Captain Horton was by his side, and that officer agreed that it would be easy; but, at the same time, gave it as his opinion that the best policy they could affect was an appearance of full confidence in the Malay potentate, while they kept strictly on their guard. Farther back in the line of troops Private Gray was marching along, feeling anything but easy in his mind; for as he glanced now and then to his left, he kept making out the gleam of steel, or the white garments of some Malay amidst the trees; and at last, just as Captain Smithers was abreast, he pointed out to him the fact. The captain felt disposed to resent it as a breach of discipline; but the young man's manner was so earnest, that he nodded, and watchfully turned his head in the same direction. "What do you think then, Gray?" said the captain. "They are only people taking an interest in what is, to them, a great sight." "I'm suspicious, sir, by nature," said Gray, "and I can't help feeling that we are living on the edge of a volcano." "Do you always make use of such fine language, Gray?" said Captain Smithers with a sneer. "I beg your pardon, sir," was the reply; "I was trying to speak respectfully to my officer," replied Gray. Captain Smithers frowned, and felt annoyed with himself for his meanness. "Yes, yes, of course, Gray," he said, hastily; "but there is nothing to fear." "Nothing to fear!" thought Private Gray; "and we are trusting ourselves entirely to these people, who are known to be treacherous; and the ladies and the women of the regiment are all on that island, protected by only a weak force!" Strangely enough, Captain Smithers had very similar thoughts to these as they rambled on, in tolerable coolness now, for they were beneath the trees. They both thought afterwards that their fears were needless; and following the guides, they soon after were formed up in front of the sultan's house and those of his principal men, all of which, though certainly somewhat better than the sergeant's account to Dick Dunnage, would have led any one to expect, were of an extremely simple and lowly character. Here the officers waited for their audience of the great man, Mr Linton being particularly anxious to make arrangements for carrying out the political business, upon which he was engaged; but after waiting half an hour, one of the principal chiefs came out to announce that the sultan was too unwell to receive them. The English officers flushed up, and looked upon the message as an insult, and for the moment there seemed a disposition to resent it; but the wise counsels of Mr Linton prevailed, and the order was given to march back. Just then the young chief who had acted as interpreter before, and who spoke very good English, approached the place where Bob Roberts and the ensign were standing. "I am very sorry," he said; "I meant to ask you to refreshments. Will you take cigars?"