od sword in hand,
ready to give point. "Stand fast, and let the black-hearted cowards
spit themselves upon your bayonets.--What's that?" he cried.

"A fresh body of 'em, sir, coming round to right and left."

"That you with your bad news, Sergeant?" cried the Major
half-laughingly. "Good-bye, my lad! Good man! Brave soldier! But
we've done our best, and they'll say it was bravely done at home.--Form
square! Rally!" he roared, as he now raised his sword on high.--"Well
done, subaltern--and you too, boy," he added, as right and left, with
lowered rifles, Archie and Peter helped to close him in.

Yell, yell, yell, came in a savage roar, as, like a dark wave flashed
with scarlet and amber yellow, two lines of spear--armed Malays in
admirable military order charged round the two angles of the mess-room
right and left; and as the tiny square stood firm, it was to see the
new-comers dash wildly past and tear away right before them in a fierce
charge upon the advancing enemy, whose attack that had meant the
extinction of the brave defenders was now turned into a repetition of
the sham-fight's rout, as they scattered in wild retreat across the
parade-ground and made for the jungle.

The defenders stood, with presented blood-stained bayonets, in
bewildered silence for a time, and too much astounded to cheer as they
watched the smart, bright military charge of the new enemy, for it
seemed impossible to believe that these were others than a fresh party
who were making some terrible mistake.

They watched then as the fresh, bright line with glittering spears tore
on, driving the enemy before them, till the latter began to plunge in
amongst the jungle trees, or made for one or other of the paths, when
all at once a wild, shrill cry rang out, and, as if by magic, the new,
well-drilled force stopped short as though in obedience to the loud,
familiar sound of a British bugle. This was answered by two more, one
from the path nearest to the river, the other away from the direction of
the village campong; and in response to these three calls came as many
crashing volleys, while as the smoke arose it was to display a motley
crowd of the enemy returning in wild excitement, driven back by the
check, to be met in their retreat by the spears of their new foes.

What followed was a short and desperate encounter, in which the retiring
foe turned wildly again to reach the shelter of the jungle, but only to
meet the quick, scattering f