Middy and Ensign Part 49

That Mrs Major was only talking to me patronisingly, and half-laughing at me. I can see it now. Oh! here's Smithers."

Captain Smithers came up, looking rather careworn and sad, and nodded in a friendly way at his junior.

"Well, Long," he said, "so we are commanders-in-chief just now. At least, I am. You'll have to be my colonel, major, and adjutant, all in one."

"I shall do my best to help you, Captain Smithers," said Tom Long stiffly.

"I know you will, my lad," was the reply; "but it will be no child's play, for we must be extra strict and watchful."

"Do you think there is anything to fear, Captain Smithers," said the ensign eagerly.

"To fear? No, Mr Long," said the captain. "We are English officers, and, as such, never mention such a thing; but there is a good deal to be anxious about--I mean the safety of all here."

"But you have no suspicion, sir--of danger?"

"Not the slightest. Still we will be as careful as if I felt sure that an enemy was close at hand."

There was something about that _we_ that was very pleasant to the young ensign; and his heart warmed like a flower in suns.h.i.+ne.

"Of course, sir," he said eagerly. "I'll do the best I can."

"Thank you, Long, I am sure you will," said Captain Smithers. "By the way, you know, of course, that the ladies are coming to stay with Mrs Major, so that there will not be much cause for anxiety about the residency. Suppose we now take a quiet look round together; there is really no necessity, but we will go as a matter of duty."

Tom Long's self-esteem was flattered, the more especially as he could see that Captain Smithers was perfectly sincere, and looked to him, in all confidence, for aid in a time when a great responsibility was thrown upon his shoulders.

"If I don't let him see that I can act like a man, my name's not Long,"

he muttered to himself, as they walked on together.

"There's only--"

Captain Smithers, who was speaking, stopped short, and the ensign stared.

"I do not want to offend you, Long," he said, "but all I say to you is in strict confidence now, and you must be careful what you repeat."

"You may trust me, Captain Smithers," said the ensign quietly.

"Yes, I am sure I may," was the reply. "Look here, then. I was going to say that the only weak point in our arrangements here seems to be that!"

He nodded his head in the direction in which they were going, and the ensign stared.

"I mean about allowing that Malay, Abdullah, to set up his tent among us. He has such freedom of communicating with the banks of the river on both sides. He is a man, too, whom I rather distrust."

"Indeed?" said Long.

"Yes, I don't know why. But unless for some good and sufficient reason it would, I think, be bad policy to attempt to oust him."

"Yes," calmly said Long. "He is a violent fellow, too;" and he related the incident about their first meeting.

"If the major had known of this," said Captain Smithers, "he would never have allowed the man to settle here. You did wrong in not speaking of it, Long."

"He was so apologetic and gentlemanly afterwards," said the ensign, "that I did not care to speak about it, and upset the fellow's plans."

"Well, it is too late to talk about it now," replied Captain Smithers; "but I shall have his actions quietly watched. Let me see, who will be the man?"

"There's Private Gray yonder," suggested the ensign.

"I hate Private Gray!" exclaimed Captain Smithers, with a sudden burst of rage, of which he seemed to be ashamed the next moment, for he said hastily,--"It is a foolish antipathy, for Gray is a good, staunch man;"

and making an effort to master himself, he made a sign to Gray to come to them.

"You are right, Long; Gray is the man. He is to be trusted."

The private came up, and stiffly saluted his officers, standing at attention.

"Gray," said Captain Smithers, "I want you to undertake a little task for me."

"Yes, sir."

"You will be off regular duty; another man will take your place. I want you, in a quiet, unostentatious manner, to keep an eye on Abdullah the fruit-seller. Don't let him suspect that you are watching him, for really there may be no cause; but he is the only native here who has free access to the island, and during the major's absence I wish to be especially strict."

"Yes, sir."

"You understand me? I trust entirely to your good sense and discrimination. You will do what you have to do in a quiet way, and report everything--even to the least suspicious proceeding--to me."

"Yes, sir."

"You shall be furnished with a permit, to pa.s.s you anywhere, and at all times."

"Thank you, sir."

"I'd go in undress uniform, and apparently without arms, but have a bayonet and a revolver under your jacket."

"Do you think there is danger, sir?" exclaimed the private hastily, forgetting himself for the moment.

"Private Gray, you have your orders."

Gray drew himself up stiffly and saluted.

"Begin at once, sir?"

"At once," said Captain Smithers. "I trust to your silence. No one but Mr Long knows of your mission."

Gray saluted again and went off, while the two officers continued their walk towards Dullah's hut.

The Malay came out as they approached, and with a deprecating gesture invited them to take a seat beneath his verandah, and partake of fruit.

This, however, they declined to do, contenting themselves with returning his salute, and pa.s.sing on.

There were two sampans moored close to Dullah's hut, each holding four Malays, but the boats themselves were filled with produce piled high, and the owners were evidently waiting to have dealings with their superior, the man who had been appointed to supply the English garrison of the island and the s.h.i.+p.