It seems a curious thing to a man of peace that a man of war should be
in a state of high delight at the prospect of an engagement wherein he
may lose his life; but the fact is, that when two or three hundred men
are bound to attack some enemy, each single individual knows full well
that somebody will be wounded, perhaps killed, but believes that it will
not be himself.
So it was then that on board the "Startler" there was no little
excitement. The grindstone was in full use to sharpen cutlasses, and in
addition there was a great demand made on the armourer for files to give
to the lethal weapons a keener edge, one which was tried over and over
again, as various messmates consulted together as to the probability of
taking off a Malay's head at a blow.
"What you've got to do, my lads," said old Dick, "is to keep 'em off.
You as has rifles and bagnets always show 'em the pynte; and you as
fights with your cutlashes, keep 'em well away off your sword arm; then
you'll be all right."
Capital advice if it could be acted upon, and a way of avoiding all kris
wounds, but useless against the Malays' other dangerous weapon, the
limbing or lance.
All the preparations were made over-night, so that long before daybreak
the expedition could be well on the way, the object being to surprise
the stockade and its defenders, and burn the bamboo fortification and
the prahus.
The force was to consist of fifty soldiers, twenty-five marines, and
fifty blue-jackets, who were to embark in the steamer's boats, two of
which were provided with small breech-loading pieces running on slides,
and under the charge of the sailors.
Water, provisions, plenty of spare ammunition, all were handed down, and
two hours after midnight, the boats that were to convey the soldiers
ranged up alongside the landing-place, and in due time the embarkation
took place, the soldiers being under the command of Captain Smithers,
the sailors under that of the first lieutenant of the "Startler."
A guide had been found in the person of a native fisherman, who, upon
coming to the island the day before, had been detained, so that he
should not communicate with the shore, and so give warning of the
expedition. Not that there was any fear, for the Malay was in a high
state of delight at the idea of the rajah meeting his match.
From this man they learned that for many years past Rajah Gangtang had
been a perfect scourge to the river. He was famous for his piracies and
his daring. Sultan Hamet dreaded him; and it was only to strengthen his
position against the warlike rajah, who was too strong for him, that
Hamet had entered into his alliance with the British, and invited the
presence of a resident and the troops.
This was satisfactory, for the idea of the sultan proving treacherous
was a suggestion of a complicated knot that it would take no end of
policy to undo. Whereas, if it was all true about Rajah Gantang, his
defeat and the breaking up of his power would be hailed with delight,
and work greatly towards the pacification of a country terribly broken
up by petty quarrels, strengthen Hamet's position, and give inimical
chiefs a lesson on the power of the British forces that they were not
likely to forget.
It was soon after two o'clock that the soldiers were mustered down to
the boats, and silently took their places, just as through the mist, and
with muffled oars, three more boats came slowly abreast of them, and
after a brief colloquy moved off, with instructions that there should be
no talking on board.
Fortunately for the expedition, though it was misty it was not so dark
but that the leaders could follow the little light sampan of the Malay
fisherman, who, apparently without any difficulty, sent his frail boat
onward against the stream.
It was a weird procession through the mist, which gave the boats a
fantastic, unreal appearance, while the shores looked, where the fog
broke or floated up, strange, dark, and full of mystery. Every now and
then there was a low echoing splash in the water, which told of some
great reptile disturbed from its resting-place upon a muddy bank. Then
those in the boats heard strange cries coming from a distance in the
jungle, to be answered by other calls, some farther distant, some near
at hand, telling that the various nocturnal creatures were busy securing
food before the sun should drive them to their hiding-places in the
darkest recesses of the forest.
"What's that?" whispered Bob Roberts to old Dick, who was beside him in
the foremost boat.
"Sounds like something swimming, sir. There, you can hear it blowing."
"Do you think one of the boats has upset," whispered Bob, excitedly, as
he leaned over the gunwale and tried to pierce the mist.
"'Taint likely, sir. Wouldn't they shout if they was turned up!
Leastwise our chaps would; there's no counting for what soldiers might
do, though. I shouldn't say as they'd let their selves drown without a
squeak. That there's a tiger swimming 'crost the river, that's what
that is."
"Get out," exclaimed the middy; "just as if a great cat would take to
the water. Hist! I say, Doctor Bolter!"
"Yes," was whispered back from the next boat.
"Would tigers swim?"
"Yes. There's one trying to cross the river now."
"What did I tell you, Mr Roberts?" growled old Dick, softly.
"Here, give me your rifle, marine;" said Bob, excitedly. "I should like
a shot at a tiger."
"Silence in that boat!" said Captain Smithers sharply; and the oars went
on dipping softly, while Bob Roberts sat and listened till the panting
noise of the swimming creature died away.
"I wonder whether Ensign Long's in the expedition?" said Bob, after a
pause.
"Yes, sir; please I see him," said one of the sailors. "He got into one
of the boats, wrapped up in a big grey great-coat."
"I hope he won't get wounded this time," said Bob. And the men all
laughed; for Ensign Long's wound was a subject that afforded them no
little amusement.
Then the procession went on, the boats gliding along in wonderful
silence. Sometimes a glimpse of the dark foliage told them that they
were a little too near either bank, but on the whole the Malay led them
a very correct course along the centre of the stream, which wound here
and there, sometimes contracting its banks, sometimes widening out, but
always running swift, deep, and strongly, downward towards the sea.
The mist grew thicker, and hung so low down upon the water that at last
the boats had to proceed very slowly, a rope being paid out from one to
the other, so that there should be no mistake, otherwise it was quite
within the range of possibility that one or the other would go astray,
and be wanting at some critical time. A similar plan was carried out
with the sampan, during the latter part of the journey, for it was often
invisible; and so at last they felt their way onward in silence, till
the Malay allowed his sampan to drift alongside the bows of the leading
boat, and whispered to the interpreter his conviction that they were
close up to the stockade.
"Might be anywhere," muttered the midshipman.
"Yes, sir, it's a thick 'un," growled old Dick; "and if I was in command
o' this here expedition, I should give orders for all the Jacks to out
cutlashes and cut the fog in pieces, while the sogers and marines forked
it over with their bay'nets."
"Silence, there!" came from one of the officers, just as a faint breeze
began to spring up, as if to solve the difficulty; breaking the fog into
patches, and then forcing a way right through, so that it was swept to
right and left of the river, passing under the trees.
The change was almost magical, for at the end of ten minutes the river
was quite clear, and by the glittering starlight they could see the
stockade on their right, while moored in front of it were two large
prahus.
The boats closed in for the officer in command to give his final orders
for the attack, and every man's heart beat fast with excitement, as he
clutched his weapons.
They had no knowledge of the enemy's strength; but trusting to a night
surprise, they felt satisfied of being able to put him to flight; so two
boats were sent to board the prahus, while the three others made for the
stockade, one to attack in front, while the others landed on either
side, to take it in the rear, expecting an easy task, for there was not
a sign of life as far as they could see.
But if the leaders of the expedition counted upon trapping the Malays
asleep, they were mistaken. There is too much of his native tiger in
the Malays' nature for such a march to be stolen upon them; and, just as
the boats separated, and began rapidly to advance, the silence was
broken by the deafening clangour of a gong, lights appeared suddenly in
the stockade and in both the prahus, and to the astonishment of the
attacking force, there was the flashing of muskets, the louder roar of
the lelahs or small brass guns, and the surface of the river was
splashed up in all directions by the bullets.
Fortunately the aim was bad, and the boats had separated, so that no one
was injured, as, with a loud cheer, the sailors made their oars bend,
the waters lapped and splashed beneath the bows of the boats, and
soldier and marine waited eagerly for the command to fire.
But this was not given; for Captain Smithers felt that if the task was
to be done, it must be achieved at the point of the bayonet; so, bidding
his men be steady, he waited till the boat he was in crashed amongst the
thick reeds and grass growing along the water's edge; and then leaping
out, lead his little company through the dense undergrowth, round to
where he expected to find the entrance to the stockade, from which a
lively fire was now being kept up, while a deep-toned roar told that the
large gun in the boat attacking the face of the stockade, had begun to
speak.
The party Ensign Long was with, under one of the lieutenants, had to
make for the other side of the stockade, while the boat in which was Bob
Roberts, being manned entirely by sailors and marines, had to attack the
largest prahu.
The men were sanguine and full of spirit, their only regret being that
they had so far to go before they could reach the sides of the long
prahu, which they found now on the move, her anchor having been slipped,
so that she was slowly floating down the stream, as she kept up a lively
fire against the boat.
It seemed long, but not a minute could have elapsed before the boat was
alongside, the bowman driving a Malay head over heels with the
boat-hook, and then making fast, while the sailors let their
well-secured oars swing, seized their rifles, and began to spring up the
sides.
"Up with you, my lads," roared Bob Roberts, who was armed with a cutlass
far too large for him to handle in comfort. But it was easy enough to
say, "Up with you!" while it was excessively difficult to obey. Man
after man tried to climb the side of the prahu, but only to slip back
into the boat; while those who had better success found it impossible to
surmount the stout bamboo basket-work or matting, with which the sides
were protected from assault.
Through this, spear after spear was thrust; and after several
ineffectual attempts to reach the deck, the sailors and marines began to
retaliate by thrusting bayonet and cutlass through in return. A few
shots were fired, but there was nothing to aim at; though the Malays
were not of that opinion, for they kept loading and firing the two
lelahs on board, making a great deal of noise, but necessarily doing no
mischief.
"Back into the boat, my lads," cried the lieutenant in command, as they
floated down with the prahu, which evidently swarmed with men; "we'll
try round the other side."
"Let me board them first, Mr Johnson," cried Bob excitedly.
"No, no, my lad," was the reply. "What the men cannot do, you cannot."
In the excitement of the men firing and making a fresh effort, as the
boat was worked round the stem of the prahu, the lieutenant lost sight
of Bob Roberts, who, after feeling terribly alarmed for the first few
inmates, had become accustomed to the firing and shouting, and then
grown so excited and angry that he felt as if he could not stay in his
place. Getting hold of a rifle, laid down by one of the men who tried
to board the prahu, he had given vent to some of his excitement by
loading and firing as fast as he could, sending bullet after bullet
whistling through the tough screen, but doing no mischief to a soul; and
still the prahu floated steadily down the stream, getting farther and
farther away from where the firing was on the increase; the boats' guns
sending an echoing report to roll along the surface of the water, and
giving ample notice to those at the residency, that the business was
going on.
As the boat Bob Roberts was in reached the other side of the prahu, the
Malays, uttering loud yells, rushed over, and once more there was a
desultory attack kept up and repelled; for do all they could, not a
sailor was able to surmount the tall screen.
Several wounds had been received from the limbings, and the men believed
that they had pretty well retaliated with the bayonet, but they could
see nothing; and checked as they had been, again and again, they were
growing disheartened, and thinking what else they could do, when a loud
yelling from the prahu, and the reports of several muskets, told of
something fresh.
"Where's Mr Roberts?" said the lieutenant, suddenly.
"Here he is, sir," replied old Dick; and in the same breath, "No he
ain't, sir. He was here just now."
"Look out, my lads! Seize those sweeps," said the lieutenant, as
several long oars were now thrust out beneath the bamboo screen, and the
Malays stabbed at the boat with them, trying to drive a hole through her
bottom.
Several of the sailors seized the long oars on the instant, and hung on,
while some of their messmates tried to fire through the holes, with the
result that long spears were now thrust through, and desperate stabs
made at the attacking party.
It was a wretched desultory fight, and the lieutenant was almost at his
wits' end, for his spirit forbade his giving up, and all the time, no
matter how bravely his men tried, they could not get on board the prahu.
Just then it was observed by the men who held on by the sweeps, that a
brass lelah was being thrust through a hole, and brought to bear upon
them, when the result would have been death to several, and the sinking
of the boat, if it was fired. The danger was, however, averted by old
Dick, who seized a boat-hook, and hitching it on the prahu's side, gave
so sturdy a haul that he drew the boat some six feet along, and closer
alongside.
He was just in time, for as the boat grated against the prahu there was
a sharp ringing report, and the water was thrown up close astern.
A sharp volley from the boat replied to this, probably with as good
results; and then thrusting with spear and bayonet went on in the
darkness.
"Confound it all, my lads! we must get aboard her somehow," cried the
lieutenant, stamping his foot with rage, as he stood up in the boat.
"Here, make ready some of you, and follow me. Dick Dunnage, you keep
her fast with the boat-hook."
As he spoke the lieutenant parried a thrust with his sword, and replied
to it with a shot from his revolver, letting both weapons then hang from
his wrists by sword-knot and lanyard as, seizing one of the sweeps, he
began to clamber up, followed by a dozen of the men. There was a
confused roar of shouts, yells, and cheers mingled, as those left in the
boat ceased firing, so as not to injure the boarding party, who made a
desperate effort now to climb over the bamboo screen, little thinking
that the missing midshipman had boldly climbed up, a little ahead of
where they were, mounted to the great bamboo spar that held up the
screen, and then with a miserably ineffective weapon, to wit, his
pocket-knife, set to work as he sat astride it, and sawn away at the
rattans that held it up.
It was a brave act, but an unlucky one. He had nearly succeeded in
getting through, and he would have shouted out a warning, but that would
have brought upon him the spears of the Malays; so he cut away, and had
been so successful that, as the boarding party made their desperate
dash, down came the great bamboo with a rush. The screen went outwards,
over the sailors, who fell back beneath it into the boat, while Bob
Roberts felt himself describing a half circle in the air, before
plunging out of semi-darkness into that which was total, as he went
down, yards away from the boat, into the cold black water, one thought
alone filling his mind, and that thought was--crocodiles.