ir weapons, they came on.

"Stand back!" roared Mr Braine, in their tongue; and he fired a shot
over their heads.

This checked them for a minute, and they drew back behind the bushes to
begin throwing spears, but the missiles only struck against the rocks at
the side of the rift, and finding their efforts vain, they paused for a
few moments. A few words ran from bush to bush, and Mr Braine
whispered a warning, "Be ready;" and directly after, the more ominous
word, "Fire!"

It was time, for the Malays dashed forward, kris in hand, but from out
of the cave a scattered volley of revolver shots greeted them so warmly
that two dropped, and the others fell back, followed by their wounded
companions.

"A moment's respite," said Mr Braine. "Reload. We can beat them off."

A moment's respite, but not a minute's, for there was a wild shriek from
the interior of the cave, and a chill ran through Ned. He had recalled
the entrance to the place through which he had slipped, and he turned
just as there was a rush, a burst of yells from within, answered by
others from without, as the Malays again came on.

Then there was a wild struggle, the pistols were useless, and now
thoroughly mastered by their lithe antagonists, all the efforts of the
last few hours proved to have been in vain, for Mr Braine, Murray, the
doctor, Mr Greig, Tim, and the two boys lay bound where they had been
dragged out among the bushes, with the ladies seated weeping by them,
and only one of the unfortunate party spoke.

It was Tim, who turned to the boys.

"Look at that now," he said; "I niver had a chance, and I've murthered
one hand hitting it against the wall."

"Never mind," said Ned; "perhaps our time will come."

"Faix thin, me lad, I'd like to hear it shtrike at wanst."

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

A BAD RETURN.

It was a dreary tramp down to the naga lying close beside their own,
fastened to a tree on the river-bank; but though the two wounded men
scowled at them, and even at the doctor who had offered to, and did
dress their wounds, the rest of the Malays were respectful and friendly
enough, for the Resident and doctor were favourites with them, and they
could all recollect acts of kindness. The ladies were helped over
difficult parts, and refreshments and water were freely offered to those
who had, as the Malays thought, naturally enough tried to escape, while
they on their part had received orders to recapture them, and been
succe