A Hunting Expedition
"Great guns!" shouted Simpson in Owen's ear, as they clung to the rail
on the poop of the huge East Indiaman, and faced the gale. "And how
suddenly it came on!"
"We are lucky to have an experienced captain," shouted back our hero, as
he struggled to gather a breath, for the wind tore past him at hurricane
speed. "We were lying practically becalmed, with a cloudless sky
overhead, and, so far as I could see, no signs of a storm."
"Yes, and we were having a quiet sleep, all of us, for the heat was
terrific."
"When we were suddenly disturbed. As a matter of fact, I was just awake,
and as I lay in my chair I happened to see the captain coming up the
companion from his cabin, which is just beneath us. He looked about him,
as he always does, and then glanced at the barometer. Then his face
changed, and I thought he had gone mad. He raced up here, three rungs at
a time, and seized his trumpet. Then the officers appeared and the crew,
while his orders sounded through the ship. My word! I never saw men
work harder! They threw themselves into the rigging and fairly tore the
sails off her. I saw them cut through many of the ropes so as to save
time. Then down they came, and with them the gale. Didn't it howl?"
"It was terrific," agreed Simpson. "Who would have thought that with
only that small piece of rag showing this big ship would have heeled
right over as she did? But you are right. We are fortunate in our
captain. I own I was angry at first when they disturbed us, and threw
our chairs overboard without rhyme or reason. I saw why a minute later,
for had we been in them we should have gone overboard, while had the
chairs been left they would have slid and fallen here and there and done
some mischief. Where are we heading?"
Neither could answer the question, for in the excitement of the moment,
when the gale had struck the ship, they had only noticed that she had
heeled over on to her beam ends, and that then had followed an interval
of a few seconds, which to more than one aboard felt like an eternity.
Then she had righted with a jerk which threw many from their feet, and,
sheering off from her course, had gone racing away towards the east, at
a pace which was furious. That was an hour ago, and ever since the
passengers had clung to their positions, drenched by the spray which
blew aboard, and so filled with amazement at the huge seas which so
suddenly surrounded them that they had little thought for anything else.
Simpson and Owen had been together, for ever since the event of the
fight they had become close acquaintances, and they had clung to the
same length of rail.
Two hours later the ship was a little steadier, and the passengers found
their way with great difficulty to the saloon.
"You must make allowances for the gale, gentlemen, please," said the
purser, as they took their seats and clung to the tables. "The galley
fires have been drawn, for with this sea, and the ship tossing and
rolling as she is, it would not be safe to keep them in. So there is
water or wine to drink, and cold meat and bread only to eat. I should
advise you all afterwards to turn in, as it is so wet on deck and
generally uncomfortable."
The ship had indeed encountered a typhoon, one of those sudden upsets in
the atmosphere common to eastern seas, and much to be dreaded. And as
she was unable to show more than a stay-sail at the most, and could not
face the gale, she had to turn her stern to it and run from her course.
Indeed, for three days she continued to do so, till the faces of the
captain and his officers assumed serious expressions.
"I have never known a gale to last as this one has done," the captain
confided to one of the passengers. "When the hurricane struck us, you
yourself will remember that it was a furious blow. I thought that, like
typhoons in general, it had appeared in full strength, to test our
seamanship perhaps, and would then rapidly blow itself out. But it
hasn't. It has continued to blow, and blow harder too, so that we
haven't been able even to think of heading up to the wind. We're three
hundred miles at least out of our course, and completely out of our
reckoning. I shall be glad when the wind drops."
Some hours later there were signs that at last the gale had expended its
fury, and when the passengers turned in that evening it was with the
feeling that increased comfort was before them. Indeed, the ship rocked
far less, and the motion was smoother altogether. And on the following
morning they awoke to find the ship almost on an even keel, while
overhead was a hot sun, reminding them that they were in the tropics.
When they sauntered up on deck they found the officers at their posts,
anxiously gazing at a dim line of blue which lay almost directly before
them.
"Land, gentlemen," said the captain, coming towards the passengers, "and
if I am not mistaken it is the coast of Sumatra. We have worked out the
position of the ship, and checked one another's findings, so that I feel
sure that we are right. We are at least five hundred miles out of our
course."
The information caused the utmost excitement amongst the passengers at
once, for there were some aboard who had made many trips to and from
India, and not one had ever met with other than a smooth and uneventful
voyage before. And on this occasion weeks had passed smoothly since they
had left England. They had sailed down the coast of Africa, had rounded
the Cape, and had set their course for Calcutta. When the storm broke
they were well into the Indian Ocean, and heading for the Bay of Bengal.
And here was the information that they were close to Sumatra, in the
neighbourhood of the Malay Peninsula.
"We are looking for some quiet bay in which to anchor," said the captain
after a time, when he was sure that the land was indeed Sumatra. "We
have had our spars sadly knocked about, and our sails want refitting.
Then the carpenter tells me that she has been strained, probably when
the typhoon struck her, and is leaking somewhere well below the
water-line. All things considered, I think it well to run into some bay
for a time and lie up. We will careen the ship for a day or so, so as to
let the carpenter and his mates get at the leak. Meanwhile some of you
may care to have a run ashore, though it will be well to make sure that
there are no unfriendly natives about."
All were delighted at the news, for the ship had now been at sea for a
long while, and the passengers and crew were all feeling the need of
fresh water and fruit and vegetables, and also for an expedition on
shore. It was therefore with the greatest interest that they watched the
pale blue line of coast gradually develop into wooded heights, with
mountain peaks in rear, while the line of beach showed itself as a
streak of golden sand, bathed in the seething white foam cast upon it by
the surf which ran continuously. They steered into a narrow bay, the
leadsman all the while sounding so that they should not run upon the
shallows, and finally brought to and dropped their anchor within a mile
of the shore, and within hearing of the surf. At once a hundred glasses
were directed at the coast, and an hour later boats were dropped and the
passengers prepared to land.
"I can only spare a crew of four to each boat, gentlemen," said the
captain, "and perhaps some of you will not object to taking an oar
yourselves. I will fire a gun an hour before dusk, when all must return.
If natives appear I must ask you to return at once till they have shown
that they are friendly."
"And so as to be prepared I shall take a brace of pistols," said Jack
Simpson in Owen's ear. "Can you shoot, Owen?"
"A little. The sergeant of whom I have told you was a good hand at most
things. He was a splendid man with the gloves, as you know, for I have
told you how he fought for me when the farmer was going to give me a
thrashing. He was also an adept with the pike, sword and cutlass, and he
kept me at practice with the pistols till I could hit an apple perched
on a rail at twenty paces."
"By Jove! An apple at twenty paces! That is a mark! How often had you to
hit it?"
"Every time," answered Owen with a quiet smile. "And it came wonderfully
easy before I had left the regiment. I used to place the muzzle across
my left forearm and aim carefully at first. Afterwards I used to make a
rapid shot, just as if I were duelling. I would be placed with my back
to the fence; then the sergeant would say, 'One, two, three, fire!' and
round I would swing, lifting the pistol as I came, and fire the instant
I sighted the mark. I could do it now after half an hour's practice."
"No wonder, then, that you so easily agreed to fight our friend with
fists or pistols," laughed Jack. "Upon my word, Owen, you are a fellow
to be avoided. You admit you could hit an apple at twenty paces, every
time. And we know that you can fight. By Jove, you showed us real
science! And there is the Hindustani too, and the other lingo you have
been swatting at. I wish to goodness I had not been so idle. But there!
fetch your pistols and let us get ashore."
They ran to their cabin, for since the fight the two had arranged an
exchange, Jack leaving the cabin in which he had been with two other
passengers and joining Owen. Then they appeared on deck again, and
dropped into one of the boats which was just putting off. Already two
had left the ship, while one had actually landed her passengers and was
returning.
"It looks a little risky, one would have thought," said Owen, as they
dropped into the boat. "For all we know there may be unfriendly natives
ashore. But I confess I know nothing of the country."
"And need feel no alarm," said one of the passengers who sat beside him.
"The people are fierce and warlike, but this is the northern end of the
coast, and there are none here. Think of the fresh fruit we shall
gather."
A quarter of an hour later they were ashore, and within a few minutes
the whole party had separated, breaking up into couples.
"It is quite safe," said one of the passengers who had landed in the
first boat. "There is not a village nor a hut to be seen anywhere,
though I have been to the top of the hill yonder. But I advise that none
go too far from this spot."
Meanwhile the big ship was run in a little closer and slowly careened.
And as she lay, with her spars slanting at a sharp angle, the carpenter
and his mates looked to the leak, while the crew set to work to refit
the canvas. And in this manner, the passengers ashore for the most part,
and the crew hard at work, two days passed serenely; each evening seeing
the passengers return with an abundant store of fruit, while those who
had guns found wild pig and a few deer to reward their efforts.
"We shall leave in two days," said the captain that night, as they sat
down to the evening meal, congratulating themselves on the fact that the
ship was now again on an even keel, for it had been difficult to manage
to get about or even to sleep while she was careened. "In three weeks we
should be at Calcutta."
"Barring storms and other little pleasantries," laughed one of the
passengers. "Well, I shall be glad. I have had my run ashore and want to
be moving on."
On the following day, when Jack Simpson and Owen dropped into one of the
boats, only a dozen other passengers made their appearance, for it was
very hot ashore, and there was little to do but ramble along the coast.
Our young friends, however, had managed to borrow a gun apiece, and were
intent on obtaining a little sport. Indeed, an hour later found them a
couple of miles inland, threading their way through a forest of small
proportions which had attracted them as being a likely place for game.
Mulha accompanied them, for Owen had asked permission of the captain,
much to the native's delight.
"There will be pig here, sahibs," he said, as they entered the forest.
"And we shall find it cooler. If my masters will take my advice they
will take their station at the end of the first open glade, and let me
beat the forest on either side. Then if there is any beast within it may
run to the clearing."
A little later they struck upon a long narrow clearing, where the ground
was somewhat rocky, and where a tiny stream trickled through the stones.
"Plenty of beasts come here," Mulha pronounced, as he stepped along the
glade. "You can see their marks between the stones. If the sahibs take
post here they should have sport. I will go to the right first, and
afterwards to the left. Thus you will know my position, and will not
fire in my direction when the beasts bolt."
It took but a few moments to arrange their positions; then Mulha
disappeared. Owen threw himself down behind a huge boulder, over which a
cool shade was thrown by a tree near at hand. Jack posted himself behind
another boulder, on a level with the one where his friend was stationed.
Both looked up the full length of the grove, with their guns turned to
that side to which the game, should there prove to be any, would be
driven, and away from the forest where Mulha was beating.
Crash! They heard his stick as he beat the underwood in the distance,
and waited expectantly, their hearts pulsating a trifle faster, for
neither had had an opportunity of shooting before. There was another
crash in the distance, a streak of brown bounded into the grove from the
trees, alighted on all four feet, and leaped high again with such
swiftness and with such momentum that it was across the glade before
either could have thought it possible. Owen's gun went to his shoulder
with the rapidity of lightning. His training with the pistol helped him
to sight the disappearing mark, and long before Jack had gathered his
wits, or had awakened to the fact that an antelope of large proportions
was on the point of disappearing, the weapon cracked, and the animal
fell huddled up at the very edge of the clearing. Owen turned to his
friend with a gleam of excitement and triumph in his eye, while he
hastily rammed down another charge, ran a wad upon it, and dropped in
his bullet.
"One," he said quietly. "Look out for others."
"My word!" gasped Jack, "that was a lightning shot."
"Look out!" shouted Owen.
This time he held his fire as a wild pig scampered into the clearing,
and coming to a sudden halt lifted its head and stared in their
direction while it listened to the sound of the beater behind. It was
Jack's turn, and he levelled his weapon with unsteady hands, for
excitement told upon him.
"Steady," said Owen in low tones. "He's standing for you. Take him full,
half-way along the body."
A shout of triumph filled the air and set the forest ringing a second
after the gun had sent out its bullet, for Jack had hit his mark. At his
friend's words he had waited, steadying himself, and then, when he felt
that he was full on his mark, he had taken a deep breath, wedged himself
closer to the rock, and had firmly pulled the trigger. And now he was
dancing with delight, for the pig, as the sound of the shot crashed out,
had started forward at a gallop, till Owen covered it, fearing that it
had escaped the bullet. Then it suddenly toppled over, and rolling
amidst the stones came to rest with its feet in the air.
"Shut up! There may be more," commanded Owen. "There!"
Another of the animals darted into the clearing, heard the sounds
beyond, and raced toward the forest. But he ran only a few feet, for
Owen proved to be as dead a shot with the gun as with the pistol. A
minute later Mulha appeared, within a few feet of them, and advanced
with smiles of pleasure.
"The sahib is a fine shot," he said. "I am no shikaree, but the first
beast was hardly in the glade before it had darted out. And see where
the bullet struck. It is hit through the chest, and on the very edge of
the forest. In another instant it would have been gone. Now let the
sahibs take their places again, and I will beat on the far side."
He plunged into the forest again and was lost to sight. But after a few
minutes had passed they heard his blows again, as he beat the underwood,
and gun in hand waited for another shot. On this occasion, however, they
were not so fortunate. A few birds broke from the wood and went
screaming aloft, while a little later a troop of monkeys, disturbed by
the intruder, went chattering across the glade, running on all fours,
and some swinging themselves from branch to branch.
"We will move on to another part, then, sahibs," said Mulha, as he
appeared again. "There is plenty of game here, both big and small, and
you may hope to make an even finer bag. Tread carefully now, and make no
noise, for these beasts hear at a great distance."
Putting their weapons at half-cock, so that there might be no accidents,
they followed their native shikaree through the forest, ascending as
they went, for in this corner of Sumatra the land rose swiftly and
steeply from the coast. And presently they emerged into another
clearing, some two miles in extent, which was almost bare of trees and
undergrowth. Here and there there was a tree of huge proportions,
outgrowing its fellows of the forest, for the simple reason that here it
had an abundance of light which was denied to them, and in consequence
had shot up with greater strength and had made far bigger growth. Then,
too, there were some large patches of grass, towering some eight feet in
the air, and waving gently to and fro in the breeze. Owen and his friend
had never seen the like of it before, and looked with amazement at the
huge green stems and the broad blades which overtopped their heads. And
in amongst the sparse trees and patches of grass were rocks and
scattered green patches of sweet grass, where the marks plainly told
that many animals were in the habit of grazing. Now, however, the place
was deserted, though they pried into every corner.
"There may be some hidden beast yet, sahibs," said Mulha, as they toiled
across the space, for the heat was very great, and they were unused to
much walking. "We will go quietly still, and keep a careful watch."
"Steady! I thought I saw something over there," exclaimed Owen suddenly.
All looked in the direction to which he pointed, but there was not a
movement, not a sign that there existed anything but a knotted tree,
which had the appearance of having been blasted by lightning, and a wide
patch of waving grass.
"Still, I am sure that I saw something which looked like the tail and
hind quarters of some beast. We will go carefully, and it will be as
well to have our guns ready."
All three advanced on tiptoe, the native a few feet in front, and the
two young sahibs side by side. They reached the tree and the edge of the
grass, but without seeing anything. Then Mulha slipped upon hands and
knees, and crept round the edge. Scarcely a second passed ere the tall
grass which hid him from Owen's eyes parted suddenly, some few feet to
the right, while a huge beast burst its way through, its head low down
close to the ground, and its evil eyes fixed upon the intruders. There
was not a sound but that made by the grass as it was swept aside, that
and the deep gasping breaths of the animal. But though there was no
warning noise, Owen and Jack guessed the unfriendly intentions of the
animal in an instant, for its rolling eyes were fixed upon them while it
charged in their direction.
"Jump aside, sahibs!" they heard Mulha shout. "Jump for your lives! It
is a rhino!"
"Leap!" repeated Owen at the top of his voice, at the same instant
hurling himself as far to one side as he was able. Then he turned for
one instant to see whether Jack had done the same. But his comrade was
less active, perhaps, than he, and more than that, he lacked the
training which Owen had had. In a hundred little ways he had shown
already that he was slower to obey an order or to follow out an idea
than our hero, and now, at the most critical moment in his life, he
hesitated for a second. The onrushing beast fascinated him. He paused,
gave vent to a cry of dismay, and then attempted to leap aside. Owen
shouted and lifted his gun, for what he saw brought his heart into his
mouth. Jack's hesitation had proved his undoing. His foot slipped as he
leaped, and in an instant he was flat on his face on the ground, while a
dull thud told that his head had struck heavily against a small boulder
lying on the grass. And within a few seconds the rhinoceros had reached
him. Owen saw the beast's head drop a little lower, while a squeal of
rage escaped from it. Then it galloped over the prostrate figure like a
whirlwind, missing its mark by a happy chance, and failing to get its
horn beneath the young fellow who lay so helpless. Carried on by the
impetus of its charge it tore along some half-dozen yards, and finally
was brought up with a jerk, its horns having become entangled in the
root of a small tree growing at that spot. It was an opportunity, and
Owen made the most of it.
"Get me the other gun, Mulha," he shouted. "Bring it as quick as you
can, as I may miss him with this."
Dropping on to one knee he put his gun at full cock and levelled it at
the beast, which was struggling frantically to disengage itself. Aiming
just behind the shoulder, he waited for a few moments till it stood
still to gather its energies, then he pressed the trigger. A fierce
squeal rewarded him, and as soon as the smoke had cleared away he saw
that the beast was still far from dead, and that its rage had been
increased. Worse than that, the horn was now almost freed from the root,
and at any instant the charge might be repeated.
"Into the tree!" he shouted. "Quick, Mulha, up you get. I will hand up
my friend. Don't argue. Up you get."
There was no time for the native to remonstrate with his young English
friend, though he would have liked to have done so. Instead, therefore,
he slung the gun across his shoulders in a flash and swung himself into
the lower branches of the tree, which had the appearance of having been
struck by lightning. Owen meanwhile ran to Jack's side, and bending over
him lifted him in his arms. Then he half carried, half dragged him to
the tree, and as Mulha leaned over, helped the native to haul him up.
"Take him higher," he called out, "and then get the gun ready. I must
have mine."
He had left it where Jack had fallen, and turning at once he ran back to
the spot. There was little time to be lost, that he could see for
himself, for the horn was all but disengaged now. Still, without a
weapon, where would he be? Without hesitation, therefore, he picked up
the gun and ran back to the tree. Clasping the lowest bough, he was in
the act of swinging himself up when Mulha gave a warning shout.
"He is free, sahib!" he called out "You will not have time. Drop to the
ground, and put the tree between you."
It was excellent advice, and Owen made the most of it. He leaped to the
ground, and ran to the far side of the tree. And he was just in time.
Maddened with rage and pain the rhinoceros charged full at his
disappearing figure, and heedless of the tree dashed headlong into it.
But even such a terrific blow failed to stun the beast. It backed a few
paces, snorting and squealing, while its wicked-looking eyes searched
for its enemy. Then Owen did a plucky thing.
"Climb now, sahib. Drop the gun and climb. There is time. Come, I beg
you!" called out Mulha.
For answer Owen raised his weapon swiftly and pushed it round the side
of the tree. Then his arm and shoulder followed, till the gun was
pointed at the rhinoceros. Its head went down, with a hideous squeal of
rage, as it caught sight of him, and considering his youth and
inexperience it was wonderful that he did not follow the native's
advice promptly. But our hero had shown before that he was made of the
right stuff, and was not given to panic. He moved the weapon ever so
little, and was just about to pull the trigger when another shout
stopped him.
"It is empty, sahib! You have fired already."
In the excitement of the moment he had forgotten that, and for the brief
space of a second Owen was disconcerted.
"Drop yours down, then," he said hoarsely. "That's the way. I'll catch
it as it comes."
It took very few moments to make the exchange, and during that time the
beast stood its ground, for it had again lost sight of its enemy. But
very soon a squeal told that it had spied him again. The head went down,
and it moved forward to charge. Owen aimed for a spot at the root of the
neck and pressed his trigger firmly. Then he swung the gun over his
shoulders, did the same with the weapon lying at his feet, and ere the
smoke had cleared away was clambering into the tree.
"Look at his heels, sahib," cried Mulha triumphantly, a minute later, as
he pointed below. "He is in his death-struggle. It was a bold shot. You
stood fast to your post like a tried hunter. It is true what they say on
the ship, that Sahib Owen Jones will make a fine officer. Truly it was
boldly done, and the young sahib has abundant courage."
"And he will want it, too," answered Owen, with a reckless laugh, "for
look there, Mulha!"
He pointed to the patch of grass through which the rhinoceros had burst
its way, and there, filing through the gap which he had made, came three
more of the beasts, trampling and pawing the grass, shaking their heads
and sniffing angrily.
"A siege, I think," said Owen quietly, "and very well for us that we
have found such a castle."