full of clever plan, backed
up by determination, that he could not help feeling that the critical
moment had come, and that they must either surrender or meet death like
men.

If he surrendered, t