provisions, knowing that should they have to go in the
boats they would be required, as they could not eat the food cooked by
the Christians.

Now, if my kind friend Captain Davenport had a fault, it was that of
being too lenient. Instead of keeping Ali and his gang in irons, he at
once liberated them, warning them that though suspicions were strongly
against them, he was willing to believe the best. I do not think either
the officers or passengers were particularly well pleased with his
decision. I afterwards heard Mr Thudicumb tell the boatswain to keep
as bright a look-out as possible on Ali and the other Lascars.

"I doubt whether that fellow has got any gratitude in his breast; and if
he is determined to do mischief, he will bide his time and do it, depend
on that," he observed.

"Ay, ay, Mr Thudicumb, I have no doubt about it," observed Tarbox. "I
only wish the captain would have kept them in irons till we get to
Singapore, and would then hand them over to justice. That fellow Ali
deserves hanging, to my mind, as much as any pirate who has ever swung
in chains, or mutineer who has been run up to the yard-arm. It was no
fault of his that this fine ship and all on board were not burned or
sent to the bottom."

Ali perhaps knew that he was watched; at all events, his whole conduct
was changed. No man could behave more respectfully to the officers, or
could more carefully see that those under him did their duty, while he
himself worked away as hard as any one. He seemed to bear no ill-will
against Tarbox or any of the other men, while he appeared to have
positively a kindly feeling towards Potto Jumbo, and to be especially
patronising to Macco. Indeed, after this everything went on smoothly
and pleasantly among the men, while perhaps the dangers they had gone
through made the passengers even more sociable and pleasant than before.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

WE ENTER THE EASTERN SEAS.

Land was in sight, stretching out on either hand. On the port side was
the island of Sumatra; on the starboard, the north end of Java. The
_Bussorah Merchant_, with a light wind, was standing through the Straits
of Sunda. Mr Hooker walked the deck, in spite of the heat, rubbing his
hands with pleasure. He was now approaching the region he had long
desired to examine; and he was pleasing himself with the thoughts of the
wonders of Nature which would be revealed to his sight. Soon the
straits were passed, and numerous low-