cacy of this shot was shown by the major drawing in
the spear and throwing it upon the deck, while his example was followed
more or less by the men, who now sent shot after shot through the
various holes made in the door.

"Don't waste your fire, lads; don't waste your fire," cried the major;
and his words were not without effect, as the slow delivery of shots,
and the yells of pain and rage which followed many of the discharges,
told.

No more attempts were made to cut away the boat, and Mr Gregory's piece
became silent; but it soon grew evident that a fresh attack was to be
made upon them, for the crashing and shivering of glass was heard in the
sky-lights, and directly after, heavy blows from an axe. This was soon
followed by the appearance of an opening through which a spear-head
gleamed as the weapon was darted down so adroitly that it passed through
the fold of the boatswain's trousers, and pinned him to the table on one
side of which he too leant.

The answer to this was a shot from Morgan's revolver, and another from
the gun the boatswain held, after which he proceeded leisurely to
wriggle out the spear and draw it away.

Then more blows were heard, and a fresh hole was made in the sky-light
defence, but the spear thrust down more than met its match, and after a
shot or two no more blows were delivered there.

By this time the Malays had grown less daring, and though a man or two
rushed forward now and then to dart a spear at them, there was a
cessation of the work of destroying with axes, and the sailors were able
to keep command of the holes, and send a well-directed shot through from
time to time.

But the encounter, badly as it had gone with the Malays, had had its
effects among the defenders of the place. The major had an ugly gash in
his left arm delivered by a knife-bladed spear. Billy Widgeon's ear was
cut through, and he had a slight prick in his right arm, while one of
the other men had a spear stab in the left leg.

The withdrawal of the Malays from the attack enabled the injured to go
into hospital as the major termed it, and each wound was carefully
bandaged by the major's wife or by Mrs Strong.

"They're about beaten, I should say," said the major, cheerily. "By the
way, Strong, a little bleeding is very refreshing. I feel like a new
man."

"So do I," said the captain grimly.

"Here, quick, look out!" cried Mark at that instant, for, wincing from
seeing the dressing of his father'