"I do," said Briscoe, staring. "I can see two canoes coming round the
bend yonder, half a mile away."
"Two!" cried Brace excitedly; "why, there are three."
"Yes," said the captain coolly; "we're took front, back, and flank.
Better put off the rope's-ending now, Mr Briscoe, eh?"
"Well, it would be better," said the American coolly, as he carefully
loaded his piece. "These things are as well done privately and without
a lot of lookers on. It might give these dark gentlemen a bad opinion
of the whites."
"What are you going to do, captain?" said Sir Humphrey impatiently.
"There's only one course open to us, sir--and that is to fight."
"I mean what will you do about those men who are ashore?"
"Oh, they're settling that themselves, sir," said the captain, with a
chuckle of satisfaction. "They've broke away like so many naughty boys
who think they can manage for themselves, and as soon as they start
they've got frightened and are running home for safety."
"But you'll take them on board, won't you?" said Brace.
"Certainly I shall, and make 'em fight too, sir," said the captain.
"Yes," said the American, "and they'll have to do their level best.
Shall I cover them, skipper, and let the niggers have a sprinkling of
buckshot to show them we are ready?"
"Yes," said the captain; "and you two gentlemen had better help. That's
the first thing--to get them aboard safe."
Pieces were cocked, and their holders sat in the boats watching the
flight and pursuit, Brace's heart beating violently. He glanced up and
down at the novel sight of canoes where all heretofore had been so
deserted, and saw at once that there was nothing to fear in their
direction for the next half-hour, while in another minute or two he
could plainly see that a serious engagement would have commenced with
the natives on shore, and the sensation this caused was both novel and
strange to him.
"The idiots!" he said, in a low voice; "why couldn't they keep to their
duties instead of breaking away like this?"
"Because they're just ordinary men," said Briscoe, who was by his side.
"They're going to pay pretty dear for their game, though."
"Don't you think that they will be able to get here safely?"
"That's just what I am afraid about. The niggers are better runners
than they are, and more at home on the ground, and they could catch up
to them at once, only they like to tackle their enemies at a distance.
Look!"
"Yes, I see," said Brace, whose breath came and went as if he had been
running hard, and his eyes dilated when he saw that, as the men tore off
through the various obstacles of rock, bush, and tree, the Indians
suddenly began to slacken their pace and prepare their bows.
"Ah, we must put a stop to that, gentlemen," cried the captain. "Give
them something to put an end to those games."
A low murmur of acquiescence arose, and guns were levelled, but no shot
rang out.
"Can't fire yet, skipper," growled Briscoe. "I could pick off a man or
two with a rifle easily, but I'm not loaded with ball, and these
buckshot scatter so. I don't want to hurt any of our own chaps if I can
help it."
"And they're too far off from us as yet," said Brace excitedly.
"Well, they'll soon shorten the distance," growled the captain; and then
he clapped his hand to the side of his mouth and yelled to his
mutineers: "Now, run, you lubbers! Don't go to sleep. Run as if you
meant it."
_Taang_!
"Bah! he's got it," cried the captain.
There was the dull half-musical sound of a bowstring, and to Brace's
horror one of their flying men made a spasmodic jump into the air and
came down upon hands and knees, his nearest messmates passing on some
twenty yards before they could check their speed; and then, in the midst
of the thrill of excitement which ran through the occupants of the
boats, the retreating party paused, and dashed back to help their fallen
mate.
An involuntary cheer of encouragement rang out from those in the boats.
"Good boys--good boys!" yelled the captain. "That's true British,
Briscoe. There, I forgive 'em all for that. Oh, if they only had
something in their fists they'd drive the beggars back to the woods.
Pick him up, boys, a leg or a wing apiece, and run again. Oh, Lor' a'
mercy, gentlemen, can't one of you shoot?"
For in those exciting moments the Indians, who had come bounding forward
with a triumphant yell on seeing the white man fall, hesitated and
stopped in fear and surprise when they saw that their flying enemies had
halted and dashed back to rescue their messmate.
This, however, was only a momentary pause, for, recovering themselves,
they yelled again and rushed forward.
It was the opportunity wanted, and almost together three guns flashed
out their contents, sending a little storm of buckshot amongst the
runners, who turned on the instant and began to retreat towards the
woods.
"Missed!" cried the captain.
"Hit!" cried Briscoe.
"No: there's not a man gone down," cried the captain.
"But plenty of hits," said Briscoe, setting the example of reloading.
"Look at them rubbing their coppery hides. The shots wouldn't penetrate
at this distance."
"Never mind: it's stopped them, anyhow," growled the captain. "Bravo!
Good boys!" he cried, as he saw his mutinous lads carefully raise their
companion, while two of the party armed themselves with big pieces of
stone and formed themselves into a rearguard, backing slowly, their
faces to the hesitating enemy.
"Bravo!" continued the captain. "My boys are the right stuff after
all."
He sprang over the boat's side, gun in hand, as he spoke, and,
influenced by the same feeling, Brace and Briscoe followed, the former
thrusting his brother back.
"No, no, Free," he cried. "You're not strong enough yet. Stay in the
boat and cover us with one of the rifles."
A look of resentment rose in Sir Humphrey's eyes, but he accepted the
position, dropped back into a seat, exchanged his double fowling-piece
for one of the rifles lying ready, and sat watching the progress of the
three, who were at once supported by Dellow and Lynton, the men on board
cheering as the party of five splashed through the shallow water to meet
the mutineers, who were compelled to come slowly on account of their
load.
The support was none too soon, for, recovering themselves, and enraged
at seeing their intended victims escaping, the savages were now
advancing once more at a run.
"Make for the boat, boys," cried the captain, as he led his party past
the mutineers, and then, setting the example, levelled his piece. "We
three will give 'em this taste, gentlemen," he cried. "You cover us
while we reload. Now then, all together--fire!"
There were the dull flashes, the puffs of smoke, and a yelling from the
enemy who, at fifty yards away, received the stinging volley and were
checked, Brace and Briscoe standing fast while the captain and the two
mates followed the retreating party with their load.
"Two of the enemy down," said Briscoe coolly. "Old skipper will think
he and his men are better shots than we are."
"Let him," said Brace. "They're up again. Look out: they're coming
on."
"Stand fast, then," said Briscoe. "Let 'em have it this way. Can you
let 'em come on till they're five-and-twenty yards nearer?"
"Yes," said Brace, immediately following his companion's example and
dropping on one knee to take aim.
"Aim low, Brace," said Briscoe. "Let's try to cripple their legs. We
don't want to kill any of them. Aim right in the brown, as you English
sportsmen say."
"Right," replied Brace, setting his teeth and kneeling firm as a rock,
while the Indians came on at a trot, grimacing and yelling to frighten
them into flight.
But they had the wrong stuff to deal with, and their eyes dilated and
rings of white appeared round the irises in theft utter astonishment at
seeing the two white men calmly awaiting their onslaught, Briscoe with
the stump of a cigar in his teeth, mumbling out:
"Twenty-eight--twenty-seven--twenty-six--twenty-five--fire!"
The guns went off together, and the pair sprang up and ran after their
companions, to find fifty yards nearer the boat the captain and his
officers down on one knee waiting to cover them.
"Well aimed!" cried the former. "You two halt to cover us just at the
water's edge. That'll give the boys time to get aboard, and then we can
laugh at the copper-skinned vermin. Look sharp and reload: they're
coming on again."
Brace and his companion continued their retreat, overtaking the sailors
with the wounded man, whom they now saw to be Jem, and had endorsement
of the fact in the tones of his voice, for he was growling and abusing
his bearers.
"Put me down, I says, and go and help the old man. I tell you I can get
to the boat myself without any help."
"Hold your row," said one of the men; "if you don't we'll bump you."
"Don't talk, my lads; hurry on," cried Brace, who was busy reloading.
"Look sharp and get aboard."
"Ay, ay, sir," cried the party cheerily.
The next minute they were at the water's edge, where their defenders
halted ready, just as the captain's voice was heard to shout:
"Fire!"
Three shots rang out, and, covered by the smoke, the captain and his
mates ran on, to begin reloading.
"Look sharp, boys!" panted the captain; "get to the boats, each man to
his own, but put the wounded man in mine. You're ready, Mr Brace--Mr
Briscoe?"
"Yes."
"That's right: we won't row away and leave you. Forward, my lads, and
get under cover of the boat's side. Hoist the sail half-mast, and keep
behind it. They'll begin to shoot directly. We'll get on board first,
gentlemen, to cover you from the boats. Stand fast till we're all in if
you can, and then give 'em all four barrels and make a dash for it
before the smoke rises."
These next were anxious moments, but Brace did not flinch, and his
companion went on talking with his eyes fixed upon the approaching
enemy, each man holding an arrow to his bowstring, but unaccountably
refraining from winging it home. He seemed to be in every case watching
the muzzles of the guns in wonder and fear as he slowly approached.
"I want to cut and run horribly, Brace," said the American, in a husky
voice; "only I suppose we mustn't. We shall look like porcupines
directly--full of arrows, I expect; but keep up your spirits: I daresay
we shall each have a fair share."
"I say, don't!" said Brace. "It is too serious to joke about."
"And no mistake. Are they all aboard yet?" asked Briscoe.
"Don't know, and can't look round. I must face them. It would be ever
so much worse to turn our backs."
"Ten times," said Briscoe. "Look out! I say; that's a fresh party--
twenty or thirty of them, coming out of the woods a quarter of a mile
away. They ought to be too late to reach us."
"Our men are all on board, and the Indians are going to rush us,"
whispered Brace.
"That's so," said the American. "Be ready. I'll say `Fire!' Then wait
till the smoke lifts, when I'll give the word again, and then it's a
rush through the water to the boats. Bet you two cents I get most
arrows in my back."
"Steady!" growled Brace hoarsely.
"Fire!" shouted the captain from the boat, and, in spite of the order
upsetting their plans, the covering party obeyed and sent their little
shower of shot amongst the yelling enemies' legs.
"Let 'em have it again," roared the captain from the second boat.
The remaining two barrels rang out, and those who fired sprang up and
dashed through the water to reach the larger boat, where they were
seized and dragged in and under cover.
None too soon, for a little shower of arrows came aboard and through the
sails, which were shivering in the brisk breeze.
The next minute, in response to a thrust or two, and a touch at the
tillers, both sails half-filled, and the boats were gliding swiftly away
from the shore, the arrows coming more and more seldom, till the last
two failed to reach them, but fell into the water twenty yards astern.
Then the captain, who had been tending the wounded man, rose up and
said, loud enough for those in both boats to hear:
"There we are then, my lads, quite out of danger now, and nothing to
mind but a few canoes up stream and a few more down; but look here, I've
just got this to say to you all: if you'd had your way there'd have been
a big fire ashore to-night and a general collection of Indians to the
biggest roast they had enjoyed for years. After it was over everyone of
those copper-skinned gentlemen would have been going about with a good
big bit of my crew in his inside. That's quite true, isn't it, Mr
Briscoe?"
"Oh, yes," said the American: "these people are cannibals still when
they get the chance."
"That's so," cried the captain; "and now you know, my lads. There,
you've had your touch of the gold fever, and if we get back on board
I'll give every man-jack of you a dose of quinine. But now I shall say
no more about it, for I see you're all sorry for being such fools, and
are going to fall back into your work."
There was a low murmur of assent at this, and the captain spoke again:
"What say, Sir Humphrey?"
"I say, we seem to be leaving the canoes down the river well behind, but
those up stream are bearing down upon us fast."
"Then," said the captain, "they'd better look out, gentlemen, and keep
out of our way, for I mean to rush right upon them full sail. The prows
of these boats are pretty sharp, and their dug-outs don't take much to
send them to the bottom. I say, you Dan," he went on, "you'd better
serve round some biscuit and bacon to the lads, for they must be getting
peckish after what they've gone through. I say, Sir Humphrey, what do
you say to making a hand-grenade or two out of pound powder-tins and
pieces of rag?"
"To throw on board the canoes?" said Sir Humphrey: "horrible!"
"Quite true, sir; but it would be more horrible still if these savages
should manage to get the better of the crew of the `Jason' brig. What
do you say to that?"
"I give up," replied Sir Humphrey. "I hate the idea of slaughtering the
poor ignorant wretches, but self-preservation is the first law of
nature."
"Exactly so, sir. If we kill it won't be for the sake of killing."
"How is Jem's wound going on?" said Brace anxiously.
"You take no notice about that, sir," said the captain, with a peculiar
look. "He has got a hole in his leg made by an arrow, and I've doctored
it up just as I did your brother's, and laughed at him and told him it
served him right. You gentlemen had better take the same line. If he
sees that we look serious about it he'll take and die right off: he'll
kill himself with the belief that he's shot by a poisoned arrow."
"Is he?" said Brace, in an eager whisper.
"I didn't see the arrow made, sir, and I didn't see it dipped in
anything. What's more, I never saw the arrow at all, for the boys
pulled it out and chucked it away. Maybe it was poisoned; but you see
these arrows are only meant to kill birds, and what might kill a bird
won't do much harm to a man. I've done all I know for the wound, same
as we did for your brother's. He got well, and if we laugh at Jem he'll
get well too."
"The niggers are coming right down upon us, sir," said the first mate
from the other boat, "and evidently mean to fight."
"All right, Dellow; be ready for 'em. I shall lead. We mean to fight
too."