Private Gray was conscious that the ladies saw him start, and their eyes
bade him succeed, or else it was his fancy. At all events the knowledge
that he had their sympathy encouraged him, at a time when his heart was
sore with the knowledge that Captain Smithers was selecting him for
every dangerous service, as if to get rid of him.
Sergeant Lund nodded sagely, on receiving the application for the
revolver.
"All right, my lad," he said quietly. "I suppose I mustn't grumble at
you for making it so rusty last time."
"No, sergeant; nor yet if I make it worse this time."
"Another risky journey then, eh? No, don't tell me, my lad. Go and do
your duty; I'm not going to pump you."
"I know that, sergeant, but it is no breach of confidence to ask your
advice."
"'Course not, my lad. There you are; fix 'em in tight. Now then, what
is it? I'm good at some things, so long as you don't ask me to put 'em
down in writing."
"If you wished to get to the steamer, sergeant, how would you proceed?"
"Oh, that's it, is it?" said the sergeant. "Well then, you've got a
risky job, my lad. But you'll do it. Well, if it was me I should wait
till night, if I could."
"And if you could not?"
"I should go just t'other way, to throw the Malay chaps off their scent.
Then work round to the head of the island, slip into the water, and
swim down."
"Exactly, sergeant," said Gray; and he turned off to go.
"He's as clever a young chap as ever I run against," said the sergeant,
who, like a good many more people, fervently admired those who thought
the same as he. "But what puzzles me more and more every day is how
such a chap as him should come to be a common soldier. He's a
gentleman, every inch of him. Why, didn't they get him to talk to the
French officers when we landed at Ceylon, and the French frigate was
there? and my word, how he did jabber away! He might have been a real
mounseer. Well, 'taint no business of mine; so long as he gets his
accoutrements clean, and a good coating of pipeclay on his belts, that's
enough for me. I only wish there was more Grays and not so many Sims in
the company."
Meanwhile Adam Gray was on his way to the far side of the fort, very
quiet and thoughtful as he made his plans, the first part of which was
to go quietly to the edge of the earthwork, wait for his opportunity,
and drop into the dry ditch, from which he hoped to crawl unperceived to
the cover of the trees, about a hundred yards away. The rest, he felt,
must be left to chance.
As he reached the side he met Ensign Long, who came up to him, and to
his great surprise shook hands.
"Captain Smithers has told me of your mission, Gray," he said; "I wish
you every success."
"But you don't think, sir, that I shall succeed, and this is a friendly
good-bye," said Gray, smiling.
"Well I--that is--I--'pon my word, Gray, you just hit what I was
thinking about. You see I had such a narrow escape of it myself, that I
couldn't help thinking of something of the kind."
"You tried it openly, sir; I'm going to try and steal a march upon the
Malays."
"What, are you going over here?" said the ensign.
"Yes, sir, and there's a good opening now," said Gray, after a sharp
look round. "Good-bye, sir; wish me luck."
As he spoke he glided as it were over the edge of the earthwork, and let
himself roll into the ditch, whence he made his way to the edge on the
other side, Ensign Long bidding the two nearest men cover the messenger
with their rifles as long as he was in sight.
That was not for long, Gray crawling rapidly over the ground; and as
those who watched scanned every shrub and tree for an enemy, they saw
him reach the edge of the jungle and disappear.
It was into no haven of safety though that Gray had passed, for he had
not gone twenty yards into the shadowy gloom, which was comparatively
cool after the scorching sunshine in the opening that had been cleared
of trees, before he heard voices on his left, and he had barely time to
crouch down among the long grass before half-a-dozen Malays came along,
one of whom saw the pressed down undergrowth and began to examine it
curiously.
Another moment and he would have seen Gray, whose hand was thrust into
his breast, but a word from one of his companions took off his
attention, and he disappeared with them amongst the trees.
Gray drew a long breath as he once more started off, creeping on all
fours, and at times crawling, so as to make sure of being unseen.
His journey of about half a mile, measured by his twisting and turning,
was one series of hairbreadth escapes. A dozen times over he had to
turn and come back over almost precisely the same ground to avoid a
party of Malays, who seemed ready to spring out of the earth on all
sides of him, but still, thanks to the thick growth, he was unseen.
Such a journey on their first landing would have been impossible, but as
the men were hardly ever allowed to go on the mainland, they had, by way
of compensation, pretty free access to the jungle portion of the little
island, and in consequence they had trampled down the dense vegetation,
and forced paths here and there through the cane brakes when snake
hunting.
At last, dripping with perspiration, Gray reached the head of the
island, and lay half exhausted in a dense clump of canes, listening to
the washing of the river as its waters divided, a dozen or so of paces
from where he lay.
He could not see the river on account of the thick growth, but it
sounded very cool and pleasant; and now, having won his way thus far, he
longed for the plunge and swim down to the steamer.
He reckoned that a minute's law would place him beyond the reach of
spears, however ably thrown; and as to the enemy's rifles or muskets, he
did not think they would be able to hit him as he swam with the rapid
stream. Still he did not move, for he was so heated by his exertions
that he dreaded risking cramp or shock from the sudden immersion.
Everything was so still in the hot afternoon sunshine, that the whirring
noise of the insects seemed quite loud. Beautiful blue-billed gapers,
all claret and black and white, flitted about, catching glossy
metallic-looking beetles; little green chatterers, with their crested
heads, flew from spray to spray; and tiny sun-birds, in their gorgeous
mail of gold and bronze and purple, flew from flower to flower in search
of honey. Now and then a scaly glistening lizard rustled by him, and
twice over a snake crawled right across his body and away into the
grass. Then a flock of the little lovebird paroquets came and settled
in a tree hard by, piping, whistling, and chattering as they climbed and
swung head downwards, or flew here and there; while upon some bushes
close at hand sat a pair of the lovely rose-breasted trogons, with their
grey reticulated wings and beautiful cinnamon backs.
It was a glorious scene for a lover of nature, so delicate were the many
tints of green, so pure the sky above; while to add to the beauty of the
place a flock of rose-tinted doves settled in the palms, and cooed as
mellowly as if this were in some park in the young soldier's far-off
home.
So lovely was everything around that Gray closed his eyes, and was ready
to ask himself whether the idea of danger was not all a dream, and that
it was but fancy, to suppose that bloodthirsty men were swarming in the
island, ready to slaughter the inhabitants to a man.
The sharp crack of a rifle, and then of half a dozen more, dissipated
the dream, and with a sigh as he thought of the danger of those at the
station, Gray unclosed his eyes, rose to his hands and knees from where
he had been lying, and began to force his way softly amidst the canes.
It was no easy task till he came to a track, evidently that made by a
crocodile in coming and going from the river. He paused for a moment,
shuddering as he thought of his danger; then drawing the dirk, ready for
a blow at the monster's eyes, should he encounter one, he crawled on,
reached the water's edge in safety, parting the canes to peer up and
down the river in search of danger, and seeing none.
From where he crouched the steamer was not visible, but he knew that a
little bold swimming would soon show her lying below; and, all the while
feeling very much like as if he were a frog about to plunge into a
stream haunted by pike, he lowered himself towards the water, gazed for
a moment into its depths, and then plunged in.
Down he went into the clear, cool stream, striking out so as to get well
away from the bank as he did so, and then rising to the surface, to see,
to his horror, that a good-sized boat, that had lain hidden amidst the
reeds, was being pushed out, and with seven or eight occupants was
coming in pursuit.
What was he to do? seek the shore again and take refuge in the jungle?
That seemed impossible; for he had plunged in so close to the boat, that
he would have been speared long before he could reach the place he had
left, even if he had been able to swim against the stream.
Then, to his horror, he saw that the banks were perpendicular or else
overhanging, and any attempt at climbing them from the water must have
failed; for, as far as he could see, where he was being swept down not a
tree laved an overhanging branch in the swift stream. There was only
one course open to him, and that was to trust to the river, and swim for
his life.
He had been taking this as his only chance as the above thoughts flashed
through his brain; and now came in the value of his old school-day
experience, when he had been one of the bravest swimmers of his age. In
fact, as he swam on, recollections of the old alder and willow ait in
the clear river came back, and he smiled as he turned upon his side and
forced his way through the sparkling waters.
The position as he made the side-stroke was convenient, though not
inspiriting; for as his cheek lay on the stream he could keep one eye
upon his pursuers, who were now coming rapidly on. Fortunately for
Gray, in their hurry and excitement the Malays had lost ground, so that
the young soldier had a fair start before they bent regularly to their
paddles. He could see, though, that a couple of men were standing
upright in the boat, each with a foot upon the gunwale, and a spear
poised in one hand, ready for hurling at the fugitive when within
throwing distance.
Gray swam swiftly, but he saw that it was hopeless, and that he must
soon be overtaken and perish. Still he did not despair, for his career
had before now seemed as near its end. _Nil desperandum_ was the motto
of his life, and like some hunted hare he kept his eye upon his
pursuers, meaning to try and dive the moment he saw an effort made to
hurl a spear.
He might perhaps escape by diving. At all events, it was his only
chance, and he swam on, with the boat now rapidly getting near.
Perhaps, he thought, they might not throw, but wait to thrust at him.
If so, that would give him longer time; but no, there was no chance of
that, for now he saw one of the Malays poise his spear, and draw himself
back, to throw it with all his force.
Gray saw no more, but with a shuddering sensation, as he seemed to feel
the deadly weapon pierce him between the shoulders, he made a tremendous
effort, and dived down, swimming beneath the surface with all his might,
till compelled to rise for breath.
As his head appeared above water a spear grazed his shoulder, and
another passed just over his ear when he dived again, still pursuing the
same tactics, and swimming beneath the surface.
Again he rose, and another spear splashed the water in his face, while
the shaft of the next struck him a sharp rap, as the blade narrowly
shaved his ear.
Down once more; but now he was weaker. The intense excitement and the
need of breath exhausted him, and though he strove hard to keep down,
his efforts began to prove vain. He had seen, the last time, that the
boat was closer to him, and he felt sure that now on rising he should be
within reach of one or other of the spearmen.
Still he made another effort to keep below, for though he was
suffocating, and began to feel confused, weak, and helpless, these
moments were moments of life, whereas the instant he reached the surface
he knew that all was over.
In his confused, sense-benumbed state, he felt that after all he had
done his duty, and he recalled the calm, trusting look directed at him
by Miss Linton as he passed her that morning. Then the water above him
grew lighter, and he rose to the surface, striking out but feebly now,
as he saw the boat close at hand, heard a shout from the Malays, and saw
one of the men in the bow lean over to thrust his spear into the
helpless swimmer, now almost at his feet.