zed them up extra tight.

"Mr Archie, sir, don't you hear the call?"

"Hear it? Yes. What does it mean?"

"Look sharp, sir. I'm putting your things straight. Tumble up and
tumble in."

"Be quiet, you noisy rascal! What does it all mean? I say, we are in
the middle of the night!"

"Not it, sir. Do look sharp, sir."

"But what for?"

"It's because of the review, I suppose, sir. The lads are all tumbling
up as if there was some alarm. I ain't half dressed."

"Alarm! Nonsense! Sha'n't get up till the regular time."

"Hi! Hullo, Maine!" and Captain Down's voice was heard outside. "Are
you nearly ready? Company's all turned out."

"Ready--no! What's the matter?"

"Don't quite know, but I think we are being attacked. The watch have
come in with news that a strong party of the Malays are approaching by
the forest path, out beyond the campong."

"What stuff!" cried Archie, beginning to dress sleepily. "It's the
country-people coming in to see the show.--Here, you, Peter Pegg, why
don't you get a light? Who's to see to dress?"

"Slip into your things, man," cried the Captain irritably. "No
nonsense. Recollect where we are."

"Oh, all right," grumbled Archie. "I know it's only a false alarm."

"False alarm or no, the Major was half dressed before I came on here."

"Oh, all right," grumbled Archie again; "I'll manage.--Pete," he
whispered, "try to get me a cup of coffee."

"Who's that?" cried the Captain.

"Sergeant, sir--Ripsy," came in that non-com's deep, important voice.

"Well, what's up?"

"Well, sir, they may be coming to see the review, but it don't look like
it. There's a strong body of well-armed natives just the other side of
the campong, and they may be friends or they may be enemies, but we have
got to be ready for them, anyhow. You see, sir, it don't look right,
because if they had been friends they would have been coming down the
river in their boats. These 'ere must have been marching all night; and
they have got elephants with them."

Whatever the body of Malays was, short as was the notice given, they
found that the English cantonments were well guarded, and those who
approached beyond the native village, where the main body had halted,
were stopped before they could get any farther.

It was quite dark, and the whole appearance of the body of men suggested
a night attack; but before long native messengers came into camp with a
message from the chief officers of R