e, and I now fully expected that, in spite of the
determined way in which we were defending our fort, it would be stormed
at last. Directly afterwards the Malays, showering their missiles upon
us, with loud shouts and shrieks rushed on. Some caught hold of the
palisades, and attempted to pull them down; others began to climb over
them. Some forced their hands through the openings to seize the bamboo
spears as we thrust them out at our enemies. I caught sight of a number
of pirates making their way to one side where the fort was undefended.
Nothing now, it seemed to me, could prevent them from getting in; but
when I shouted out, Potto Jumbo joined me, and we rushed to the spot.
Just then a loud shouting was heard coming up from the bottom of the
hill. I could distinguish through the opening, for the space was clear
where we then were, several pirates turning their heads. The shouting
increased. Some ran down the hill, the others turned and followed, and
those who had been climbing up the palisades dropped to the ground, and
then, as if seized by a sudden panic, rushed down the hill
helter-skelter, eager to avoid the shot which we sent after them. We
could scarcely believe what had occurred.

"Heaven be praised!" said Mr Thudicumb. "We are saved, and I do not
think they will come back again."

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

BUILDING OF THE "HOPE."

What had thus suddenly made the Malays take to flight remained a
mystery. Forgetting my own wound, my first impulse was to run down and
see after Oliver. I met Emily, who threw herself into my arms.

"He is better, he is better!" she exclaimed. "The good Frau has, I
believe, saved his life."

"We are all saved, my dear sister," I said. "The enemy have taken to
flight, and we hope will not come back again."

"And he will be saved--he will not die," she again said, leading me to
where Oliver was lying on a bed of leaves.

The Frau had torn off his jacket and shirt, and I found that, like Queen
Eleanor, who saved her husband's life, she had been sucking the poison,
if there was any, from the wound, and was now carefully bathing it.

"I do not think I am much hurt," said Oliver, looking up as I entered.
"The good Frau has tended me so kindly and carefully, that I am sure I
shall soon get better."

When the Frau had finished with Oliver, I begged her to look at my head,
and, greatly to my relief, I found that the point of the arrow had not
entered the flesh; the