u call that modest, to talk big
like that? But come, tell us, may we go safely?"

"That's what I can't quite settle," said the doctor. "I don't know what
to say to you. A week's hunting picnic would be very nice."

"Splendid," said everybody.

"And you'd have a good supply of tents? I can't have my men sleeping in
the open air."

"Abundance of everything," said Major Sandars. "Regular commissariat
stores--mess tent, and the rest of it."

"Stop a minute," said the doctor, "not so fast. You see, what I'm
afraid of is fever."

"We all are," said Captain Horton. "Never mind, take a barrel and keep
a strong solution of quinine always on tap for us. Now then, may we go?
You see if it was on duty we shouldn't study a moment, but as it's a
case of pleasuring--"

"And keeping up good relations with the sultan," said the resident.

"And freeing the country from a pest," said Captain Horton.

"Tigers are pests enough," said the doctor, "but intermittent or jungle
fever is to my mind the pest of the country."

"Yes, of course, doctor," said the resident; "but what do you think, may
we go?"

The doctor sat tapping the table with a dessert knife.

"Will you all promise me faithfully not to drink a drop of water that
has not been filtered?" he said.

"_Yes_, yes, yes," came from all down the table.

"I'll promise, doctor, not to drink any water at all," said Bob Roberts
in a low voice, that was heard, though, by the doctor.

"It strikes me, young gentleman, that you won't get anything stronger,"
he said. "Well, gentlemen, if you'll all promise to abide by my rules,
I'll say _yes; you may go_."

A long quiet conversation was afterwards held, and finally it was
decided that quite half the men should go, and on the eve of the
expedition the final preparations had been made, tents and stores had
been sent ashore ready for a start at daybreak.

The river had been scoured by the corvette's boats, and no trace of
Rajah Gantang's prahus found; in fact, nothing had been heard of him or
them for many days; and all being esteemed satisfactory and safe on that
score, what remained to do was to settle who should stay and protect the
residency and the corvette, and who should go.

As far as the men were concerned, this was soon settled; for the order
was given to fall in, and they were soon ranged in line, every man
anxious in the extreme as to his fate. The next order was for the even
numbered to take two paces bac