'Perhaps they mistake us for some other craft,' the mate said.
'"Alert," ahoy!' the lieutenant sang out. 'Pawl your windlass. I am coming alongside. Have a line ready.'
Captain Thorne expressed considerable annoyance at the interference; but when the stranger reached the deck the situation immediately assumed sufficiently serious proportions.
'Veer away on your cable again,' the officer ordered. 'Clew up and furl all the canvas. Should you disobey my commands, you will be followed and brought back.'
'By what authority do you issue them?' the skipper shortly inquired.
'By Her Britannic Majesty's Warrant of Detention,' was the curt reply, and producing it the lieutenant proceeded to secure it to the mainmast.
'What is the charge?' Captain Thorne inquired.
'Harbouring and assisting Malay pirates, headed by one Kalli Lal,' the other replied.
'Kalli Lal!' the skipper exclaimed; 'he acted as my pilot. We sheltered under what was believed to be an uninhabited island in Billiton Passage, but found we had sailed into the very midst of a hornets' nest. To escape with whole skins, I took the fellow on board. Of his followers I know nothing. What have they been doing, sir?'
'Seized and almost destroyed everyone on board a small Dutch steamer which left here a few days since,' the lieutenant explained; 'and but for the opportune arrival of a Dutch gunboat all hands would have been massacred. The skipper says he saw signals pass between you and Kalli Lal when he passed.'