“Oh, yes,” the Malay said cheerfully; and he at once set off.
“But my gun?” cried the doctor. “I have left it behind.”
The man led him back to the place with the greatest ease, and after wiping the wet and rust from lock and barrel, they set off through the dripping undergrowth, and had been walking about half an hour, the doctor’s excitement growing each minute as they drew nearer the camp, when his guide suddenly stopped and laid his hand upon the other’s arm.
“Listen!” he said; and as he spoke there was the distant sound of a shot, then another, and other.
“Thank heaven!” cried the doctor, “they are making a fight for it. Get on quickly.”
They went on along an old overgrown track, with the sound of the firing growing each minute nearer; and the doctor’s heart beat joyfully as he made out that a pretty brisk engagement was going on.
Soon, however, the firing began to drop off, to be renewed from time to time in a straggling manner; and to his great joy the doctor found that those who fired were coming along the track he was upon.
“Yes,” said the Malay, who seemed to read his countenance; “but they may be enemies.”
Yielding to the latter’s solicitations, they hid themselves amidst the dense undergrowth a few yards from the track, and waited patiently.
It was not for long. Soon after they had taken their stand they could hear voices; and directly after the doctor hurried out as he saw an advance guard of the men of his regiment under a lieutenant.