I fully believed that our last moments had arrived, and it was, I felt,
a satisfaction to die with Eva; yet I endeavoured to retreat to prolong
our lives, if I could not preserve them. My strength was fast failing
me; the weapons of the savages were flashing in my eyes; every instant I
expected to be disabled by a wound. I am convinced my dauntless bravery
somewhat awed these wild natives, for, with that young girl to protect,
no sensation of fear entered my bosom. At last they seemed ashamed at
allowing one man, a mere stripling too, so to daunt them, and with loud
yells and shrieks they threw themselves on me.
At that instant, when every hope of life had fallen, another warrior, he
seemed, uttering still more unearthly cries than his companions, and
dressed in a still more fantastic manner, rushed into the circle. At
his appearance the rest drew back, and, as he stepped into the ring, I
thought he was about to perform the part of executioner. Instead,
however, of cutting off my head, after addressing a few words in the
Dyak language to his savage followers, to my intense astonishment he
exclaimed, in unmistakable English:
"It's all right, my fine fellow; neither you nor that little girl shall
have a hair of your heads hurt while I have got a finger to wag in your
defence."
On hearing these words, Eva lifted up her head, and crying out, "He is
an Englishman! he is an Englishman! Oh! Mark, you are saved!" burst
into tears.
"Don't be crying so, my dear young lady," said the pretended chief. "I
promise you that both he and you are safe enough for the present; my
pretty boys here won't hurt any of those whom I say are my friends."
"Indeed, sir, whoever you are, I am most grateful for your succour," I
observed. "You have saved this dear young girl's life as well as my
own."
"Oh, but Mark came just in time to save mine," interrupted Eva.
"Mark! Is that your name? I had a friend once of that name, but you
are not a bit like him," exclaimed the stranger.
"The name I have always borne is that of Mark Seaworth," I answered,
remembering that I had good reason to suppose that it was not my real
one.
"Mark Seaworth! The very same; I ought to have known you at once; and I
am delighted to find you, old fellow. I am, by Jerico, Seaworth!"
exclaimed the stranger, grasping me by the arm, and wringing it till he
almost dislocated my shoulder in the warmth of his feelings.
"I also am indeed delighted to meet an old friend," I returned; "but,
for the life of me, in your present costume I cannot recall your
features."
"Ah! I quite forgot; this rather uncommon rig for an English gentleman
must somewhat have puzzled you," he answered, laughing. "Well, then,
you remember Blount, at old Liston's. I am the same, I can assure you,
Seaworth; rather transmogrified as to my outward man, I own." The voice
and turn of expression instantly recalled my old friend Walter Blount to
my recollection, and I returned his grasp with as hearty a shake as he
had given me.
We had, however, as he observed, very little time for explanations, as
it was necessary to beat a retreat before the allies of the tribe his
friends had attacked were aroused and able to follow them. The warriors
were now collecting from all parts, their work of vengeance being
accomplished; and under the escort of Blount, who assisted me in
supporting Eva, we proceeded towards the north in company with the
advanced body. As we skirted the borders of the lake we found a canoe
sufficiently large to contain three persons. As it would save Eva much
fatigue, I proposed to Blount to take it and to pull to the end of the
lake, where we might again place ourselves under the escort of the
warriors. As we were paddling swiftly along, he gave me a brief outline
of his history, after I had told him how I came to be in the position,
in which I was.
"You know, Seaworth, I was always a very wild fellow, and you used to
get me out of numbers of scrapes," he begun. "Well, at last I became
tired of school, and I did nothing but bother my friends to send me to
sea. I used to write round to every friend and relation I possessed,
once a fortnight at least--to the more influential ones oftener; till,
either to save their pockets the expense of postage, or because they saw
that my heart was set on the life, they all met and consulted together,
and agreed that I should be sent on board an Indiaman, where I should be
more likely to make a fortune than in the Royal Navy, and should have no
occasion to repeat the trick I had played them when I wanted my
promotion. So I was fitted out with the proper number of shirts and
socks, and sent on board the _Hooghly_.
"I made two voyages, but did not find life in an Indiaman anything like
what I expected; so I left her, and hearing of a brig which had a roving
commission to go wherever there was any trade to be done, I offered to
join her. I especially liked the notion of the excitement and variety,
and, as she was short of hands, my services were accepted on condition
that I shipped as junior mate. I found that I had more work and less
pay than any one on board; but I learned seamanship and practised
navigation, which was considered an equivalent for my services.
"We touched at a great many places in these seas, disposing of some of
our cargo, and collecting the produce of the country in return, when we
managed to run the brig on a shoal off this coast, which was not
correctly laid down on our chart. There was a very heavy sea, and the
vessel struck violently, so that it was the opinion of most onboard that
she would go to pieces. The master, who was of this opinion, and
others, took to the boats, but were swamped, as I was afraid they would
be. I stuck to the wreck, as, knowing her to be thoroughly built, I had
an idea that she would stick together.
"I was in the after part of the vessel, but the rest of the people who
remained were forward, and the sea, making a clean breach over the
wreck, swept them all away. I with difficulty held on; and when the sea
went down, and the morning returned, I discovered that I was the only
person left alive. I found some cold meat and biscuits and plenty of
spirits in the cabin, and a keg of water jammed into the companion
hatch, so there was little fear of my starving for some time to come.
When the sun rose, I saw the land a few miles off, and in the afternoon
of the same day perceived a number of canoes coming off to the wreck. I
knew that the people hereabouts do not make much ceremony about cutting
off a fellow's head; so, determining that they should not have mine
without plenty of trouble, I bound all the handkerchiefs I could find
round my throat, till I appeared to have no more neck than a whale. As
I was hunting about the cabin, I came upon the captain's medicine chest.
I knew the properties and effects of some of the drugs, and besides
them was a little book in the drawers to help me.
"`Come,' said I to myself, `savages are apt to treat medical men with
rather more respect than often do civilised people. I will pretend to
be a doctor, and they will probably not attempt to hurt me.'
"As a precaution, I put on all the coats I could find, and buttoned them
over to serve as armour, and stuck a brace of pistols in my pockets, to
shoot a couple of them if they came to close quarters. However, when
the canoes first came up, the savages, seeing me on board walking the
deck with as much dignity as the officer of the watch, began blowing
their sumpits at me till I was stuck all over like a porcupine. Luckily
none hit my face, and seeing me take the matter so unconcernedly, they
ceased blowing, to discover what I was made of. I thereon pulled out
the arrows, and going to the side of the vessel, with a polite bow
presented them to my assailants, at the same time, by significant
gestures, inviting them on board. My conduct seemed to tickle their
fancy amazingly; and when they climbed up the sides, instead of showing
any fear, or attempting to resist them, I appeared delighted to see
them, and in a minute we were perfectly good friends. I now led some of
them into the cabin, and gave them everything which first came to hand,
knowing very well that they would take it if I did not; besides, as I
could scarcely consider the things my own, I could afford to be
generous. With my aid, they soon loaded the canoes so full that they
could carry no more; and then jumping into the principal one, which
seemed to belong to a chief, I sat myself down beside him, and began
talking away as if I was an old friend, and delighted to see him. By
the by, he could not understand a word I said: but I made up for the
want of meaning in the sounds by a profusion of signs. I found that
they belonged to a tribe inhabiting a spot at the head of a long river,
and that they were just about to return thither. I now tried to make
them comprehend that if any of them were ill, I could cure them by means
of a box which I carried under my arm. They, of course, thought that it
was filled with charms, but had not the less respect for me on that
account. I was delighted with the beauty of the scenery we passed going
up the river, and the well-selected site of their village. When we
arrived there, they gave me a house to myself, and would have allowed me
to choose a wife had I been so disposed; but I declined the honour. I
at once set to work to gain the good opinion of the ladies, and for this
object divided my somewhat cumbrous neckcloth among them, while I
doctored them and their children on every opportunity. My coats I
divided among the men, except one suit which I kept for myself. I
thought that I should still more ingratiate myself with them, if I
dressed as they did; and as I was always somewhat of a dandy, I went to
the extreme of Dyak fashion, except in the matter of putting those big
rings in my ears, and chewing betel-nut; in fact I now take the lead in
dress, and am looked upon as the very pink of perfection. I have
learned their language, and adapted myself to their ways; but I have
begun to get rather tired of this sort of life, and have been lately
considering how I can best take my departure, and in what direction I
shall steer my course."
"I hope that you will accompany us my dear fellow, and return again to
civilised life," I observed. "But how could you encourage those people,
in the savage work in which they were engaged?"
"I am not surprised at the question, Seaworth," he replied, gravely;
"but you must not think so ill of me as to suppose that I encouraged
them in murdering their countrymen. In the first place, you must
understand that they had been previously attacked by this tribe, who
carried off a number of heads, burnt their cottages, and cut down their
fruit-trees. They believe retaliation to be justifiable,--so do
civilised nations; and I knew that it would be hopeless to preach
forbearance to them: so I accompanied them to doctor up any who were
hurt, and to try and save the lives of their prisoners."
"I am sure that we ought not to find fault with Mr Blount, for he saved
our lives, at all events," interposed Eva.
I agreed with her, and assured Blount, that under the circumstances he
had described, he might, I thought, even have assisted his friends in
punishing their enemies, not in a revengeful spirit, but as the only
means of preventing a similar attack, and for preserving peace. We had
now arrived at the end of the lake; and landing, we left the canoe to
its fate. The war party had not arrived, and with some anxiety we
waited for them, fearing that they might have gone by some other route;
for Blount asserted that they had not yet passed that way. The moon had
just risen in the sky, and was shedding a silvery light across the lake,
by which we were enabled to see to the other extremity. We watched,
fearing that some of the warriors of the enemy might have collected and
set out in pursuit, and Blount began to regret having parted from his
friends. My young sister was sadly worn and fatigued by the terror she
had undergone, and was unable to proceed on foot; so Blount and I
employed our time in manufacturing a sort of litter, on which she might
be carried on the journey. She seemed much grieved at the death of the
old chief and his wife, who had treated her kindly, and won her
easily-gained affections. Blount and I were just completing our work
when Eva called to us. She was seated on a rock close to the lake.
"I have been listening, and I am certain I hear the splash of paddles on
the water," she said; "and see, are not these some black spots just
under the moonbeams at the other end of the lake?"
We, too, were soon certainly convinced that she was right. "I see how
matters stand," said Blount; "a war party have collected and embarked,
to cross the lake and lie in ambush for my friends on their retreat.
They have been so quick about it that there can only be a few of them,
but they would do some mischief. It is fortunate that we came across
the water. We must now try to find our friends to give them warning."
I agreed with him; and placing Eva on the litter to carry her between
us, in spite of her assurance that she could walk very well, we were
about to set forward, when Blount recollected that the canoe would
betray us. It had fortunately not drifted away from the shore; so
hauling it up, we hid it among the bushes, and trusted that our pursuers
would not land at that very spot. We proceeded in a direction so as to
intersect the line of march of the Dyaks, Blount carefully listening for
their approach.
"We must not go farther," he observed, "or they may pass us;" so we put
down our light burden, and sat down by her side. The moonbeams here and
there struggled through the thick foliage of the trees, but in most
places it was very dark; and we could only depend on our sense of
hearing, though the moon enabled us to steer our course. Near us was an
open glade, and, for a minute perhaps, neither had been looking towards
it, when by chance turning our heads, it appeared as if by magic filled
with human beings. The moon lighted up the spot, and her beams fell on
their savage features, their fantastic dresses of skins and feathers, or
gaily-coloured clothes, and the bloody trophies which so many bore at
their waists, as they crept onward with the stealthy step habitual to
them on such expeditions. Eva trembled, for she could not tell whether
they were friends or foes; but Blount recognised them, and jumping up,
presented himself before them. They seemed delighted to meet him. They
told him that they had fallen in with another village of their enemies,
and that they had stopped to destroy it. Short work as they had made of
it, the delay would have cost them dear, had we not observed the enemy
crossing the lake, and been able to give them notice of the
circumstance. The party were led, it appeared, by a young chief over
whom Blount had some influence, and, to prevent further bloodshed, he
strongly advised him not to molest the ambush, but to turn off on one
side to avoid them. This advice was not palatable to the young warrior,
and he insisted on his right to kill those who had come to kill him. We
proceeded, therefore, in the original direction. Several of the Dyaks
at once volunteered to carry Eva on her litter, and Blount and I walked
by her side as her bodyguard. I observed that considerable precautions
were taken in the advance. The main body kept in close order, while an
advanced guard was sent forward to feel the way, and skirmishers were
thrown out on either side to guard the flanks from attack. Scouts also
were sent ahead, stealthily picking their way amongst the most sheltered
paths, in order to discover the ambush. We had not proceeded far, when
two of the scouts came in, and reported that a body of the enemy lay in
ambush among some rocks at the entrance of a ravine leading up from the
lake. On hearing this, the young chief divided his force into three
bodies. He was to lead one to the hill above the ambush; a second was
to proceed over the hills on the opposite side of the ravine, to get
ahead of the enemy; while a third was to block up the entrance, so as to
prevent their escape in that direction. Eva accompanied the second
body, which I thought was less likely to be engaged. The dispositions
were quickly made, and we had scarcely descended again into the ravine
after evading the ambush, than the loud war-shrieks, disturbing the calm
serenity of the night, told us that the work of death was going on. A
few unfortunate wretches fled up the ravine, and were immediately killed
by our party, while the main body and those at the entrance of the
ravine destroyed the rest; so that of the whole ambush, who, intending
to surprise us, were themselves surprised, not one escaped. Indeed, the
tribe itself was very nearly annihilated by that night foray. There was
no time to cut down the fruit-trees, or to destroy the fields of maize
and rice, as is usually done on like occasions. We marched on all night
and some part of the morning before a halt was called, so unwilling were
the Dyaks to stop till they were out of the reach of the allies of those
they had attacked. At last they lay down to sleep in the shade of some
wide-spreading trees. I observed that each man remained with his sword
in one hand and his sumpitan, with a dart in it, ready to discharge, in
the other; and every now and then one of them would lift up his head and
look about him, so accustomed are they to be on the watch, and so
uncertain when they may be attacked.
In the afternoon we again resumed our march. At sunset we again halted
for repose; but as soon as the moon arose, we were once more on foot.
Each man was provided with a number of short spears, which Blount
informed me, were for the purpose of sticking into the ground behind
them when hotly pursued, so that their enemies get checked, and often
severely wounded. The only food provided for the army was a sticky sort
of rice, boiled in bamboos, each person carrying sufficient for himself
in a small basket at his back. No fires were lighted, lest their light
might betray our position to any lurking enemies. So rapidly did we
march, and so little sleep or rest did any of us enjoy, that I was
almost knocked up; and Eva would have been unable to proceed, had she
not been borne on a litter. I ought to have said that each warrior who
had killed one or more of the enemy, carried their heads hung by a line
round his neck, keeping it there even at night while he slept, and
caressing it in the most affectionate manner. Poor little Eva! It was
a sad sight for her; and I kept her as much out of the way of the heroes
of the party as I could. Some of them had three or four heads dangling
round their necks, as they walked onward with proud steps, exulting in
their prowess. They felt certain, too, of gaining the smiles of the
most lovely damsels of their tribe; for the Dyak women are great
admirers of bravery.
At length we arrived at the village of the conquerors, when, as they had
no muskets to fire or cannons to discharge, they set up the most
terrific yells I ever heard, to announce their arrival and victory. The
shouts were answered by the people of the village, who rushed out to
meet them and welcome them with every demonstration of joy. Blount
instantly set to work to have a cottage prepared for Eva and me. A very
neat one was provided, situated on a sloping bank above a running
stream, and backed by a grove of palm-trees. It was built partly of the
wood of the Nibong palm, and partly of bamboo, and was thatched with
palm-leaves. It was indeed a very light and pretty structure, and
perfectly clean. The furniture consisted simply of a quantity of
beautifully-made mats, to answer the purpose of tables and chairs,
carpets, beds, and bedding, while gourds of many sizes, and pieces of
bamboo, supplied us with our cooking and mess utensils. Eva surveyed
our abode with unfeigned delight.
"We might be perfectly happy here, I am sure, all the days of our
lives," she exclaimed. "Don't you think so, my dear Mark?"
"Indeed, Eva, I do not," I answered. "We are glad at length to be at
rest; but we should very soon get tired of the companionship of savages,
and I have a notion that man is not born to vegetate; he should be up
and doing. It is a question every man should ask himself constantly:
What have I done lately to benefit my fellow-creatures? Have I played
my part as an educated intellectual man in advancing the moral and
social condition of my less-favoured fellow-men? or have I merely
considered how I can best amuse myself, without a thought for their
welfare? O Eva, I used, even as a boy, to be so disgusted when in
England, and also in India, I saw men so capable of better things,
employing their time in shooting, fishing, and hunting, or in the most
frivolous pursuits, worthy only of uneducated savages, who must so
occupy themselves to live, and all the time not in the slightest degree
aware that they were actually sinning--that they were hiding their
talents--that they were useless beings--that they might better not have
been born."
"Oh, but then, my dear Mark, we may do a great deal of good here, I am
sure," exclaimed Eva, interrupting me. "We may civilise these fierce
savages--we may teach them Christianity--we may show them how much
happier they may be by living peaceably, than by going to war, and
cutting off each other's heads."
"Ah, Eva, that indeed would be a noble occupation," I answered,
enthusiastically. "And worthy of all honour would be the man who would
devote himself to so great and glorious a cause."