HEMMED IN BY THE ENEMY
Nothing but misfortune seemed to be in store for Jim Hubbard upon this
eventful evening. First, he had experienced the bitter disappointment of
learning that the white prisoner at whose rescue he had aimed, and for
whose sake he had marched so many miles, was, after all, not the one
whom he had hoped to find. But the news that his father was actually
alive and within a few yards of him had revived his flagging energy, and
with his new-found friend, John Margetson, he had set out for the
purpose of reaching him, only to hear suddenly that wild shout, to
crouch there in the shadow cast by a large square hut and watch that
tall uncouth figure standing on the roof beside the flag in the light of
the flames from the watch-fire below. It was a bitter blow, and in his
anger and desperation Jim even levelled his revolver at the Mullah, and
would have fired in the hope of slaying him. But he had beside him a man
whom long-suffering had taught to be cautious, and instantly a gentle
but firm grasp was laid upon his arm, and his companion whispered in his
ear.
"You are mad!" he said fiercely. "Drop your weapon, and lie down close
against the foot of this wall. We are not discovered yet, and may even
escape if we make use of our wits."
"But how?" asked Jim. "Already the place is alive with search parties,
who will run over every inch of the ground, and are certain to fall
upon us. I tell you that our chances are ended, and that we shall never
get away from here. But I admit that it would have been a foolish act to
fire at the Mullah. I was in a temper, and felt that if I could only
kill him I should be satisfied. However, we shall do as you say, and
wait to see how things turn out."
Throwing themselves upon the ground, with their heads close together,
they lay so still that they might have been logs of wood. Around them,
and stretching away from the wall for the space of some five feet, was a
dense shadow cast by the roof. But there it ended abruptly in a sharp
clear line, from which point the ground was lit by the rays of the moon.
And across this, hurrying hither and thither, and searching every
corner, went parties of fully armed Somali warriors, each numbering from
six to a dozen. Like hounds in search of a fox, they thrust their bodies
into every crevice, prodding walls and ground with their spears, and
drawing the covers blank, turned away with a snarl of rage, to proceed
with the hunt elsewhere.
"If we can only manage to give them the slip here, there will be still
some chance of safety," whispered Jim, with his eyes fixed upon the
search-parties. "Put yourself into their position, and ask yourself what
would be the natural act of any prisoner who was attempting to escape."
"He would be a fool to stay here," was the emphatic answer. "It would be
sheer suicide to remain in the Mullah's village, and, were I flying for
my life alone, I should have turned away to the open country, and
endeavoured to place miles of plain between myself and my enemies."
"Just so," replied Jim coolly, seeming to become more collected as the
danger increased, "and, as one of the Mullah's followers, I should
leave the search of the village to the women and children and the stray
curs with which it is infested, and, mounting my fastest horse, should
gallop so as to get beyond the prisoner and head him. That is what these
fellows will do, and we must consider ourselves fortunate in that we are
where we are. Let us move along to the corner, and then, if a party
approaches, we can slip round to the other side."
"Why not try the roof?" suggested his companion eagerly. "It's as flat
as a pancake, and has a ridge all round it, which will effectually hide
us. I quite agree with you that, desperate though our position seems, we
are far safer here than we should have been had we ventured beyond the
village. Come, let us get up on the top, for I can see a group of
Somalis coming this way."
In a moment both were on their feet and endeavouring to get a grip of
the coping of the roof. But, though they stood upon their toes, and even
leapt into the air, they found, to their disappointment, that it was
still well beyond their reach.
"Then we must try another way," whispered Jim. "Are you fairly strong in
the arms?"
"I ought to be," was the answer, "for I have had three years of slavery.
What do you propose?"
"Up on to my back! Quick! That's it. Now lean against the wall, and
steady yourself while I straighten to my full height. Can you reach
now?"
Without wasting a moment, for time was of the utmost value to them, Jim
placed his hand against the side of the dwelling and rounded his
shoulders. Grasping his meaning, his companion leapt upon him with one
agile spring, having the fortune to alight on the very centre of his
back. Then, gingerly advancing his sandalled feet, he placed them on
either side of Jim's head, and leant forward till his hands came in
contact with the wall. He was a big man, and weighed some twelve stone
or more, but though Jim groaned under the burden, and at any other time
would have found it a difficult matter to raise himself to the erect
position, he now stood upright with scarcely an effort, fear lending
strength to his muscles.
"Got it! I've a grip of the coping, and can hang on here until you are
up," whispered John Margetson. "But hurry up!"
Stepping back from the wall so as to obtain a little run, and yet
carefully keeping within the shadow, Jim leapt forward, and then sprang
high in the air, grasping at the dim figure of his companion with both
hands. As he dangled there, with fingers clasping his comrade's limbs,
he could almost feel the man's sinews crack with the strain, and
wondered whether the weight would be too much for him, whether his grasp
would be torn from the coping above, and with what sort of crash they
would tumble to the ground. Then, as nothing happened, he drew his legs
up, and obtained a grip of his living rope. Another hoist, and his hand
closed upon his comrade's hair; but, unheeding the pain it must have
given, his fingers gripped it, and he pulled without remorse, and
tugged, till, little by little, he won his way upwards. Another moment,
and the arm was within his reach, then the wrist, and with one last,
almost superhuman effort, he found himself clambering over the low
parapet. To turn and help his comrade was his next duty, and then both
threw themselves upon the hard-beaten mud, breathless with their
struggles, but glowing with excitement and the feeling of success.
"Look out! Here they come!" whispered Margetson at this moment.
Taking a hasty look over the parapet, Jim saw some ten men hurrying
towards the building, and at once flattened himself upon the roof,
squeezing as close to it as he could. Then his hand stole down to his
revolver, and he drew it silently. Scarcely had he done so when
footsteps and voices were heard below, and, though he dared not look, he
was well aware that the very shadow which had proved their hiding-place
but a few seconds before was now undergoing a thorough search, from
which they could not have hoped to escape had they not climbed to the
roof.
"Ah, what is this?" asked one of the Somali warriors, suddenly stooping
and picking something up. "I have found a knife, which I am sure did not
belong to our prisoner. Here, let me get into the light and look at it."
Following their comrade, the others at once left the shadow and went
into the open, where they pressed about him, and gave vent to
exclamations of anger and astonishment, for the prize which had been
found was Jim's hunting-knife, which must have slipped from his belt
during his efforts to reach his position above. Fortunately for him,
however, he did not know more than a word of what was being said, and
certainly did not grasp the meaning. But his friend did, and trembled as
he lay.
"I tell you that someone else has had a hand in his escape," cried the
first speaker again. "I have been to the coast, and I say that this is a
knife which has but lately come from the country of the infidel. Have we
not heard already that one of them is bound hither for the rescue of one
of our slaves?"
"That is the case," was the excited answer.
"Then this man has arrived, and released the prisoner to-night. They
fled here in the darkness, and then, at the alarm, hastened off into the
country, where they will be captured to a certainty by our brothers."
"And what if they have not done as you so wisely guess?" sneered one of
the group. "Look at the question for yourself, and remember the short
time which elapsed between their leaving the hut and the raising of the
alarm. This dagger tells us that another has been here to lend a hand,
but it does not state that the men are fled to the hills. More likely
they are within hearing at this moment. Perhaps even lying upon the top
of the house against the wall of which the find was made. Let us search
there."
He started towards the dwelling, intent on carrying out his purpose, but
at that moment the arrival of another dusky warrior arrested him, while
a harsh voice took up the question.
"You are too clever for this tribe," said the new-comer, in tones which
Jim at once recognized as belonging to the man who had shouted from the
roof of the central building--in fact, no other person than the Mullah.
"In your foolishness you would send my followers climbing like cats to
the roofs, when, had you any sense, you would know at a glance that
desperate men would scoff at such shelter. Hiding up there, forsooth!
Why, you will tell us soon that they are in my house!"
At this sally all laughed merrily at the expense of the man who had
suggested that the roof should be searched, and he at once slunk away to
the back of his comrades, where he stood biting his lips with anger and
annoyance.
"But show me this weapon," continued the Mullah haughtily. "Ah, it is
English made, and shows without a doubt that there is a spy in our camp,
or, rather, that there was but a few minutes ago. The impudent infidel
must be captured, but take care of him, as you value my good will and
your lives, for I have need of prisoners. One day they will prove
useful, for when these dogs advance against us, we will show them their
brothers, and then slay them before their eyes, just to let them see
that we have power to do as we will, and have no fear of them. Then,
with Allah to aid us, we will scatter the enemy. But we are wasting
time. Off, all of you, and search farther afield for your man."
He stood there in the moonlight watching as they departed, and shouted
out to them a second warning to protect the captives from harm.
"Yes," he murmured to himself, as the last of the warriors departed,
"keep them alive, and I shall make use of them. If we conquer the
British forces, I can keep or slay them at my will. If otherwise, and we
fall into their hands, I can still treat for my own life by using these
white slaves as hostages, and giving them up to their fellows in
exchange for my own liberty. It is in such ways that I show my power to
lead these ignorant men. For I think of more than the needs of the
passing hour, and, knowing that the time for action arrives, I prepare a
loophole of escape for myself, which I shall use when all my followers
are slain. And then----"
Deep in thought, the Mullah walked away to his own hut, and disappeared
into the interior. Not till then did John Margetson allow himself to
break the silence, for all this while he had been flattened upon the
roof, scarcely daring to move, and yet drinking in the words of his
pursuers. Now, however, there was little fear of being overheard, and at
once shifting his position, he crept close to Jim's side, and narrated
all that had passed.
"Jove! What a narrow squeak!" exclaimed the latter. "Of course, I could
not make head or tail of their jabber, but I knew that it referred to
us, and I can tell you that my heart went into my mouth, for at any
moment I expected to have them up here. But all's well that ends
well,--only this matter hasn't finished yet. What are we to do now? It
seems to me that we have a little breathing-space, and that we had
better make the best of it to hunt about and ascertain what our
surroundings are like, for this may not prove a very good hiding-place
once the day dawns."
"We shall certainly be seen if we remain," answered his comrade, with
conviction. "I know every inch of the spot, and to-morrow, when the
Mullah goes upon the roof of his dwelling to pray before the eyes of all
his followers, he will catch sight of us, and capture will be our
reward. But I can see no other way out of the difficulty."
"Who lives below us?" asked Jim suddenly.
"Not a soul. The hut, as you can see, is a very large one, and in it are
stored bags of dates and native wine for the use of the Mullah and his
special favourites when on the march. There are a few weapons also, of
the usual muzzle-loading variety, and occasionally powder and shot, too.
This I know, for I have been working here as a slave, and have carried
the things to their places."
"How does one enter?" asked Jim again.
"There is a door, such as the other huts have, and on the farther side a
roughly constructed hole in the roof, through which the smoke from the
fire below passed. I suppose it was the residence of a native chief
before the Mullah came this way, and that he liked a little comfort.
Now, of course, no wood is burnt, and the aperture is covered with a
strip of hide. But why do you ask these questions? It would be madness
to go into the place."
"Then what are we to do? Suggest some better plan which gives a
reasonable hope of escape."
Jim turned upon his companion curtly, and demanded an answer with no
little impatience, for now was the time for action. To hesitate was to
become a prisoner.
"Well, what have you to propose? Shall we leave this place, and make a
dash for the open?"
"It would be useless," was the emphatic answer, given with a vigorous
shake of the head. "I know the ways of these Somali warriors too well,
and I am as certain that we should fall into their hands as I am that we
are here. Why, a hare could not hope to get through their lines, for now
they are arranged three or four deep, and if we crept past the first and
went on our way, the second, or a later one, would spy us out, and come
galloping after us. No, the attempt would be hopeless, for the country
is alive with their horse and foot."
"Then is there any other way? Would the river help us?"
"Had we a boat it might, but without that we should soon fall victims to
the alligators which abound."
"How often is this hut visited?" asked Jim quietly.
"Perhaps once a week, and then not for a month. This is a reserve store,
and it is only when the Mullah is about to give a feast to his followers
that there is need to draw upon the contents."
"Then let us take our place amongst the stores," said Jim coolly. "There
we shall find food and drink sufficient to keep life in us, and there,
it seems to me, we can repose with some amount of safety. After all, the
idea is a good one, for it offers some chance of a hiding-place."
For long John Margetson lay at his side, considering the question ere
he ventured a reply. Then he turned slowly to Jim, and stretching out
his hand in the darkness, pinched the latter sharply upon the arm.
"George!" he whispered, in tones of mingled delight and amazement. "You
are a regular general. You ought to have been a scout, or something of
that sort, for you are as cute and as slim as they make 'em. At any
rate, you have spied out the only path for us. I've looked at the matter
from every point of view. I admit that I've said to myself that you are
evidently a youngster with the usual impetuosity of your age, and that
your schemes were not to be listened to with much attention. Then I've
tried to find a better plan, and have failed miserably. At last I have
come back to this dodge of yours, and, hang me, it's just the thing.
It's the cheek of it, the impudence, if I may call it so, which will
help towards its success, for who amongst these Somalis would dream that
we had elected to remain in hiding amongst them? Yes, it's the very
boldness of it all that will make us safe, and--look here, I haven't a
ghost of an idea what your age is, or what you're like, for I've only
seen you in this moonlight, but after this you must take the helm.
You'll act as skipper, while I take my old place as mate. Tell me, what
are you? A young chap with a budding moustache, and heaps of go; or a
lad with scarcely a hair on his face?"
"The second," answered Jim, blushing at his youthful looks, even though
there was no fear of observation. "A few weeks ago I was one of the
senior fellows at a public school, but now--well, I feel years older.
But what about this hut? If we're going to retire to the interior, the
sooner we do so the better."
"Then we'll disappear at once. Come along, but be very careful to keep
below the level of the parapet, for here we are in shadow, while if we
stood above the edge, our figures would at once be outlined by the
moon."
Bearing this warning in mind, the two slowly crept round the edge of the
roof, not daring to take the shorter cut and cross directly to the other
side, for to have done so would have been fatal, the centre of the
enclosing parapet being brightly illuminated. Arrived at the farther
corner, Margetson halted for a few seconds, while he removed the skin
covering. Then he began to wriggle his way through the hole, and in due
time disappeared in the dark depths below.
"Hold on," whispered Jim, who was on the point of following, and,
indeed, had already allowed his legs to dangle through the opening.
"What if someone happens to notice that the covering has been removed?"
"Ah, that would be awkward, lad. It's fixed by pegs, and we cannot very
well fasten them from the inside, though we could easily burst them open
if we wished to do so."
"Then how's the door held?" asked Jim, lying down full length, and
thrusting his head through the aperture.
"Just latched, that's all. No one would dare to meddle with the Mullah's
goods, you see. It would mean certain death."
"Very well," responded Jim. "I'll fix this thing up here, and then slip
over the wall. The drop's nothing, and I shall not be seen if I choose a
moment when a cloud is passing over the moon. Hurry up, for there's one
about to cross it now, and it won't do to be kept waiting."
Fumbling about in the darkness, it was not long before he had contrived
to cover the opening in the roof, and to peg the skin down securely.
Then he waited, with his eyes upon the disc above, and when it was
clouded by a dense mass of vapour, he looked to see that no one was near
at hand, and then clambered over the parapet and dropped noiselessly
upon the soil below. The door was standing open, and as he entered
Margetson closed it carefully behind him. Then they buried themselves in
the darkness of the interior, carefully picking their way amidst the
bundles and bales which were stored there.
"We shall be as cosy as possible," remarked John Margetson, indulging
for the first time in a laugh. "Take care where you tread, for otherwise
you will be tumbling into one of these bags of dates, or kicking against
a skin of wine. Why, man, this is just the place for us, for we have
food at hand, and can dine like gentlemen, with wine to wash the stuff
down. An alderman could not hope for more. But supposing these ruffians
find us out!"
"You said that we were not to be injured," answered Jim, "and therefore
we have very little to fear. Let us make the most of our good fortune,
and be content. What we have now to think about is not the possibility
of capture, though we should do well to bear that in mind and take all
due precautions, but our action in the future. How are we to get away
from here when the scent and search are less keen, and how can we manage
to take my father with us? There, you have enough to keep you awake all
night."
"It's likely to prove a puzzling question, my lad, and at present I can
see no more daylight through it than I can--well, through these walls.
And talking of light, how are we to keep in touch with the outside
world, and learn what is happening? To attempt to leave these snug
quarters and slip out into the village would be suicidal policy. It
would not help us in the slightest, and would lead to certain
discovery."
"Then we must have a peephole," responded Jim promptly. "Perhaps there
is one already in this hut. Let us look round, and watch for a ray of
moonlight. It is more than likely that we shall find something to suit
our purpose between the roof and the walls."
Accordingly, both crept round the confines of the building in search of
a chink, and very soon came to the conclusion that there would be little
difficulty in overhearing any conversation that might take place in the
immediate neighbourhood. Then they made a tour of the place, and
satisfied themselves of the position of the various bales and bags.
"We'll set to work as soon as there is a ray of light," said Jim's
companion, "and rig up a kind of cabin amongst all this stuff. If we're
careful to move only those which lie out of sight of the door, we are
not likely to be discovered. Then, too, it ought to be possible to leave
a hole here and there through which we could fire at the beggars. But I
am forgetting. You are the only one in possession of a weapon."
"I've two, and you are welcome to one of them. But what of the
muzzle-loaders which you stated were kept here? If they have not been
removed, we might press them into our service, and rig up a regular
battery."
"It's the very thing I meant," was the answer. "With half a dozen we
could make these beggars sit up, and unless they managed to rush us, or
bring the hut about our ears, we could keep them at their distance. But
what do you say to a bite at something? I own that I am precious hungry,
for this excitement has given me an appetite; and then you must
recollect that the diet of a slave is never noted for its liberality."
"I'll join you willingly," answered Jim with promptness. "Let us borrow
a few of the Mullah's dates."
"Yes, and wash them down with some of his best wine," laughed his
comrade.
Nothing loth, and, indeed, in the highest spirits at their unexpected
good fortune, both at once went in search of a bag, and quickly secured
a handful of dates apiece. Then they retired to a point as far from the
door as possible, and sat down in comfort, John Margetson dragging a
skin of wine to their feet.
Their meal finished, each indulged in a draught of the fluid, and found
that it braced them up in a marvellous manner.
"You need not fear the consequences," said Jim's companion. "This wine
is made from the fat removed from sheeps' tails, and is notorious for
nothing more than for its taste. To the natives it is a great luxury,
though to a stranger, I fancy, it is anything but appetizing."
"It has a most horrid flavour," answered Jim, "but beggars must not be
choosers. We have much to be thankful for, and particularly for these
skins of wine, for they will keep us from thirst. And now tell me more
about yourself, and of your life with these followers of the Mullah."
Making themselves comfortable upon the floor of the hut, the two sat
close together and passed the remaining hours of the night in
conversation, taking the precaution, however, to lower their tones till
they were little above a whisper. Then, as the interior of the dwelling
became lighter, and they could see their surroundings, they set to work
in earnest to build a hiding-place. Fortunately there was ample material
at hand, and as it lay at their feet, the task was soon completed. A
search also quickly brought to light a dozen old guns, which had
probably been made by some dishonest European for the special purpose of
being sold to the Mullah. But, bad as they were, they were too valuable
to be tossed aside with contempt. Therefore, having discovered a small
store of powder and shot, the fugitives loaded them at once, cramming
the weapons to the muzzle with slugs.
"That will do capitally," said Jim, surveying the work when it was
finished. "These beggars can come right into the hut without suspecting
that we are here, for this place shelters us. If they happen to find us,
we shall give them a warm reception with the guns, though at any other
time I should be sorry to be called upon to fire them, for they look as
though they would burst at the slightest provocation."
"Beggars cannot be choosers," replied his comrade, with a laugh,
repeating the words which Jim had used but a short while before. "If the
enemy comes here with the intention of molesting us, I should fire fifty
of the muzzle-loaders, and chance a burst with the greatest calmness.
But we're ready for them now; and as we have a moment to look round,
permit me to see what my young comrade is like. Up to this you have been
more or less of a mystery, for since the morning dawned I have been too
occupied to take stock of you."
Catching Jim by the arms, John Margetson turned him round till the two
stood face to face, and then treated him to a long and curious stare.
"Yes," he said at last, finding that Jim returned his gaze without a
sign of flinching, "a bold, high-mettled lad, filled with a feeling of
duty. Shake hands!"
The request came so suddenly that Jim started, but the next second he
clasped his companion warmly by the fingers, showing equal eagerness to
return his good feeling.
"Straight and true, and sturdy to the backbone," continued Margetson. "I
admire you, and I thank you for what you have done for me. Had it not
been for you, I should still have been in my prison, a spiritless slave,
doomed to lifelong serfdom. But now I am free--free, I tell you; and now
that my liberty is regained, no one shall wrest it from me. I live to
escape with you, to reach friends and old England again; or I die
fighting for my life, my own master at the end."
He ended his impassioned words with another squeeze of Jim's hand, and
then, as if to hide the evident excitement under which he laboured,
turned towards the door, and, applying his eye to a crevice, stared out
into the open. As for Jim, he was deeply impressed by his friend's
speech, and followed him thoughtfully with his gaze. Then he, too, took
post at an aperture, and sought to discover what was going on outside.
And meanwhile, what of Ali Kumar, and what of the numerous
search-parties which had raced into the plain? Then, too, what fortune
had befallen the troop of horsemen which had ridden from the village in
search of Jim's camp?