A general feeling of uneasiness had been excited as soon as it was known
that the "Startler" had left her moorings to go in search of the two
escaped prahus. Mr Linton did not feel happy in his own mind, though
he did not communicate his fears to a soul.
Still he might have spoken openly, for it would not have caused greater
terrors in the breasts of his daughter and niece, who were for some
reason or another too full of vague fears to retire to rest. It did not
occur to them to associate their sensations with the departure of the
steamer. In fact if they had so done, they would not have harboured the
thought for a moment, knowing as they did how well-protected they were
by the sturdy little garrison of troops, only about a third of which had
gone upon the expedition.
Both Tom Long and Bob Roberts might have been conceited enough to think
that the uneasiness of the ladies was entirely upon their account, and
they would have been terribly upset to know that not a single thought
concerning them had crossed the minds of either since the departure.
It was, in fact, a vague feeling of general uneasiness, such as might
have been suffered at any time by those who were comparatively alone in
the midst of a notoriously hostile, and even treacherous people, some of
whom were friendly to the English, though the majority bore them the
most intense hate.
Even the Major was out of spirits, and told Mrs Major that he would
after all a great deal rather be at home, than out in such a
treacherous, krising, throat-cutting place as Parang.
"And a very nice thing to say too," said Mrs Major Sandars, "just too
as we are going to bed. I shall now lie awake all night thinking, and
keep seeing brown men climbing in through the blinds, and be uneasy as
can be."
"Don't talk nonsense," said the Major, gruffly. "But really, I've a
good mind to have the sentries increased in number."
"I really would, if I were you," said Mrs Major.
"No; second thoughts are best. There is no occasion to harass the men
with extra duty; and, besides, I'm nearly undressed."
So the Major and Mrs Major went to bed, as did the majority of those at
the station, excepting, of course, the officer and the guard.
There was one man though who shared the feeling of uneasiness. Earlier
in the night he had been disappointed at not being called upon to form
one of the little company for the expedition, for he was raging with
desire to in some way distinguish himself. He was a mere private
soldier, but he told himself that the way to honour was open; and though
a long and wearisome one for a private, still he might win his way to
promotion--corporal, sergeant--some day, perhaps, ensign; and so on,
till he became, maybe, adjutant of his regiment.
He could not sleep that evening, and crushing down the feelings that
oppressed him, he told himself it was the heat, and dressing lightly, he
went out into the comparative coolness of the night.
He had not gone far before he was reminded that there was watchfulness
around; for he was challenged by first one and then another sentry, who,
however, in turn, let him pass, on finding who it was. And so he
wandered restlessly here and there amidst the trees, longing to go in
one direction, but fighting hard against the desire; as he told himself
with a bitter smile that some of the old poison of the water-snake must
still be in his blood, and be the cause of all this restlessness and
pain.
He had wandered here and there for some time, seating himself amidst the
trees, and then going down to the landing-place to gaze at the calm
swift river that eddied and gurgled amidst the water-washed boats and
masses of rush at the edge of the island, wondering the while whether
possibly at some time or another the effect of the constant washing of
the water might not be to completely sweep away the island. "Not in our
time of possession," he said to himself; and turning slowly away he
stood hesitating for a while, and then, in spite of his self-restraint
he took the path leading to Mr Linton's house, to convince himself, so
he mentally said, that the place was quite safe.
The "place" in his brain really meant one solitary being in that house,
for if he felt assured that Rachel Linton was sleeping peacefully, and
with no overhanging danger, he said that he should be satisfied.
He went on then cautiously, getting nearer and nearer to the house, and
feeling surprised that he was not challenged by a sentry, till he was
quite close up, and then his heart began to beat fast, for he fancied he
heard whispering voices, and at last, after intense listening, he was
quite sure.
Here then was the danger; not such danger as he had fancifully
imagined--the swimming of tigers from the mainland, or some noxious
reptile; it was from man that the peril was to come.
He stole on again, making not a sound. And now he recalled how some
Malay had swum to the island and hurled a spear in through one of the
residency windows.
"Good heavens!" he muttered; "and I am quite unarmed." As this thought
occurred to him, he could hear the whispering continued; and mingled
with it there seemed to come a sound of hard breathing, like a sleeper
close at hand.
It was so--the sentry asleep; and following the sound two or three
yards, Adam Gray bent over a prostrate form, and caught up the rifle
with fixed bayonet, seeing at the same moment that it was Private Sim.
He was about to kick the fellow, but he thought that by so doing he
should be spreading the alarm, perhaps prematurely; so he walked
cautiously forward towards where the whispering seemed to be.
It was so dark amidst the trees that he could hardly make out his
position; but directly after it seemed to him that the sounds came from
an upper window; and as the thought struck him he stepped upon a piece
of dry cane, which snapped beneath his feet.
To bring his rifle to the present was the work of an instant; and as he
did so a quick voice exclaimed,--"Who is there? Is that the sentry?"
"Yes, ma'am," he replied; feeling the blood tingle in his face, as he
recognised the voice.
"We thought we heard the hard breathing of some beast, or some one
asleep," said Rachel Linton, with her voice shaking a little as she
spoke, "and we were afraid."
"There was--there is some one asleep here, ma'am;" said Gray, trying to
speak calmly and quietly; "but I am on duty now."
"It is Private Gray, Rachel, whom you attended to," said another voice.
"Let us go in now, we shall be quite safe."
"Yes," said Rachel, in a low voice, meant only for herself; but heard
plainly in the utter silence of that night, "we shall be quite safe
now."
"Good-night, sentry," said Mary Sinclair.
"Good-night, ma'am," replied Gray; and he stood and heard the shutter
blind closed, with a bitter feeling of annoyance at his heart.
"My name seems to have driven her away," he muttered. "At any rate,
though, I am of some use," he said soon after; "she feels safe when I am
by."
All was perfectly still now, except the heavy breathing of Private Sim;
and Gray stood thinking what he should do.
Should he wake up Sim?
No; if he did, he would have to leave him on duty, when he would go to
sleep again, and something horrible might happen.
What was to happen? he asked himself.
That, he could not say; but on one thing he determined at once, and that
was, to take Private Sim's place and to keep guard.
But then Sim's lapse of duty would be found out, and he would be
severely punished.
Richly he deserved it; but perhaps a severe taking to task might suffice
to awaken him to a sense of his duty; and therefore Gray felt that he
would be lenient, and not betray him, though it was horrible to think
that the lives of all on the island might be betrayed to death by the
neglect of such a fellow as this.
Private Gray was a man of quick decision, and his mind was made up at
once. He would keep on duty till it was time for the guard to be
changed, and then he would wake up Sim, and see that a responsible man
took his place.
"The lazy, untrustworthy scoundrel!" he muttered, as he shouldered the
rifle and walked up and down for a few minutes along the sentry's post.
But matters were not to be ordered as he intended, for he had not been
on duty very long before he heard a sound from the river that made him
start and listen attentively.
"Nothing!" he said to himself after a few seconds' attention; and he
once more resumed his slow march up and down, the motion seeming to calm
him, for when standing still his thoughts tortured him.
"There it is again," he said to himself suddenly. "It is a boat of some
kind."
Plainly enough now he had heard the peculiar creak given by an oar
rubbing against wood, and this was repeated again and again.
He strained his eyes in the direction from which it came, but could see
nothing for the trees. Feeling, though, that he ought to act, he went
to where Private Sim still lay sleeping heavily and gave him a lusty
kick, with the effect of making him start to his feet.
"I only--oh, it's you Private Gray," he said, huskily. "I thought it
was the sergeant."
"You untrustworthy villain!" whispered Gray. "Silence, this moment.
Take your rifle, and keep watch till I return."
"Who are you talking to like that?" said Sim, in a bullying tone.
"You, sir," replied Gray, in a low, authoritative manner, which made the
man shrink. "Do you wish me to report that I found you sleeping at your
post? Silence! no words. There is a large boat of some kind
approaching; be on the look-out and challenge, and fire if necessary."
Private Sim did not answer, but stood on the alert, while Gray ran back
in the direction of the fort.
Before he was half-way there, though, he heard the challenge of a sentry
on his right, followed by a faint cry and a heavy fall.
The challenge was repeated by another sentry farther away, and this time
there was the report of a sentry's rifle; and directly after came from
behind him, where he had left Private Sim, the report of another piece.
He knew it must be Sim, and as danger was there, his first impulse was
to run back to the help of the ladies and the resident. His second
thought told him that he was unarmed, and such an act would be madness.
It must take some time for an enemy to break into the place, and before
then the soldiers would have turned out.
In fact the bugle rang out as he hurried on through the darkness, being
compelled to turn back twice; for he heard the trampling of feet and
rustling of the leaves as people forced their way through, and he was
obliged to make somewhat of a detour.
Even then somebody struck at him, a blow which he returned with his
fist, sending his assailant staggering back amidst the bushes, while he
ran on, to hear a limbing whistle by his ear.
Shot after shot had meanwhile been fired, fully giving the alarm, and by
the time Gray reached the fort, after an extremely perilous run--for the
way seemed to swarm with enemies; and even now he did not know whether
he was wounded or no, for he had felt two heavy blows in the chest and
back--he found the men falling in, and catching his rifle and belts from
the stand he joined them.
Major Sandars was with them, in nothing but his shirt and trousers and
bare feet, but he had not forgotten his sword, and in a few short words
he made his arrangements for the defence of the fort, while, to Gray's
great delight, he detailed a party of a dozen men, under a lieutenant,
to go down to the residency.
"You must act according to circumstances, Mr Ellis," he said quietly.
"It is impossible to tell who or how many our assailants are; but the
darkness that favours them will also favour you. Your orders are to get
somehow to the residency, and hold it or bring its occupants away,
according to circumstances."
The lieutenant saluted, and the dozen men, among whom was Gray, were
marched to the gate.
There was not one among them who had done more than slip on his
trousers, so that they were in light fighting trim; and as soon as they
were outside the gate, the lieutenant gave the word, "Quick march--
double!" and away they went in single file along the narrow path.
Before they could reach the residency their pulses began to throb, for
there were the sharp, quick reports of a revolver, fired six times in
succession. Then a rifle spoke, and another followed by a desultory
firing as if in reply.
Then from behind came the loud, heavy report of a brass lelah, fired
evidently from some boat on the river; then another, and another, with
more desultory firing.
"Come along my lads; our fellows will talk to them directly." There was
a crashing volley just then.
"I told you so. That's English, my lads. Steady, steady; don't get out
of breath. As we get out of the wood here, form up directly in the
open, and wait till we can see by the firing where the enemy is. Then
we'll give him a volley, and charge at once right for the verandah,
where we'll take our places, and act as is afterwards necessary."
The men followed their leader's commands to the letter, formed up in a
little line outside the path, and stood there waiting in the darkness,
watching the flashing of a revolver fired from one of the residency
windows, and the quick streaks of light from a party of the enemy,
whoever that enemy might be, just in front.
"Ready!" cried the lieutenant; and as he gave his command there was the
quick rattle of the pieces, then a ringing little volley, the cry
_Forward_! and on the party dashed with a hearty hurrah, which had the
effect of stopping the fire from the residency, Mr Linton and his
servant, who had been defending the place, recognising the voices of
friends.
The little line, with fixed bayonets, dashed over and swept down a
cluster of Malays who tried to meet their attack with spears before
taking to flight, and the next moment, it seemed to Gray, he was
standing with his comrades in the verandah, reloading.
"Any one down?" cried the lieutenant, sharply.
"No, sir; no, sir," was repeated on all sides.
"All right then, my boys; make cover of anything--posts, flower vases,
anything you can; and we must hold on. Fire where you have a chance;
but don't waste a shot."
The opening of a door changed the plans, for Mr Linton's voice was
heard saying,--"Come in quickly; and we can fire from the windows."
This little evolution was soon performed, but under fire, for the Malays
sent a desultory series of shots, in company with flying spears, though
without any effect, while, as soon as the rest of the upper windows were
thrown open, the men knelt down behind what was an excellent
breast-work, and maintained a steady fire wherever they saw a flash.
Meanwhile there was some sharp volley firing from the direction of the
fort, in reply to that of the enemy's brass lelahs. This was soon after
followed by the heavy roar of a larger gun on board one of the prahus,
to which the occupants of the little fort could not reply, on account of
the darkness, and the fact that one of the attacking prahus was between
them and the campong, while the other was so sheltered by trees that it
would have been folly to have fired.
The attack was weak in the extreme--the Malays running forward, firing a
shot or two, and then retreating to cover; and this was kept up for a
considerable time, the enemy evidently thinking that, as the defenders
were weak through the departure of the steamer, they would soon give in.
It was evident that they were staggered by the defence, for they had no
doubt hoped to surprise both fort and residency. In token of this, the
attacking party retreated two or three times over, as if to ask for
advice or fresh orders from their boats--orders that were pretty
decisive, for they came on each time more keenly than before, the last
time with bundles of inflammable wood and reeds, with which they boldly
advanced to the verandah of the residency, throwing them down and then
rapidly retreating.
Lieutenant Ellis no sooner became aware of this, though, than he got his
men out from a side window, formed up, waited their time till the Malays
came on, shouting, with a burning torch of inflammable resin, and then
gave them a volley, followed by a charge.
The enemy gave way at once, but only for a few moments; then their
numbers seemed to become augmented, and with a tremendous rush they bore
back the little party of soldiers step by step. Numbers fell, but they
paid no heed to this; and the lieutenant began to wish earnestly that
they were safe back within the walls of the residency, when there was a
roar like thunder, then the beating of gongs on both sides of the
island. Then another roar, and another, and the Englishmen began to
cheer and pursue, for the Malays were rushing in the direction of the
gongs.
But it was no time for pursuing this crowd of Malays into narrow paths
through dark woods. They had maintained their defence till the steamer
had returned, and now she was firing regularly, gun after gun, in the
direction of the prahus, but doing no harm, the darkness giving them no
opportunity for taking aim.
The firing of the steamer's big Armstrongs had, however, the effect of
causing a _sauve qui peut_ style of retreat amidst the Malays; and at
the end of ten minutes the sweeps of the prahus were in full work, and
the whole party rapidly making their way up the river once more to some
fresh hiding-place, from which they could issue to deal ruin and
destruction wherever they pleased.