ttle exaggeration as far as some of us are
concerned, but if it excites the old gentleman's commiseration, sure
Father O'Rouke would absolve me for that as well as a few other lies I
have had to tell in my life."

Smith interpreted these remarks. The Rajah spoke to his crew. Directly
afterwards the uninjured oars were thrown in.

"We have got your promise, then, young officer, that my people and I
shall be uninjured, and shall be allowed to go free?" said the chief.

"Yes," I answered, "I fully believe if that frigate is the one to which
we belong, that the captain will carry out my promises."

On this the chief briefly addressed his crew.

The frigate, understanding apparently that we had given in, ceased
firing, and directly afterwards hove to. There was just time to lower a
boat, when again she stood on in chase of the other prows. The moon was
now shining brightly, and by her light we saw a boat approaching us. In
a few minutes she was alongside, and her crew, led by an officer, sprang
on board. I thought I recognised Oldershaw's figure. "They have given
in," I shouted out, "and we have promised that you would spare their
lives and let them go free."

"Hillo! Who is that? Bless my heart, who are you?" exclaimed
Oldershaw. "What! Ben Burton! Is it possible!"

We were all of us, it must be remembered, in Eastern dresses, finding
them far more comfortable than those we had laid aside.

"Yes, and I am here too!" sung out Dicky Esse.

"I am heartily glad of it," exclaimed Oldershaw. "We thought you had
all been knocked on the head by the savages long ago. And have any more
of you escaped?"

"Yes, sir," said Toby Kiddle. "Here am I, and here's Pat Brady, and
these two men of the `Resolution,' and fortunate men they are, for they
are the only ones alive out of the whole ship's company."

Oldershaw now learned from us, for the first time, of the sad loss of
the frigate. We told him also how well we had been treated by the
Rajah. On this Oldershaw went up and shook him by the hand, and told
Smith to assure him that no harm would be done him or his people, and
that the captain of the frigate would be very much obliged to him for
the way he had treated us. The old chief seemed highly pleased, and
ordered pipes and coffee to be brought aft, and in ten minutes we were
all seated in the after part of the prow, smoking the fragrant weed and
sipping the warm beverage, while the Malays were doing the ho