ister Archie, sir! Asleep, sir?"

"What? Yes--no! Oh, it's you, Pete!"

"Jump up, sir. You won't hurt," said the lad breathlessly. "It's a
beautiful, hot night. I've picked something up, and I've run up to tell
you. Come to the window, sir, and look out."

Archie sprang out and followed Peter to the open window, from which they
had a full view of the landing-place, where lights were moving and their
bearers could be seen hurrying to and fro.

"What boat's that?"

"Resident's, sir. I have come up to tell you."

"Yes--be smart! Tell me what?"

"Sir Charles and his party have come back, sir."

"From the up-river expedition?"

"Yes, sir. I got hold of one of the chaps who went with him."

"Well, go on; I'm burning to hear. What have they found out?"

"He says, sir, that the Major did not want Sir Charles to go, and they
had words together. He heard Sir Charles say the attack was made on the
boat up the river, as well you and me know, sir."

"Yes, Pete," said Archie, who was listening and watching the movements
of the boat at the same time.

"And that he felt sure Miss Heath must have been carried right
up-stream, and that they should find her in one of the campongs, or kept
shut up in some place belonging to the Rajah."

"Well, go on."

"And then the Major said, sir, to Sir Charles that they weren't quite
sure that the Rajah had done this, and that he should be obliged if Sir
Charles would stay, and let one of the officers go instead. Then Sir
Charles says that he's morally sure that it was the Rajah's doing, and
that he feels he must go. And then they went, and they've been right up
the river as far as they could get the big boat; and they landed over
and over again and searched the campongs and examined the people, who
all said they did not know anything about it, and looked stupid, as
these Malay chaps can look when they don't want to tell tales; and at
last Sir Charles had to give up, after he had been down with something
like sunstroke."

"Yes--go on quickly," said Archie.

"And he went onsensible like, and there was nothing else they could do
but bring him back."

"And they brought him back ill?"

"Yes, sir; and those chaps you can see there with the lanterns are
coming back from carrying him up to the Residency."

"Poor chap! Poor fellow!" said Archie. "Well, go on."

"That's all, sir. Don't you see they're tying the boat up for the
night? I thought you would be satisfied