ary, sir!" cried Gregory angrily; "think of those poor women in
the cabin."

There was a sharp crack from the major's rifle, and another man fell.

"That's the left barrel!" said the major, reloading. "Yes, my dear sir,
I am thinking about those poor women in the cabin. Ah, would you!"

He drew trigger again, and another man who had been about to fire the
lelah sprang up and dropped the match.

There was a yell, and a fresh man picked up the piece of burning match
from the deck, shouted, and giving the fire a wave in the air, he was in
the act of bringing it down upon the touch-hole, when the major, who had
not stirred to reload, drew trigger once again, the rifle cracked, and
the Malay dropped upon his face.

There was a fierce yell at this, and in the midst of tremendous
confusion on board, the prau continued her course, the sweeps being
worked rapidly by the crew, who were evidently in frantic haste to get
out of the deadly line of fire.

"Ah!" said the major, coolly reloading, "now I could pick off the
steersman, or that chap with the red handkerchief; but it would do no
real good. We've scared them off, and that's good work."

"Splendid, major. Why, that rifle is a little treasure."

"Well, yes," said the major, patting it; "but it was meant for tiger and
leopard, Gregory, not to kill men."

"You may make yourself easy," said the first-mate quietly; "these are
savage beasts more than men. It is life for life."

"Ah! that's comforting, Gregory, and I take it as kindly of you, for I'm
not fond of this sort of work, though I say I am. Well, let's see how
they are getting on yonder."

He went out of the cabin, leaving the first-mate to resume his watch
over the boat, for during the time this episode of rifle practice was in
progress another furious attack had been made upon the barricaded door.
Spears had been thrust and darted through, blows struck through cracks
and holes with krises and the deadly sword-like parang, and in spite of
the fierce and slowly-sustained fire kept up, the defences were rapidly
becoming more dilapidated, and several fresh wounds had been received.

But the determination of the men had not failed for a moment, while just
at the worst time a change was made for the better by the fresh force
put into the defence by Small and Mr Morgan.

The attack through the sky-lights had not been renewed, and, weary with
sitting and watching through the films of blue smoke which filled th