"Good?" cried Hilton, angrily; "are we to stop here and be a pair of slaves?" "No; only it's as well to wait. There are times to fight, and there are times when it's as well to draw off your forces, even if the London papers do revile and talk of want of pluck. You see a fellow can't fight in a case of this sort. It's ridiculous." "Ridiculous indeed!" cried Hilton; as, with the petulance of a boy, he seized the door, and slammed it in the face of the Malays. "Exactly," drawled Chumbley, glancing at the Princess, who was watching them from the other end of the room. "You see, Warner or Terriss on the Adelphi stage would have knocked all those fellows over like skittles, or skewered them all upon one spear like a row of larks; but that's only done upon the boards; a fellow can't play like that in common life." "Is there much more of this, Chumbley?" said Hilton, with mock deference. "Not a great deal, old man," said the big fellow, coolly ignoring his friend's sarcastic manner. "I was only going to say--and I hope her majesty Queen Cleopatra can't hear me--that the only course open to us seems to be to wait our chance and bolt; and I'll be blest if I run, or try to run, through this sweltering jungle to save myself or anybody else. If you'll have me carried down to the river and pitched in, I don't mind trying to swim." "Ha--ha--ha--ha--ha! Ha--ha--ha--ha--ha--ha--ha!" A merry, almost girlish laugh rang out; and as the two officers turned sharply, it was to see that the Inche Maida's countenance had lost its look of annoyance, and was full of mirth, for she had heard every word that Chumbley had spoken. "Tchah!" ejaculated Hilton; "our position is growing more and more absurd?" "You are a very droll man," said the Princess, turning to Chumbley. "You make me laugh by your way of speaking; but you are very wise and clever all the same. You know that you could not get away; so you are ready to wait patiently to see what comes. You are quite right, Mr Chumbley, and I like you more and more, and will treat you well." "That's very kind of you, Princess," said Chumbley, slowly; "and I must say that I heard what you said before about me; but speaking like a persecuted maiden in the ancient castle of some baron bold, will you excuse me if I say your previous remarks are insufficient, and I should be glad to know why the dickens you brought me here when you wanted him?" "You make such long speeches," cried the Inche Maida, "and you speak so slowly, that you puzzle me. I never know whether you are serious or laughing at me." "Oh, I am not laughing," said Chumbley, slowly. "Then do not ask," said the Princess, shortly. "You are my prisoners, and must submit." "For the present, madam," said Hilton, with a return of his anger; "but if you will take my advice, you will end this sorry farce at once. You will regret it if you stop too long, and find your palm-tree palace--"