istening to our talk?"

"Playing the spy, sir, in his master's interest."

"Pooh!" said the Major angrily. "This is no French friend of the
Rajah's. He's a Malay. That's a piece of a silk sarong clinging to his
waist, with a kris stuck in it."

"Yes, sir," said Archie; "but those are European trousers he's wearing
underneath, and--yes!" cried the lad, as he bent nearer and shrinkingly
touched the blackened wrist, just as a fresh flight of flame rose from
the ruined magazine--"I am certain that's the gold bracelet the Rajah's
friend used to wear. It's got a French motto on it, which you could see
if you took it to the light. But I know it by the shape, and I thought
that it was a silly bit of effeminate foppishness on the part of a man."

"Yes," said Sir Charles; "I remember thinking so too. Why, the
scoundrel must have been in the pay of the Rajah, and played the spy
here to pretty good purpose. I don't think you need search for the
cause of the magazine being exploded."

Further conversation was ended by the report of a musket, which served
as the signal for several more, all fired from beyond the parade-ground,
and doing no harm, though the _whiz_ and _phit_ of the bullets passed
close by, and could be heard striking against the nearest buildings.

"Cover," said the Major sharply. "Never mind the fire now. It will do
them as much harm as it does us, for we shall be able to see its glint
reflected in their eyes at the edge of the jungle. Quick, every one--
cover!"

"Wait a minute, four of you," said the Doctor. "I want my patient
carried in."

"Your what!" said the Major fiercely. "The renegade who has dealt us
this cowardly blow?"

"I never ask questions about a man's character," said the Doctor
gruffly. "If he wants a surgeon's help, that's character enough for me.
If I save his life, and you like to prove all this is true, and
court-martial him and shoot him afterwards, as a spy, that's not my
business, and I shall not interfere.--But look sharp, my lads. These
big musket-balls are coming unpleasantly near, and they make very bad
wounds. I can't afford to get one in me, for I am afraid you will want
your surgeon for some time to come."

It was a horrible task, but the four men who raised the injured man to
bear him in could not forbear a chuckle at the Doctor's remark.

But the order to take cover was none too soon, for the musket-bullets
were flying faster, fortunately without aim; and a