elf serious enough then. So you thought yours might be a case for
medical advice? Not it!"

"But!"--ejaculated Archie.

"But me no buts, as the man said in the book. You will be cured fast
enough in the first real trouble that comes upon us and makes its
genuine appeal to your manhood."

"But I get plenty of trouble now, Doctor," protested the lad.

"Bah! A bit of a rowing--a snub from the Major! Trifles, boy. Those
are not real troubles. I mean times when you find out that you really
are a man, that others' lives are perhaps depending upon you as a
soldier for preservation. My dear boy, all you have got to do is not to
try to be a man. Nature will do that. Your full manhood will come
quite soon enough. Only try to drop a little of the boy, for you are a
bit too young. Well, what are you staring at?"

Archie's face was more wrinkled than ever.

"Ah, I see," continued the Doctor. "You are doubting whether you shall
believe me. Here's a pretty fellow! Comes to a medical man for advice,
and begins to doubt him as soon as the advice is given.--Here, Maria--
Minnie!"

"No, for goodness' sake, Doctor! And Sir Charles is there!"

"No, he isn't. I heard him start ten minutes ago."

"But you are not going to tell them what I said?"

"Do I ever tell my patients' secrets to anybody? Now, look here,
Archie; you want to jump right into your manhood at once?"

"Of course I do, sir."

"Well, my lad, I'm afraid you won't have long to wait, for if I'm not
very much mistaken your cure is coming."

"What! mischief with the Malays, sir?"

"This is in confidence, my lad--yes. But look here," continued the
Doctor, lowering his voice, for at that moment voices were heard
apparently approaching the Doctor's room. "Tut, tut!" he muttered.
"They have no business to be coming here now. I suppose they don't
class you as a patient. Humph! All right. They are not coming here.
Look here, Archie," he continued, as he threw himself back in his chair;
"mine may only be suspicions, but situated as we are here amongst these
people, who, in spite of their half-civilisation, have a good deal of
the savage at heart and the natural strong dislike for those who hold
them in subjection, it is good policy to be a little too wise and not
careless and indifferent over matters that give one food for thought."

"But, Doctor,"--said the young man earnestly, and with a touch of
excitement in his tones.

"There, there, there,