“Please, sir, I was going shooting.”
“Oh!” said his captain, laughing; “then that’s what you call important, eh? Well, I don’t know what to say. Have there been any complaints against you lately?”
“Two or three, sir,” said Bob; “but I have been trying very hard, sir,” he added earnestly, “to do my duty.”
“Humph!” said the captain. “Well, I was a youngster myself once. I suppose you’d be very much disappointed if I said no?”
“Yes, sir; very much.”
“Humph! Who’s going with you?”
“Ensign Long, sir, if he can get leave.”
“Well, Roberts, you can go; but be careful with your guns. And look here, don’t do anything to annoy the Malays. Don’t go near their religious places, or get trespassing.”
“No, sir, I’ll be very careful.”
“Any one else going?”