ire of the advancing detachments, which, as
if from some carefully planned manoeuvre, but which Peter called chance,
were now advancing in the nick of time.

The fight was over, for, hemmed in now, Rajah Suleiman's despairing
force threw down their arms in appeal for mercy, crushed, beaten,
half-destroyed.

Trapped by Malays--by George Manville Fenn

CHAPTER FORTY SIX.

"HOO-RAY!"

In the midst of the wild bursts of cheering given out again and again by
the rescued men, wounded (who were many) and sound (who were very few),
to those who had succoured them in their direful time of need--shouts
that were echoed and re-echoed by the wearied and weather-worn comrades
warmly shaking hands and almost ready to embrace old friends--there were
other meetings and heart-stirring incidents. Not the least interesting
was that in which the commanding officers of the three detachments were
in turn grasping the hand of the quiet-looking young leader of the
well-drilled Malays who had come up from the rear and literally flung
back Rajah Suleiman's savage warriors on to the bayonets of the
returning force.

"I don't know how to thank you enough, sir," said Captain Down.

"Nor I, sir," said Lieutenant Durham.

"You, Ripsy," cried Captain Down again--"you understand these things
better than we do. Did you ever witness a better advance and charge?
You saw it, didn't you?"

"Yes, sir," said the old Sergeant, "just as we were all out of breath
and were struggling out of the jungle path."

"Well, say something to the Prince, man."

"No speaker, sir," said the Sergeant-Major gruffly; "but I should have
been a proud man if I had had the drilling of such a body of men."

"Oh, gentlemen, gentlemen," said the young chief, "it is all imitation,
and the teaching of an old non-com, whom I have had with me ever since I
came back from England. Only too glad to have come in time. But I
should like to say a few words to Major Knowle and Sir Charles Dallas
before we retire to my boats."

"Oh, we will talk about that by-and-by," cried Captain Down. "I see
they have been playing havoc here while we have been tricked and deluded
into following no end of false and lying guides who professed to lead us
to the place where Suleiman and his men were retiring before us. Come
along. Good heavens! I had no idea that the Major had been pressed
like this. The Residency gone, too! And look, Durham--it was time we
came!"

The officers and