his chair and
stepping through the Malay French window out into the sheltered spot.

"No, sir," said Archie.

"None of the servants within hearing?"

"No, sir."

"Are you sure?"

"Quite, sir," said Archie, as he laid his hand upon one of the
creeper-covered supporters of the roof.

"That's better," said Sir Charles; and, followed by the Major, he began
to stroll along past the mess-room windows towards where a sentry was on
duty, watchful and silent, while Archie and Captain Down turned in
another direction.

"You needn't be so precious thin-skinned about hearing what Sir Charles
said to the old man. I don't see why it should not be confidence for
us, and--Well, what's the matter? Giddy?"

Archie responded by gripping his companion tightly by the wrist, and the
two young men stood listening to a faint rustling away to their left,
till every sound they could hear came from behind them, where their
commander and the Resident were still talking at the end of the veranda
in a low tone.

"Hear that?" said Archie.

"Yes. Cat or some prowling thing smelling after the remains of the
dinner."

"If it had been anything of that kind we shouldn't have heard its velvet
paws."

"Perhaps not. What do you think it was, then? Not a tiger?"

"No; I thought it must be one of the Malay fellows--a listener."

"Not it. What would be the good of his listening to a language he
couldn't understand?"

"I don't know," said Archie. "Some of these Malays are very deep.
Hadn't we better say something to the Major?"

"Rubbish! No! Why, if it had been some one lurking about, the sentry
would have seen him."

"Yes," said Archie thoughtfully.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

JOE AND THE CROCS.

About an hour after the last conversation Sergeant Ripsy was giving a
few final words of command to the little squad of men whom, to use his
own words, he was about to plant, as if they were so many vegetables, at
different points about the cantonments, in accordance with the strict
military rule kept up, just as though they were in an enemy's country
and it was a time of war.

Arms were shouldered, and there was a halt made here, and a halt made
there; and this was repeated until a sentry had been stationed at six
different points, where the guard could have full command of so many
muddy elephant-paths leading away into the black jungle, as well as of
two well-beaten tracks which commanded the river.

It was at the latter of these t