"And I'm sure that's _firing_," cried Bob, aloud. "Yes," said Tom Long, speaking excitedly; "those were the two prahus we passed on the way down." "And they are attacking the residency," cried Bob. Even as he spoke there was a shot fired from the steamer to recall the boats, and the men bent to their stout ashen oars with all their might, the lieutenant as he leaped on board being met by Captain Horton with-- "These Malay tigers are a little too cunning for us, Johnson. Those were the prahus we passed on the way down." "Yes, sir, another slip; but we may have them yet." CHAPTER SIXTEEN. HOW PRIVATE SIM TOOK A NAP, AND FOUND IT UNPLEASANT. A general feeling of uneasiness had been excited as soon as it was known that the "Startler" had left her moorings to go in search of the two escaped prahus. Mr Linton did not feel happy in his own mind, though he did not communicate his fears to a soul. Still he might have spoken openly, for it would not have caused greater terrors in the breasts of his daughter and niece, who were for some reason or another too full of vague fears to retire to rest. It did not occur to them to associate their sensations with the departure of the steamer. In fact if they had so done, they would not have harboured the thought for a moment, knowing as they did how well-protected they were by the sturdy little garrison of troops, only about a third of which had gone upon the expedition. Both Tom Long and Bob Roberts might have been conceited enough to think that the uneasiness of the ladies was entirely upon their account, and they would have been terribly upset to know that not a single thought concerning them had crossed the minds of either since the departure. It was, in fact, a vague feeling of general uneasiness, such as might have been suffered at any time by those who were comparatively alone in the midst of a notoriously hostile, and even treacherous people, some of whom were friendly to the English, though the majority bore them the most intense hate. Even the Major was out of spirits, and told Mrs Major that he would after all a great deal rather be at home, than out in such a treacherous, krising, throat-cutting place as Parang. "And a very nice thing to say too," said Mrs Major Sandars, "just too as we are going to bed. I shall now lie awake all night thinking, and keep seeing brown men climbing in through the blinds, and be uneasy as can be." "Don't talk nonsense," said the Major, gruffly. "But really, I've a good mind to have the sentries increased in number." "I really would, if I were you," said Mrs Major. "No; second thoughts are best. There is no occasion to harass the men with extra duty; and, besides, I'm nearly undressed." So the Major and Mrs Major went to bed, as did the majority of those at the station, excepting, of course, the officer and the guard.