“What is your name?” demanded the sailor.

“Mir Jan, sahib, formerly naik[Footnote:  Corporal.] in the Kumaon Rissala.”

“When did you leave the regiment?”

“Two years ago, sahib.  I killed—­”

“What was the name of your Colonel?”

“Kurnal I-shpence-sahib, a brave man, but of no account on a horse.”

Jenks well remembered Colonel Spence—­a fat, short-legged warrior, who rolled off his charger if the animal so much as looked sideways.  Mir Jan was telling the truth.

“You are right, Mir Jan.  What is Taung S’Ali doing now?”

“Cursing, sahib, for the most part.  His men are frightened.  He wanted them to try once more with the tubes that shoot poison, but they refused.  He could not come alone, for he could not use his right hand, and he was wounded by the blowing up of the rock.  You nearly killed me, too, sahib.  I was there with the bazaar-born whelps.  By the Prophet’s beard, it was a fine stroke.”

“Are they going away, then?”

“No, sahib.  The dogs have been whipped so sore that they snarl for revenge.  They say there is no use in firing at you, but they are resolved to kill you and the miss-sahib, or carry her off if she escapes the assault.”

“What assault?”

“Protector of the poor, they are building scaling-ladders—­four in all.  Soon after dawn they intend to rush your position.  You may slay some, they say, but you cannot slay three score.  Taung S’Ali has promised a gold tauk[Footnote:  A native ornament.] to every man who survives if they succeed.  They have pulled down your signal on the high rocks and are using the poles for the ladders.  They think you have a jadu[Footnote:  A charm.] sahib, and they want to use your own work against you.”

This was serious news.  A combined attack might indeed be dangerous, though it had the excellent feature that if it failed the Dyaks would certainly leave the island.  But his sky-sign destroyed!  That was bad.  Had a vessel chanced to pass, the swinging letters would surely have attracted attention.  Now, even that faint hope was dispelled.

“Sahib, there is a worse thing to tell,” said Mir Jan.

“Say on, then.”

“Before they place the ladders against the cliff they will build a fire of green wood so that the smoke will be blown by the wind into your eyes.  This will help to blind your aim.  Otherwise, you never miss.”

“That will assuredly be awkward, Mir Jan.”

“It will, sahib.  Soul of my father, if we had but half a troop with us——­”

But they had not, and they were both so intent on the conversation that they were momentarily off their guard.  Iris was more watchful.  She fancied there was a light rustling amidst the undergrowth beneath the trees on the right.  And she could hiss too, if that were the correct thing to do.

So she hissed.

Jenks swarmed half way up the ladder.