men, were found lying
about her decks, murdered; while her main-hatchway was open, and the
signs that she had been plundered were as plain as large print."

"Indeed!" I said. "I do not remember hearing anything of that case.
Anyhow, it only happens once in a blue moon. And I don't think that,
with our pretty double row of teeth and our Maxims and Hotchkisses for
close-quarter fighting, we need be very greatly afraid."

"No," agreed Kennedy, with a laugh. "I guess ye're right there, me lad.
Wid those guns, and hands enough to fight them, I calculate we are well
fixed, and could beat off a whole fleet of proas. But I'm rale sorry
that the skipper didn't think of havin' them mounted before, so that the
men might have had a chance to practise the workin' of them a bit. An'
there's another thing--But here comes the skipper; I guess I'll spake to
her about it."

At that moment Mrs Vansittart returned to the poop with the information
that, according to the Directory, Singapore possessed a dry dock capable
of taking in the _Stella Maris_; and, that being the case, she would
have the ship docked and the spare propeller fitted as soon as possible
after our arrival.

"And a very wise thing, too, ma'am," agreed Kennedy. "I am only sorry
that we haven't got it shipped this very minute."

"Are you?" returned Mrs Vansittart, looking up sharply as she detected
the serious tone of the first mate's voice. "Why? Any reason in
particular?"

"Sure!" answered Kennedy. "As I was sayin' to Leigh a minute ago,
yonder is the Malay coast, and here are we, becalmed and unable to move.
Now, I don't want to raise a scare, there's no need for it, but I hold
that it's better to be ready for a thing, even if it doesn't happen,
than to be caught unprepared. No doubt ye're well aware, ma'am, that
the Malays have the name of bein' always ready to undertake a piratical
job if they think there's half a chance of ut bein' successful; and I
wouldn't be a bit surprised if anybody was to tell me that hundreds of
eyes have been watchin' us all this afternoon and their owners
speculatin' as to the sort of reception they'd meet with if a few
hundred were to come off to us some time durin' the small hours of the
mornin'. Av coorse we may not be here then; a breeze may spring up and
carry us far enough away. But then again, it mayn't, and in my opinion
the bettin' is against it; therefore, if I may be allowed to offer a
suggestion, it would be so