ittle meeting
was held to discuss their position and the consequences of the
catastrophe.

"You had all your ammunition stored there, had you not?" said the
Doctor.

"All but what was in the men's pouches," replied the Major.

"Then what do you mean to do?"

"Fix bayonets," said the Major quietly.

"And not surrender?" said the Resident.

"Not while we have any fight left in us, Sir Charles. We have our women
to protect; and besides, there are the three detachments out in the
jungle. I begin to think that this explosion will prove to be a
blessing in disguise, and act as a rallying-call to bring the men back
and take the enemy, if they come on again, in the rear."

"Yes, to be sure," said the Resident, who stood half-turned from his
companions in distress, and was gazing hard in the direction of the
river.

"Well, Sir Charles, I presume you agree with me that we must stand to
our guns--or, I should say, hold to our bayonets--till the very last?
Help may come at any hour now."

"Yes, certainly, sir," replied the Resident; "but I am afraid--"

"I wouldn't say so, sir," said the Major, with a bitter laugh.

"You know what I mean," said Sir Charles sternly. "I fully expect that
we shall have another body of Malays, to join in the attack, from down
the river--I mean, the Rajah Hamet's men."

"Well," said the Major, "our little citadel will hold us all, and when
the last cartridges are fired we can make such a breast-work of bayonets
as I don't think, in spite of their spears, these Malay scoundrels will
pass."

"We shall do our best, I am sure," said the Resident quietly. "But what
do you make of this explosion?"

"Ruin," said the Major bitterly.

"No, no; I mean, what could have caused it? You have all your rules--no
fire is ever allowed to approach."

"Ah yes, to be sure," said the Major sharply, "what could have caused
it?" and he looked round from one to the other. "I have been so wrapped
up in the consequences that it has never occurred to me to think of the
cause. We could have no enemy within the camp."

"Look here," said Archie to the Doctor; "one of these fellows is coming
to say that the more they throw on earth the more the wood blazes up.--
What is it?" he continued, to the shovel-bearing private, who now joined
them, his streaming and blackened face showing plainly in the bright
light.

"We've just come upon a wounded man, sir."

"Why didn't you bring him in?" said Archie sharply