"Come, come," said the lieutenant gently, "calm yourself. Try and sleep." He laid his hand firmly on the young man's arm, but Ali caught his wrist. "What, do you think," he cried, "that I am speaking no sense?" "Well," said the lieutenant, smiling, "I think you are excited and ill." "No, no," cried Ali. "Give me clothes; I will fight for you. There is danger!" "Nonsense!" said the lieutenant. "There, lie down; and Roberts, your friend, you know, shall come and sit with you." "Oh, listen to me!" cried Ali piteously. "I am not as you think. I swam off to warn you. Hamet has got half your men away by treachery. I am sure they are going to attack you. Quick! get ready; there is great, great danger! Give me clothes, and I'll fight for you!" As he spoke excitedly, Bob Roberts entered the cabin, and stood listening. "Come and speak to him, Roberts," said the lieutenant quietly. "Poor fellow! he is overdone, and it has flown to his head." "Ah! You here?" cried Ali joyfully. "He will not believe me, Bob. Listen; there is going to be an attack made upon you--at the island, and here. They have got your men and officers away to lead them into a trap. I escaped to tell you." "Oh! come, old chap, don't talk like that," cried Bob, taking his hand. "Don't talk such wild nonsense and bosh. Lie down and have a good sleep. I say, Mr Johnson, I wish old Bolter was here." "You do not believe me!" cried Ali passionately. "What am I, that you treat me so? Is it that I always lie?" "Lie? No, old boy," said Bob kindly; "but it isn't you talking. Your head's all in a muddle." "Head? muddle? Not I!" cried Ali excitedly. "There! Hark! I told you so!" As he spoke there was the sharp crack of a rifle, then another, and another, and a rattling scattered volley. "Something wrong at the island, sir," reported one of the watch. "By Jove! he's right!" cried the lieutenant, rushing out of the cabin. "Quick, Roberts!" "Yes--clothes--my kris!" cried Ali joyfully. "I'll fight with you." For answer Bob ran to his own berth, hastily threw the young Malay one of his spare suits; and then, quickly buckling on his sword, ran on deck, where the lieutenant was striding up and down, giving his orders. "That's right, Roberts," he cried. "They're hard at work at the island." The next moment Bob was running here and there, seeing that his superior's orders were executed. The drums had already beat to quarters, and with the wondrous business-like rapidity with which matters are done on board a man-of-war every man was at his place, the ports flew open, the magazine was unfastened, and while the moorings were cast off astern, and those ahead ready to be dropped at a moment's notice, the furnaces were roaring furiously, and every effort being made by the firemen to get up steam.