u a memorandum and a report," said Bob
Roberts. "Now then, how are you?"

"Captain Smithers wants to know whether you are coming ashore or going
to stay on board."

"Stay on board, Mr Long," said the lieutenant, who had come up. "Are
you all well?"

"Yes, sir, all well."

"None wounded?"

"No, sir, not one as yet."

"Tell Captain Smithers that my duty is to stay here with the steamer;
but if he is hard pressed I will either send him a party of sailors and
marines, or else we will cover his retreat with his gun, if he will come
and take refuge on board."

"Captain Smithers cannot leave his entrenched position, sir," said Tom
Long stiffly; "but we can find room for you and your crew, if they like
to come."

Tom Long said this so importantly that Bob Roberts began to laugh; and
no doubt some sharp bandying about of words would have followed, had not
Lieutenant Johnson said rather sternly,--

"Tell Captain Smithers, Mr Long, that a rocket sent up by night, or
three calls of the bugle given sharply without any perceptible interval,
will bring help from us; but ask him if any steps can be taken to help
the expedition."

"Captain Smithers is of opinion, sir, that the expeditionary party is
strong enough to take care of itself, and that it is our duty to--Oh!"

Tom Long blushed for it afterwards; but a well-thrown spear came so
close to his ear that he could not avoid an involuntary cry. The next
minute his little party were under cover of some trees, and slowly
driving back a body of Malays, who, however, would have out-flanked
them, but for a brisk fire kept up on them from the steamer, when they
disappeared once more into the jungle, with which this part of the
island was overgrown. When after a few more words with the occupants of
the steamer, during which Lieutenant Johnson impressed upon the ensign
that the best thing to be done was to act entirely on the defensive, the
little sally-party started to return, the lieutenant promising to do all
he could to cover their retreat.

The distance was not great, but full of peril; for the minute the Malays
comprehended that Tom Long's party were going back, they began to swarm
out of their lurking-places, and it now became evident that hundreds of
fighting men must have landed on the island.

"Well, sir," said Sergeant Lund, wiping his face, as, after getting
about half-way back, the little party found themselves hedged up in a
little gully by Malay spears, wh