No," cried Tom Long; "a steamer! a steamer!"

He was right, for a little gunboat was rapidly ascending the river, and
one of the prahus began to settle down in front of the fort, while the
other used her sweeps to get away.

Another minute, and just when they had won an entrance, beating back the
defenders of the barricaded gateways, a panic seized upon the Malays,
for shell after shell was dropping and bursting in their midst; and
before Captain Smithers and his brave little party could realise the
fact, the enemy was in full retreat.

A quarter of an hour later, and the gunboat was moored abreast of the
fort, and congratulations were being exchanged.

He had said nothing, not daring to hope for success; but Ali had, as
soon as he could, sent a fisherman in his boat to try and convey word of
the danger to the Dindings. The message had been faithfully borne, and
the little gunboat sent to help to keep the enemy at bay, till the
steamer could come from Penang with a detachment of infantry on board.

The heavy guns were too much for the Malays; and just as it had been
decided that the gunboat should ascend the river in quest of the
"Startler," the latter came slowly down the river with her rescued
freight.

In a couple more days the Penang steamer had arrived with a battalion of
foot, under Colonel Hanson; and the next thing heard was that the Sultan
Hamet, with Rajah Gantang, had fled up the country, the minor chiefs
sending in their submission to the British and suing for peace.

Doctor Bolter became almost the greatest man at the station after this,
and he went about laughing as he kept--to use his own words--"setting
men up," speaking of them as if they were natural history specimens.
First he had to be thanked by Rachel Linton for saving her father's
life; then he found Captain Horton blessing him for his recovery; and
one way and another he had a very proud time of it, though, to his great
regret, he had no chance of pursuing his favourite hobby.

The Malay who acted as his guide was recovering fast from the tiger's
clawing, and had attached himself to the doctor as servant when matters
settled down; and it was affecting to see the poor fellow's delight upon
encountering Ali alive and well.

Matters were soon arranged, and a busy party were at work rebuilding the
residency, a number of Chinese joiners being enlisted for the task.

Meanwhile the fort and barracks had to be the general dwelling; and Bob
Ro