the steamer, whose lights he
could see below him; but involuntarily almost he turned and made a fresh
effort to reach the island, when, to his great delight, he found himself
in a strong eddy, and after five minutes' swimming he was able to catch
at the overhanging branches of a tree and draw himself up close to the
muddy bank, where he remained, panting for a few minutes, longing to
draw himself out on to dry land, but too weak and exhausted, half
paralysed too, as he thought of how the great reptiles had their haunts
in the hollows beneath the river's banks.

At last, though, his heart beat less painfully, and he gently reached up
one hand above the other, made a strong effort, and then lay panting
beneath the trees, with the water running from him in a stream.

Safe from the water and the creatures that haunted the river, he had yet
to thread his way through the ranks of human tigers who were now
swarming about the island, as he could tell by the flashes and reports
of the rifles that were being fired on either side.

He lay there for quite ten minutes, thinking of what would be his best
plan to pursue, for he had a double peril to encounter--namely, the
spears of the Malays, and the bullets of his comrades, who would be
certain to fire at any one they saw approaching. Still nothing
presented itself to his mind, and he at last began to move cautiously
forward towards the little fort.

As he went on through the dense growth with which this part of the
island was covered, he became aware that the Malays were making quite a
furious attack upon the place, while it was just as evident that they
were encountering a serious resistance. To his great delight now the
field-piece began to speak, and he had seen the rocket go up, as a
signal to the ship, the bright stars lighting up the patch of jungle
where he lay to such an extent that he shrank close down beneath some
shrubs, lest he should form a mark for the spear of some Malay.

Going so slowly and cautiously, it took him some time to get near the
lines, and then he had to pause, for the flashes and reports of the
rifles showed him where his enemies were lying, and twice over he nearly
walked into the midst of a little group hiding amidst the trees.

He had taken the precaution of reloading the little revolver, though all
the time feeling greatly in doubt as to whether the cartridges were not
spoiled; and consequently he relied most of all upon his dirk, though he