Now go down to the boat and tell Mr Gregory that we are partly prisoners here.

I say partly, because I have barricaded the cabin-door.
Tell him that one of the praus came alongside to beg for water.

The crew said they were dying for want of it, and the scoundrels had hidden their arms.

I can hardly tell now how it was done, my lad, but one moment I was giving orders for the water to be passed over the side, the next I was lying on the deck struck down, and when I came to, the men were secured below and the deck was in possession of the Malays, a second prau having come up and helped the men of the first." "But we heard firing, father ?" "Yes, my boy, so did I, as if it was in a dream, and I found afterwards that my poor lads had made a brave fight of it, and driven the first party out, but the crew were without a leader, and the Malays fired into them till they came close alongside and boarded together." "Was--was anyone killed ?" "Don't ask now, my lad.

Tell Gregory we were driven in here, and the ladies are all right.