THE CAPTAIN'S RETURN--BOATS APPROACH THE FORT--ASSAILED ON ALL SIDES--
HOT FIRE--PASSING THE FORT--ARCHY WOUNDED--THE LANDING--FORT ATTACKED--
NEEDHAM HAULS DOWN THE FLAG--ENEMY PUT TO FLIGHT--THE PURSUIT--FALL OF
COMMANDER BABBICOME--PRISONERS CAPTURED--FORT DESTROYED--RE-EMBARK--
PASSAGE DOWN THE RIVER--SAIL FOR JAMAICA--DEATH OF COMMANDER BABBICOME--
FUNERAL--MURRAY PROMOTED--HASTENS TO SAINT DAVID'S.
Alick Murray felt the full responsibility of the duty imposed on him,
but he knew that he had trustworthy supporters in Jack and Terence, and
that full reliance could be placed on the military officers and on the
gallant marines and soldiers of the regiment.
As soon as day broke Higson dropped down the stream to rejoin the main
body. He had heard the shouts and cries, and fancying that they had
been caused by the appearance of another puma or jaguar in the camp, he
had not thought it his duty to quit his post. As soon as he arrived,
Murray, informing him of what had happened, ordered him to proceed down
the river and ascertain, if possible, what had become of the captain and
the two unfortunate gentlemen who had been carried away by the current.
In the meantime every preparation was made for starting. The soldiers
had re-embarked, the expedition was about to proceed, when two boats
were seen rounding a point some way down the river. The seamen cheered
heartily when they discovered that their captain's gig was taking the
lead: she having at length got near, Terence, who was looking out, with
great satisfaction saw that his old shipmate, Ben Snatchblock was on
board; as the gig came up alongside he inquired for the consul and his
friend.
"They are lost," answered the captain, "not a trace could we discover of
them. They must both, poor fellows, have been drowned before they had
been many minutes in the water, and this brave fellow here was nearly
lost also in his attempt to save them. I cannot bear to think of their
sad fate, while we shall much miss their assistance. We have, however,
an unexpected addition to our force. I had gone some way down when I
saw a fire on the shore, and putting in, found Commander Babbicome and
his boat's crew encamped, he having recovered sufficiently to enable him
to come up and join us."
"How was Snatchblock saved?" asked Terence.
"By catching hold of a big tree which rose out of the water when I was
pretty nigh done for," answered Ben. "Thanks also to Commander
Babbicome and his boat's crew, who hearing my shouts came and took me
off."
The corvette's gig, with her perspiring commander (as Terence called
him), soon afterwards came up. He was full of fight and valour, and
burning with eagerness, as he said, to have a brush with the enemy. He
looked but little able to undergo any exertion, and Captain Hemming, who
thought him unfit for the work, regretted that he had joined the
expedition, though he complimented him on his zeal and determination.
"I couldn't bear the thought of being left behind, and though I knew
that I should be reduced to a pancake, and bitten into one mass of
blisters, I determined to follow you," he answered, "but it has been
trying work, I can assure you. I have lost three stone already, so Dick
Spurling, my coxswain, who is a good judge of weight, declares, and I
have made him hoist me up on his back every morning to try. And then
those abominably greedy mosquitoes! I should have thought after
feasting on the hides of two hundred fellows or more, they might have
had the conscience to let me alone, the gluttons! I had to tell the men
off into watches to wave branches over me at night, or there wouldn't
have been an ounce of blood left in the morning, even if they hadn't
carried me off bodily, and really, considering the size of their wings
and the strength of their proboscises, I thought that more than
probable. Now after all I have gone through, I only hope that the enemy
will hold out and give us something to do."
As Captain Hemming was unwilling to displace Murray, he directed the
sorely-tried commander to take charge of the heavier boats, while he and
the lieutenant proceeded on ahead with the lighter ones, to endeavour,
before commencing hostilities, to try and settle matters by pacific
measures. The order was now given to move ahead.
"Faith, it's easy enough to say that same," exclaimed Adair, "but it's
much harder to do it. However, give way, my lads; we shall see the
noses of the Dons before long, if they stop to show them, and if not, we
shall chance to get sight of their coat-tails."
A hearty laugh from his boat's crew, as they bent lustily to their oars,
followed this sally.
As the crews of the heavier boats laboured with all their strength they
made good way, and for some time kept the two light gigs in sight. They
now entered a reach of a mile and a half in length, at the head of
which, according to the consul's description, the fort would be found.
The captain and Murray pulled on for some distance, though the mist
which still hung over the river hid them from sight of the fort. Not a
breath of air stirred the leaves of the forest; the monkeys, as before,
chattered among the branches, and bright-coloured macaws flew screaming
overhead. At length, far in the distance, on the summit of a bold point
projecting into the river, the stockade they might have to attack came
into sight.
The rays of the rising sun shining on the fort brought it into bold
relief against the dark woods, and above the deep shadows cast across
the stream.
No flag waved over it, and no sign of life appeared, not a canoe floated
on the water, no sound was heard. Captain Hemming thought that had he
not wished first to try pacific measures, he might have managed to
surprise its garrison without resistance, but, like many another gallant
man, he had no wish to fight if it could be avoided, and he only hoped
to induce the Nicaraguans to yield without being compelled to resort to
force.
The gigs proceeded but slowly as the current here ran even faster than
in any part of the river. Still no notice was taken of the boats, and
Murray, who shared his captain's sentiments, had begun really to think
that the matter would be settled without bloodshed, when two wreaths of
smoke issued from the stockades, and a couple of shots whistled near
them. At the same moment up went the flag of the Nicaraguan republic,
and the next instant volleys of musketry came rattling by them from
either side of the river.
"Colonel Salas evidently does not intend to receive us as friends,"
observed Captain Hemming. "Order up the other boats, Murray, the sooner
we give him and his followers the lesson they require the better. We
will at once make a dash at the fort; it will not do to stop here and be
shot down like dogs."