palm-trees watching
their proceedings, but it disappeared directly, and the clothing of the
vessel with canvas went on without interruption, till pretty well every
stitch was set save a studding-sail or two. Then a puff of hot air
came, and the steamer bent well over, the sails being so trimmed that
the vessel's course would have been astern had she shown any disposition
to move; but though the steam was on full, and the men brought the
capstan to bear on the cables, she did not budge an inch.

"Here, my lads, back with these guns," said the lieutenant; and for the
next half-hour the men were busy replacing the heavy guns, when Ali, who
since his escape had been remaining in sanctuary upon the steamer,
suddenly gave the alarm.

"A prahu coming down," he exclaimed, running to the lieutenant and
catching his arm, pointing out as he did so something moving round a
reach of the river, and seen now and then where the growth was thin.

"Two prahus coming up stream," reported one of the look-out men.

"Look! look!" cried Ali, pointing up the river. "There is another--two
more. They are coming to take the steamer," he cried.

"And we aground!" exclaimed the lieutenant, stamping his foot with rage
as he gave the necessary orders. The drum beat to quarters directly;
the magazine was opened; and the men ran eagerly to their posts; while
Ali went quietly into the cabin, and returned with a sword, revolver,
and a spotting rifle, lent him by the lieutenant for shooting
crocodiles.

"Are you going to fight?" exclaimed Bob Roberts, who looked flushed and
excited.

"Yes," said Ali, "with this;" and he tapped the rifle.

"But against your own people?"

"Rajah Gantang's pirates are not my own people," said Ali,
contemptuously. "Besides, the English are my friends, and if we could I
would have gone to help those ashore."

"All right," said Bob, "then we will fight together. I say, it's going
to be a hot affair, isn't it?"

"They think to take the steamer easily," said Ali, "as she is ashore,
but you will not let them?"

"Let them!" said Lieutenant Johnson, "no, Mr Ali, we will not. We
shall fight to the last, and the last will be that I'll blow the vessel
up. I can't sink her, for she is aground."

Ali nodded his approval: he seemed in no wise moved at the prospect of
the steamer being destroyed. And now he stood watching the coming of
the great prahus, with their regular sweeps, twenty to thirty on each
side, and