d at their
leader as if for orders, and then gazed at one another, till he uttered
a low grunt, in response to which the men raised the points of their
spears and planted the butts on the ground.

Peter Pegg gave vent to a low, sneering laugh as he gazed half-jauntily
at the big Malay.

"It didn't skeer me a bit," he said, "queer as I feel; but, between
men--you see how bad my poor officer is--I only want you to keep those
jockeys of yours quiet. Well, aren't you going to say anything when a
English gentleman addresses you?"

The Malay gazed at him as if wondering at the lad's impudence, and then,
scowling fiercely, he said, in a hoarse, guttural way, and trying to
display his scorn for the sun-burnt, thin-featured lad, "Ingles--
Ingles!"

"That's right, comrade--I mean, enemy. Well, ain't you going to say any
more?"

The man made no sign, and Peter Pegg continued:

"Can't you understand plain English? Well, then, take this--_apa boleh
booat_."

"_Apa boleh booat_," said the Malay, with his face relaxing a little;
and he nodded his head slowly, before turning to one of his followers
and pointing to the big water-jar standing near the door, which the man
immediately took up and bore out as if to fill, while his leader pointed
again to a neatly woven bamboo basket in which lay three or four bananas
and a half-eaten cake of bread.

This too was borne out, the contents sent flying amongst the trees close
by, and the basket brought back, like the big jar, replenished.

"_Apa boleh booat_," growled the big Malay, and he bowed his head slowly
at the young soldier.

"All right; I quite agree with you," said Peter; "and now good-morning,
or good-day, and don't come and bother me any more, my Royal Highness,
or whatever you are, for I want to think."

The Malay leader scowled at him again, and then followed his men out of
the door, which was closed loudly, and as heavy bars seemed to be fitted
into sockets, Peter Pegg limped up, as if partly lamed, put his lips
close to a crack, and whispered:

"Thank you. Much obliged. A little louder next time, please, for my
officer's asleep."

Then he stood peering through the crack till the footsteps died away.

"Can't see much," he said; "but I wonder what _apa boleh booat_ means.
I meant it for something nasty, but the ugly beggar took it quite
pleasant. It's what those sampan chaps say when they come back without
catching any fish. To be sure, and I heard another