eralship
Suleiman might have been, he took care that no messengers should pass
his people in either direction, and, in fact, the Major's appeal to his
officers never reached their hands, and the cunning Malays kept up the
appearance of being in full retreat, leading the detachments farther and
farther into the intricate mazes of the jungle.

Meanwhile it was not only the ammunition that was running out but the
provisions. But there was an ample supply in the various stores of the
settlement, and these under ordinary circumstances would have been
largely supplemented at the little market held by the people of the
neighbouring campongs. But after the attack by Suleiman's men not a
single native made his appearance, and, as was afterwards proved, no
Malay, save at the risk of losing his life, dared to approach the
military quarters.

"It seems so hard," said the Resident, "that after Dr Morley and I had
gone over the matter as we did respecting provisioning the place, we
should not have made other arrangements for warehousing our permanent
supplies. I felt that, with a strong military force for the protection
of the storehouses, nothing more could be done."

"No; nobody blames you, Sir Charles, for no foresight could have seen
that the place would be denuded of troops, and that the enemy would
close us in so completely that no man could approach a ware or store
house without risking having a spear in his back."

"Ah," said the Doctor, "it's lucky for us all that I beat you, Major,
and got my well dug."

"Yes, Morley," said the Major sharply; "and no one's more glad than I
am. But you needn't tell us all about it quite so often."

The Doctor chuckled, for in spite of the terrible demands that were made
upon him he was generally in pretty good spirits.

"Well, I won't say any more about it, but you military men, who get all
the honour and glory, might let your poor doctor have a little bit of
praise."

"Well, what's to be done? We must have a couple or more sacks of that
Indian meal from the store to-day. We cannot sit here and starve. And
at the same time more of the necessaries of life, or what we have in
time come to consider necessaries, must be obtained for the women and
children."

"Yes," said the Doctor. "My hands are full with dealing with the
wounded. I can't have the poor, starving women coming into hospital to
be treated for exhaustion, and the children upon my hands dying like
flies."

"No,