divided, and, each party under its
leader, started off to try and flank the place.

This was something new to the Malays, who looked upon it as unfair
fighting, and the result was, that after five minutes' sharp,
hand-to-hand engagement, the rajah and his men once more took to the
woods, and the second stockade was burned.

This was so satisfactory a termination, that it seemed to make up for
the loss of the two prahus. These, however, Captain Horton said the
ship's boats would soon hunt out; and the Malay chiefs went back to the
sultan, to announce to him the defeat of his old enemy; while at the
island every one was occupied about the hospital and the wounded men,
who, poor fellows, were carefully lifted ashore, the doctor saying that
the sailors would be far better on the island, in a tent beneath the
shady trees, than on shipboard.

"Ten wounded, major," he said sharply, "and not a man dangerously. I'll
soon set them right. Steady there, my boys; lift them carefully."

A goodly group had assembled by the landing-place when the men were
brought ashore, the ladies being ready with fruit and cool drink for the
poor fellows; and Bob Roberts, who had come to the landing-place with
Captain Horton in the gig, felt quite envious.

An hour or two's sleep had set him right, and he felt none the worse for
his adventure; but there was Tom Long being lifted carefully ashore by
two of the sailors, and Rachel Linton and Mary Sinclair eagerly waiting
on the youth, for he had received a real wound this time, and looked
most interestingly pale.

"Just like my luck," grumbled Bob. "He gets comfortably wounded, and
they will be taking him fruit and flowers every day. I shouldn't wonder
if they had him carried up to the residency, so that he would be handy,
and--hang me if it ain't too bad. Oh! 'pon my word, I can't stand this;
they are having him carried up to the house. Just my luck. I get a
contemptible ducking, and no one wants to wait upon me."

Bob ground his teeth and looked on, while Tom Long was sympathised with
and talked to on his way up to the residency, where, after swallowing
his wrath, as the middy expressed it, he got leave to go up and see his
friend.

"My friend!" he said, half aloud, as he walked on through the brilliant
sunshine. "Lor', how I do hate that fellow! I wish I had had the kris.
I'd have given the Malay such a oner as he wouldn't have forgotten in a
hurry. Poor old Tommy, though I I ho