CHAPTER EIGHT.
SHOOTING AT FRUIT.
As soon as the three men had got well up to the ground and ascertained the cause of Helen's alarm, and the damage done to Henry's jacket and skin, Murtagh was the first to make a demonstration.

He did so by running in under the tree, and stooping to lay hold of the fruit that had caused the misfortune.

Saloo saw him do this without giving a word of warning.

He was, perhaps, a little piqued that the Irishman should make himself so conspicuous about things he could not possibly be supposed to understand, and which to the Malay himself were matters of an almost special knowledge.

There was a twinkle of mischief in his eye as he contemplated the meddling of Murtagh, and waited for the _denouement_.
The latter, rashly grasping the spiny fruit, did not get it six inches above the ground, before he let go again, as if it had been the hottest of hot "purtatees." "Och, and what have I done now!" he cried, "I'm jagged all over.