do our work the better
afterwards."

Peter promptly prepared the only dry place he could find, which was in
the stern of the boat, by dragging down a portion of the bamboo and
palm-leaf awning and laying the pieces across so as to form a little
platform, where he stretched himself out, and before a minute had
elapsed he was breathing so heavily that his companion began to peer up
and down the river and think of the possibility of the sleeper being
heard. But nothing was in sight downward, and he now found that by
changing the position of the boat a little he could command a long reach
upward--quite a mile.

The guessed-at hour grew into what must have been two, and amidst the
annoyance of flies, and troubled by the intense heat, Archie sat
watching and thinking, and wondering whether it would be possible as
soon as it was dark to thread their way among the bushes of the opposite
shore and carry their burden to the help of their friends.

"It's all what Pete calls chancing it," he said to himself; "but we may
succeed--and we will."

At last, just as he was thinking that it might be wise to awaken Pete
for an exchange of places, he suddenly caught sight of a large boat in
the extreme distance, gliding round a slight curve, and after watching
it increase in size as it came rapidly down, he laid a hand on Peter's
arm, and the lad started up, fully awake.

"Relieve guard, sir? Right! Give us the gun," said the lad quietly;
and then, following Archie's pointing finger, he realised the new peril,
and withdrawing his hand, he drew out his bayonet and replaced it ready
for instant use.

A glance showed the pair that they could do nothing more to add to their
concealment, and with the boat rapidly nearing, they sat and watched,
Archie with the cocked piece lying across his knees ready for their
defence in case of need.

During the first part of the time their impression had been that it was
the dragon-boat they had seen going up, but as it drew nearer they made
out that it was manned by Malays, evidently of the poorer classes, but
well-armed and in all probability followers of some minor chief.

To the lads' great satisfaction, it seemed that they were hugging the
farther shore, and they passed by travelling slowly, without even
looking in their direction, and glided out of sight.

"Lucky for some of them, Mister Archie," said Peter, as he stretched out
his hand for the gun and crept forward. "There you are, sir.