There was a low laugh once more in the fore-part of the boat; but the prisoner was too intent upon feeling the hand thrust into his breast, his cigar-case opened and snapped again, the case returned, the roll of tobacco placed in his lips, and then the light struck and held convenient for him to draw. "Hah!" he said to himself, "it's wonderful what comfort there is in a cigar at a time like this! How I do pity the poor little women who are not allowed to smoke!" He said a few words to the Malays, but they were very quiet and reticent; and feeling that it was of no further use to talk to them in their own tongue, which was a trouble to him, he began to think in English, which, if not of much comfort, was at all events an occupation for the time being. "This is a rum set-out," he thought, as he settled himself as comfortably as he could, and smoked away. "An hour or so ago I was at an English evening-party, held for coolness upon a lawn. Now I am here in a boat; but where the dickens here is I don't know. "But what does it mean? I'm not of the slightest use to anybody; and they are not doing it for revenge, because I haven't made any enemies. Let me see, though--have I?" He paused thoughtfully for a few minutes. "No--no, I can't think of anybody except Miss Helen, for rejecting her tender glances. Let's see, what did Byron or some other chap say about there being no what-you-may-call-it so dangerous as a woman scorned? Can't recollect quotations--never could. But that's all nonsense. Helen Perowne wouldn't want to have me carried off like this. "That's it," he said, half aloud this time, and after a thoughtful pause. "It's ransom, that's what it is. The noodles think because I am an English officer, and flash about in scarlet and gold, that I must be very rich. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!" Chumbley indulged himself with a long and rumbling chuckle. "They'll be preciously disappointed on finding out I've none, and if they expect to get it out of the British Government they'll find that the payment will be made in rifle balls, unless some very urgent appeals are made in Parliament respecting the risk, when the question will arise, what will the noble, the British Government, as represented by its Secretary for the time being, think that my great carcass is worth." Chumbley had sat there for a considerable time smoking and listening, for he had suddenly awakened to the fact that there was another boat hard by, with whose occupants his captors conversed in a low voice. Then suddenly he heard a familiar voice speaking fiercely in the Malayan tongue. Chumbley hesitated for a moment to make sure, and then shouted: "Why, Hilton, old man, are you there?" "Chumbley! Here! Help!" cried Hilton. "Help, man, help!" "Bring it here, then," said Chumbley, coolly. "I cannot. I'm a prisoner: seized by Malay scoundrels."