"Oh, I say," cried Bob; "I can't stand this, you know. I thought you were a young Malay chief, and you are talking like a professor. Look here, Ali, is there any good fishing here?" "Yes, oh yes. I'll take you in my boat, and my men shall catch plenty." "No, no," said Bob. "You take me in the boat, and I'll catch the fish. But is there any shooting?" "Shooting!" said the young Malay, laughing; "everything; bird that flies, bird that swims, tigers, buffalo, deer." "Where?" cried Bob, excitedly. "In the great forest--the jungle. Will you come?" "Will I come?" cried Bob. "Won't I! I say," he went on, excitedly, "you can't shoot, can you?" "I practise sometimes," said the young Malay, quietly. "What with? A blow-pipe?" "Yes, I can use the sumpitan," said the young Malay, nodding; "but I use a revolver or a rifle." "I believe I'm half asleep," muttered Bob. "Haven't got a gun, have you?" "Yes; an English gentleman changed with me. I gave him ivory and gold, and he gave me his double gun." "Not a breechloader?" said Bob. "Yes, a breechloader--a Purdey he called it, and a bag of cartridges." "Oh, I say," cried Bob; "this is rich, you know. I am sorry I was such an idiot with you at first. But do you mean it? If I get a day ashore, will you take me where there's some good shooting?" "Oh, yes, plenty;" was the reply. Bob Roberts was thoughtful for a few moments. "I say," he said at last, "I wish Tom Long were here." "En-sign Long?" said Ali. "Yes. He's a very cocky fellow, you know; but he's a good one at bottom." "Should I like him?" "Yes, when you got to know him; but he only shows some fellows his clothes." "I don't want to see his clothes," said Ali, smiling. "I mean, some people never get to know what's inside him," said Bob. "What is `inside him'?" said Ali, whom these mysteries of the English tongue somewhat puzzled. "Do you mean what he has had to eat?" "No, no;" said Bob, laughing. "I mean his heart." "Show people his heart?" said Ali, thoughtfully. "Oh yes, I see; I understand. You mean he is cold outside, and proud, and does not show people what he really thinks--like a Malay?" "Yes, that's what I mean," said Bob, smiling. "But that's like a Malay, is it? They say one thing, and mean another, do they?" "Yes," said Ali, gravely--"to their enemies--to the people who try to cheat, and deceive them. To their real friends they are very true, and full of faith. But it is time now that I should go." "I say, though, stop a minute," said Bob sharply. "Are your people really good friends to us?" "Yes," said the visitor, "I hope so. I believe so. They are strange at first, and do not like English ways, like I. Afterwards they will do the same as I do. Good-bye." "But about our shooting?" said Bob. "May I bring Tom Long?" "I should like to know En-sign Long. He is very brave, is he not?" "Pretty bobbish, I believe," said the middy. "Is he bobbish, too, like you. Are you not Bob Bobbish?"