ised that all was right, and stuck the
revolver in his belt.

"How's the skipper?" he asked.

"My father seems worn out and ill," said Mark sadly.

"Make him lie down," muttered the mate; and he strode across to the
captain's cabin, but came back shaking his head, and went to the
cabin-window, where he leaned out and was trying to see whether the boat
was all right when a faint noise overhead made him instinctively draw in
his head.

It was a narrow escape, for as the mate drew back there was a dark line
seen to dart across the cabin-window and return.

"Well, I'm not a spiteful man," said the mate, rubbing his ear, "but I
should certainly like to give that fellow a pill that would lay him up
for six months. Now, what pleasure would it have afforded him, Mark, my
lad, if he had run that spear through my neck?"

"It's his nature, sir," said the major shortly. "Those fellows value a
life at about a rupee, and sometimes not at that."

The men had risen, stretched, and were looking round in a discontented
way; but they began to beam shortly after when a fair supply of biscuits
and sardines from the captain's private supply was handed round, and
followed by some bottled beer, the opening of which seemed to cause a
commotion on deck, and an excited talking as if the Malays thought some
kind of weapon was being fired.

The breakfast worked wonders in the gaunt, untidy-looking throng, and
when the captain said a few words to them asking their help, and that
they would stand by him to the last, there was a hearty cheer, one which
caused a rush of feet upon the deck, and then a hurried buzzing sound
was heard as if the Malays were gathering for an attack.

In view of this the men were placed well armed by the barricaded door,
and the major stood ready at their side, while Small was stationed
beneath the sky-light armed with a gun, and with orders to fire through
the first hole driven down in the panels of the door Mr Gregory had
placed for protection.

"So far so good," said the captain cheerily, and the excitement seemed
to remove the haggard look in his pale face. "But look here, gentlemen,
we must leave a way open for retreat."

"Of course," said the major, "never lose touch of that."

"My plan is to defend the ship to the last, and then take to the boat--
that is, if the case has become hopeless. So, Gregory, sooner or later
they will find out that the boat is here, and try to cut it adrift. You
will go to