t care; it was a nasty practical joke," cried Tom Long, "and--I
beg your pardon, Roberts," he said, suddenly changing his tone, and
holding out his hand. "I believe you saved my life."

"Oh, nonsense!" said Bob. "He only meant to prick you with his kris."

"Heaven defend me from all such pricks!" said Tom Long, devoutly, as he
held the middy's hand in his. "I say, Bob Roberts, I wish you and I
could agree better."

"So do I," said Bob, giving the hand he held a hearty shake; "But we
never shall. I always feel as if I wanted to quarrel with you, as soon
as we meet."

"So do I," said Tom Long. "You are such an aggravating little beggar."

"It is my nature to," said Bob, laughing. "But you won't say anything
about this affair, shall you? It will be a lesson how to deal with the
natives."

"If you think I had better not, I won't," said Tom Long, thoughtfully.
Then, with a shudder, "I say, I felt just as if I was going to have that
horrid kris in me. I shall never forget this, Bob Roberts."

"Oh, stuff and nonsense! Here, I say, have one of these bunches of
flowers, old fellow."

"No, no; I don't want them," said the ensign, colouring up.

"Yes, yes; take one. Quick, here are the ladies. I'm going to give my
lotuses to Miss Sinclair," he said quietly. And as Tom Long's fingers
closed upon the arums, the ladies, who were walking with the resident
came close up.

"Ah, Mr Long," said the latter, "what a lovely bunch of arums!"

"Yes sir," said Tom, looking very red in the face; "they're for the mess
table."

"Your lotuses are lovely, Mr Midshipman Roberts," said Miss Linton,
smilingly greeting the frank-faced lad.

"Aren't they, Miss Linton?" said Bob. "I'm just going to send them
aboard to the first luff; he's rather poorly."

They parted; and it was quite true, for after looking rather
shame-facedly the one at the other, the ensign bore off his arums to the
mess-room, and the lotuses were sent on board the "Startler" by the very
next boat.

There was nothing more said respecting the adventure with the Malay
boatman; but the two youths, who were a good deal puzzled in their own
minds, as to whether they were friends or enemies, exchanged glances a
day or two later, when stringent orders were issued respecting the
behaviour of the Englishmen to the natives. The men of both services
were warned to be very careful, especially as it was the custom for the
Malays to carry the deadly kris. The chara