where they stand. A most fatal mode of grouping themselves this, for
the doctor, whose blood is now fully up, gives the word to fire into
them as they stand; and instantly out flashes the fire of three rifles
from as many loopholes, followed by such a commotion over there among
the shadows as seems to indicate that the fire has not been in vain.
Two more shots, one each from Henderson and Manners, complete the
enemy's discomfiture, and a hasty retreat is commenced.

"Follow them up, now; fire away!" exclaims Henderson eagerly; "but take
careful aim. Now is our opportunity to teach them a wholesome lesson!"

And follow them up they did, with such deadly persistency that four only
out of the twelve succeeded in making good their retreat and regaining
the path leading to the cove.

"Splendid! admirable!" exclaimed the doctor with exultation, as he
hastened with a parting shot the disappearance of the last figure. "We
shall neither see nor hear anything more of those fellows to-night. And
now, let us once more see if we cannot hit upon some scheme for the
deliverance of those two, our valued friend Gaunt and his little son."

He was mistaken, however, in supposing that he had seen the last of the
Malays for that night; for about two hours later, whilst they were still
anxiously discussing the one question which, above all others, absorbed
their thoughts, and were seemingly just as far as ever from any
practicable solution of it, a gleam of ruddy light suddenly appeared in
the pathway leading from the creek, and a minute later two Malays
stepped boldly into the open, one of them holding aloft a lighted torch
in one hand and a palm branch in the other, whilst the second man
displayed what looked like a sheet of paper.

"A flag of truce craving a parley!" exclaimed Henderson, as he
critically examined the two men through a loophole. "Let them approach;
we will hear what they have to say--that is, if they can make themselves
intelligible."

The Malays advanced boldly enough across the open toward the fort,
evidently quite satisfied that the palm branch afforded them full and
absolute protection, and at length came to a halt beneath the walls.

"Well, what do you want?" demanded the doctor of them in English, as he
leaned over the parapet.

The one who bore the paper seemed quite to comprehend the purport of the
question, for he said something unintelligible in reply, made a motion
of writing upon the paper, and the