"He much angry, sahib," said the Kling, whose swarthy visage had turned of a dirty clay colour. "Soldier sahib hurt him much." "Yes, but if we hadn't stopped him he'd have hurt my friend much more." As he spoke Bob nodded shortly to the Kling, and leaped ashore. "Sahib not take his flowers," said the latter, and dipping them in the river, and giving them a shake, he left the boat and handed the beautiful blossoms to the young sailor, who directly after joined Tom Long, who looked, in spite of his sunburnt visage, rather "white about the gills," to use Bob's expression. "That fellow ought to be shot. I shall report this case," cried the ensign angrily. "I don't think I should," said Bob quietly. "You see you did upset the poor fellow, and they are an awfully touchy lot." "It was all your fault for playing me that confounded trick," cried Tom Long, passionately. "Trick? I played no trick," said Bob, indignant to a degree at the accusation. "You did," cried Tom Long, "humbugging me into eating that filthy fruit." "Why, it was delicious," cried Bob. "I should have gone on and finished mine if you hadn't made that upset." "I don't care; it was a nasty practical joke," cried Tom Long, "and--I beg your pardon, Roberts," he said, suddenly changing his tone, and holding out his hand. "I believe you saved my life." "Oh, nonsense!" said Bob. "He only meant to prick you with his kris." "Heaven defend me from all such pricks!" said Tom Long, devoutly, as he held the middy's hand in his. "I say, Bob Roberts, I wish you and I could agree better." "So do I," said Bob, giving the hand he held a hearty shake; "But we never shall. I always feel as if I wanted to quarrel with you, as soon as we meet." "So do I," said Tom Long. "You are such an aggravating little beggar." "It is my nature to," said Bob, laughing. "But you won't say anything about this affair, shall you? It will be a lesson how to deal with the natives." "If you think I had better not, I won't," said Tom Long, thoughtfully. Then, with a shudder, "I say, I felt just as if I was going to have that horrid kris in me. I shall never forget this, Bob Roberts." "Oh, stuff and nonsense! Here, I say, have one of these bunches of flowers, old fellow." "No, no; I don't want them," said the ensign, colouring up. "Yes, yes; take one. Quick, here are the ladies. I'm going to give my lotuses to Miss Sinclair," he said quietly. And as Tom Long's fingers closed upon the arums, the ladies, who were walking with the resident came close up. "Ah, Mr Long," said the latter, "what a lovely bunch of arums!" "Yes sir," said Tom, looking very red in the face; "they're for the mess table." "Your lotuses are lovely, Mr Midshipman Roberts," said Miss Linton, smilingly greeting the frank-faced lad. "Aren't they, Miss Linton?" said Bob. "I'm just going to send them aboard to the first luff; he's rather poorly."