t?"

"Mr Morgan has got a nasty spear wound."

"Ah!" ejaculated the captain. "Very bad?"

"Through his shoulder, father."

"Did you meet one of the praus?"

"Yes, as we came across."

"Gone to destroy your boat," said the captain. "I heard the orders
given. Now go down to the boat and tell Mr Gregory that we are partly
prisoners here. I say partly, because I have barricaded the cabin-door.
Tell him that one of the praus came alongside to beg for water. The
crew said they were dying for want of it, and the scoundrels had hidden
their arms. I can hardly tell now how it was done, my lad, but one
moment I was giving orders for the water to be passed over the side, the
next I was lying on the deck struck down, and when I came to, the men
were secured below and the deck was in possession of the Malays, a
second prau having come up and helped the men of the first."

"But we heard firing, father?"

"Yes, my boy, so did I, as if it was in a dream, and I found afterwards
that my poor lads had made a brave fight of it, and driven the first
party out, but the crew were without a leader, and the Malays fired into
them till they came close alongside and boarded together."

"Was--was anyone killed?"

"Don't ask now, my lad. Tell Gregory we were driven in here, and the
ladies are all right. Ask him to climb up and talk the matter over with
me, as to what we shall do."

"Pst!" came from the cabin-window, and directly after Mr Gregory
climbed in.

"I could not wait," he said, "and I found the rope would bear me. Now,
Strong, how do matters stand?"

The captain explained the position.

"And the men--down below deck?"

"No," said the captain bitterly; "half the poor fellows died like men--
no, like sheep," he cried excitedly, "for they had no weapons but the
capstan bars. The other half were sent afloat in one of the boats, I
suppose, and one of the praus kept firing at them till they got beyond
reach."

"Ha!" ejaculated the mate.

"Now go down and talk with the major. Poor Morgan is helpless?"

"Yes, quite."

"Well, ask the major if he will stand by me. There are only two courses
open. We must either try and retake the ship or escape at once before
morning."

"Which do you think is best, Strong?" said Mr Gregory huskily.

"I'm pulled two ways, Gregory. I want to save my ship; but, on the
other hand, there is the thought of these helpless women and our
position if we should fail."

"Well," said