Among Malay Pirates

r lads, a master's mate, the doctor's assistant, and the paymaster's clerk. In the gun room were the three lieutenants, the doctor, the lieutenant of th

at evening. The vessel since her arrival on the station had made two runs between Singapore and Penang, but those on board had seen but little of the country, and were delighted at the thought of a possibility of active service, and the talk

been on the west coast of Africa and know what it is poking about in muddy creeks in boats, tramping through the jungle, knee deep in mud, half the cre

took no more than his share, he was often somewhat unsteady in his speech when he returned from a run ashore; and although the matter was not grave enough for his captains to report altogether unfavorably of him, it was sufficiently so for them to shrink from recommending him for promotion, and in consequenc

. It has been said that you know your duty well; but they had privately learned that you were fond of liquor; and although no charge of absolute drunkenness had been brought against you, it was considered that you would not make a desirable officer in a higher rank. Now your future depends upon yourself; if you have th

never went alone, and always returned at an early hour, and without having taken more than he would have done in the ordinary way on board. He had not, however, given up his habit of gru

" Harry Parkhurst asked th

an't, as Morrison says, have half the ship's company down with the fever. It is all in our favor that we have only just come out, for they say that newcomers can resist the effects of these tropical rivers much better than those whose constitution has been weakened by a residence in the country. As to the sport, I have n

augh. "Well, I only wish there were more on board of your opinion, for that w

nxious to do more. I suppose, if there are expeditions against the Malays, I shall h

as we do his neighbors. He is not under our protection yet, and if he sends his prahus down the river to plunder on the coast, as Hassan says, he is not the sort of character likely to do us credit, and the position of a British Resident with him would be the reverse of a pleasant one. How

nks on each side were lined with mangroves, presenting a dreary and monotonous aspect. Progress was slow, the steam launch going ahead and sounding the depth of water, the captain having but little faith in the assertion of the nat

ls glancing off the scaly armor without the alligators appearing to be conscious of anything unusual. There was more amusement in watching how, when the swell of the stea

ng here, Davis," Harry Parkhur

water. Why, they are worse than sharks, sir; a shark does hoist his fin as a signal that he is cruising about, but these

Davis, a bite from an

lligator don't go to work that way: he gets hold of your leg, and no doubt he mangles it a bit; but he don't bite right through the bone; he just t

nt has hit that big fellow there in the eye or the soft skin behind the leg

way of killing t

knew about such things, and he put a big cartridge into a lump of pork, with two wires, and as soon as the shark had swallowed it he would touch a spring or something, and there would be an explosion. There was not as much fun in it as having a hook, but it was quicker, and he did not do it for sport, but because

time, and he began twisting some screws and things as cool as a cucumber, though I could see as his hand shook a bit. Well, he got it right just in time, for the shark was not half a length away from the captain, and was turning himself over for a bite, when the thing went off, and there was an end of the shark. The captain was a bit shaken up, but he made a g

on of these rivers, we shall have to do something of that s

ch went home the day after we relieved them here. He had been up some of the rivers, and told me that

in boats, for if we were to run upon a sunken log and knock a hole in the b

g. Bob Pearson told me that the only chance you have is to send your knife, or if you can't get at that, your thumbs, into the creature's eyes. But it would req

I will take a good look at the next alligator I see de

had anchored in the evening, the air became full of strange noises; great beasts rose and snorted near the banks; sounds of roaring and growling were heard in the

Balderson asked, as the surgeon came up to the spot

eros, or even a buffalo. That roar is either a tiger or a panther, and that snarling sound on the other bank is, no doubt, made by smaller animals of the same family, indulging in a domestic quarrel. So

llowed by a confused outburst of cries, chattering,

has seized it in its sleep; and the other noise is the outcry of its companions

f in earnest, "that I feel so anxious as I did for sport in the fores

ng strange to you in the songs and calls of the birds. I should recommend you all to take a sound dose of quinine tonight; I have a two and a half gallon keg of the stuff mixed, and any officer or man can go and take a glass whenever he feels he want

fied, and he therefore steamed forward at half speed, without sending the launch on ahead to take soundings. Several villages were passed by the way, but thoug

"It may be that they object to our presence altogether, or it may be because they believe that w

of seeing how things are likely to go. At any rate, he is sure to be civil for a time, and we shall be likely to proc

, which they at once concluded was the residence of the rajah. As soon as the Serpent turned the last bend of the river before reaching the place, the sound of drums and gongs was heard, and a large boat, manned by eighteen rowers,

captain's cabin. Compliments were exchanged through the medium of the interpreter, and a bottle of champagne was opened, and its