The hunt, we need scarcely say, was abruptly terminated, and immediate
preparations were made for conveying the wounded man and the two orangs
to the Dyak village. This was quickly arranged, for the convenient
bamboo afforded ready-made poles wherewith to form a litter on which to
carry them.
The huge creature which had given them so much trouble, and so nearly
cost them one human life, was found to be indeed of the largest size.
It was not tall but very broad and large. The exact measurements, taken
by the professor, who never travelled without his tape-measure, were as
follows:--
Height from heel to top of head, 4 feet 2 inches.
Outstretched arms across chest, 7 feet 8 inches.
Width of face, 1 foot 2 inches.
Girth of arm, 1 foot 3 inches.
Girth of wrist, 5 inches.
The muscular power of such a creature is of course immense, as Nigel and
the professor had a rare chance of seeing that very evening--of which,
more presently.
On careful examination by Nigel, who possessed some knowledge of
surgery, it was found that none of Gurulam's bones had been broken, and
that although severely lacerated about the shoulders and right thigh, no
very serious injury had been done--thanks to the promptitude and vigour
of the hermit's spear-thrust. The poor youth, however, was utterly
helpless for the time being, and had to be carried home.
That afternoon the party reached a village in a remote part of the
forest where they resolved to halt for the night, as no other
resting-place could be reached before dark.
While a supper of rice and fowl was being cooked by Moses, Van der Kemp
attended to the wounded man, and Nigel accompanied the professor along
the banks of the stream on which the village stood. Having merely gone
out for a stroll they carried no weapons except walking-sticks,
intending to go only a short distance. Interesting talk, however, on
the character and habits of various animals, made them forget time until
the diminution of daylight warned them to turn. They were about to do
so when they observed, seated in an open place near the stream, the
largest orang they had yet seen. It was feeding on succulent shoots by
the waterside: a fact which surprised the professor, for his inquiries
and experience had hitherto taught him that orangs never eat such food
except when starving. The fat and vigorous condition in which this
animal was, forbade the idea of starvation. Besides, it had brought a
Durian fruit to the banks of the stream and thrown it down, so that
either taste or eccentricity must have induced it to prefer the shoots.
Perhaps its digestion was out of order and it required a tonic.
Anyhow, it continued to devour a good many young shoots while our
travellers were peeping at it in mute surprise through the bushes. That
they had approached so near without being observed was due to the fact
that a brawling rapid flowed just there, and the mias was on the other
side of the stream. By mutual consent the men crouched to watch its
proceedings. They were not a little concerned, however, when the brute
seized an overhanging bough, and, with what we may style sluggish
agility, swung itself clumsily but lightly to their side of the stream.
It picked up the Durian which lay there and began to devour it. Biting
off some of the strong spikes with which that charming fruit is covered,
it made a small hole in it, and then with its powerful fingers tore off
the thick rind and began to enjoy a feast.
Now, with monkeys, no less than with men, there is many a slip 'twixt
the cup and the lip, for the mias had just begun its meal, or, rather,
its dessert, when a crocodile, which the professor had not observed and
Nigel had mistaken for a log, suddenly opened its jaws and seized the
big monkey's leg. The scene that ensued baffles description! Grasping
the crocodile with its other three hands by nose, throat, and eyes, the
mias almost performed the American operation of gouging--digging its
powerful thumbs and fingers into every crevice and tearing open its
assailant's jaws. The crocodile, taken apparently by surprise, went
into dire convulsions, and making for deep water, plunged his foe
therein over head and ears. Nothing daunted, the mias regained his
footing, hauled his victim on to a mudbank, and, jumping on his back
began to tear and pommel him. There was nothing of the prize-fighter in
the mias. He never clenched his fist--never hit straight from the
shoulder, but the buffeting and slapping which he gave resounded all
over the place. At last he caught hold of a fold of his opponent's
throat, which he began to tear open with fingers and teeth. Wrenching
himself free with a supreme effort the crocodile shot into the stream
and disappeared with a sounding splash of its tail, while the mias waded
lamely to the shore with an expression of sulky indignation on its great
black face.
Slowly the creature betook itself to the shelter of the forest, and we
need scarcely add that the excited observers of the combat made no
attempt to hinder its retreat.
It is said that the python is the only other creature that dares to
attack the orang-utan, and that when it does so victory usually declares
for the man-monkey, which bites and tears it to death.
The people of the village in which the hunters rested that night were
evidently not accustomed to white men--perhaps had never seen them
before--for they crowded round them while at supper and gazed in silent
wonder as if they were watching a group of white-faced baboons feeding!
They were, however, very hospitable, and placed before their visitors an
abundance of their best food without expecting anything in return.
Brass rings were the great ornament in this village--as they are,
indeed, among the Dyaks generally. Many of the women had their arms
completely covered with them, as well as their legs from the ankle to
the knee. Their petticoats were fastened to a coil of rattan, stained
red, round their bodies. They also wore coils of brass wire, girdles of
small silver coins, and sometimes broad belts of brass ring-armour.
It was break of dawn next morning when our hunters started, bearing
their wounded comrade and the dead orangs with them.
Arrived at the village they found the people in great excitement
preparing for defence, as news had been brought to the effect that the
pirates had landed at the mouth of the river, joined the disaffected
band which awaited them, and that an attack might be expected without
delay, for they were under command of the celebrated Malay pirate
Baderoon.
Nigel observed that the countenance of his friend Van der Kemp underwent
a peculiar change on hearing this man's name mentioned. There was a
combination of anxiety, which was unnatural to him, and of resolution,
which was one of his chief characteristics.
"Is Baderoon the enemy whom you saw on the islet on our first night
out?" asked Nigel, during a ramble with the hermit that evening.
"Yes, and I fear to meet him," replied his friend in a low voice.
Nigel was surprised. The impression made on his mind since their
intercourse was that Van der Kemp was incapable of the sensation of
fear.
"Is he so very bitter against you?" asked Nigel.
"Very," was the curt reply.
"Have you reason to think he would take your life if he could?"
"I am sure he would. As I told you before, I have thwarted his plans
more than once. When he hears that it is I who have warned the Orang
Kaya against him, he will pursue me to the death, and--and I _must not_
meet him."
"Indeed!" exclaimed Nigel, with renewed surprise.
But the hermit took no note of the exclamation. Anxiety had given place
to a frown, and his eyes were fixed on the ground. It seemed to Nigel
so evident that he did not wish to pursue the subject, that he slightly
changed it.
"I suppose," he said, "that there is no fear of the Dyaks of the village
being unable to beat off the pirates now that they have been warned?"
"None whatever. Indeed, this is so well-known to Baderoon that I think
he will abandon the attempt. But he will not abandon his designs on me.
However, we must wait and see how God will order events."
Next morning spies returned to the village with the information that the
pirates had taken their departure from the mouth of the river.
"Do you think this is an attempt to deceive us?" asked the chief,
turning to Van der Kemp, when he heard the news.
"I think not. And even should it be so, and they should return, you are
ready and well able to meet them."
"Yes, ready--and _well_ able to meet them," replied the Orang-Kaya,
drawing himself up proudly.
"Did they _all_ go in one direction?" asked Van der Kemp of the youths
who had brought the news.
"Yes, all went in a body to the north--except one boat which rowed
southward."
"Hmm! I thought so. My friends, listen to me. This is no pretence.
They do not mean to attack you now you are on your guard; but that boat
which went south contains Baderoon, and I feel certain that he means to
hang about here till he gets the chance of killing me."
"That is well," returned the chief, calmly. "My young men will hunt
till they find where he is. Then they will bring us the information and
Van der Kemp will go out with a band and slay his enemy."
"No, my friend," said the hermit, firmly; "that shall not be. I must
get out of his way, and in order to do so will leave you at once, for
there will be no further need for my services here."
The chief looked at his friend in surprise. "Well," he said, "you have
a good judgment, and understand your own affairs. But you have already
rendered me good service, and I will help you to fly--though such is not
the habit of the Dyaks! There is a trader's vessel to start for Sumatra
by the first light of day. Will my friend go by that?"
"I am grateful," answered the hermit, "but I need no help--save some
provisions, for I have my little canoe, which will suffice."
As this colloquy was conducted in the native tongue it was
unintelligible to Nigel, but after the interview with the chief the
hermit explained matters to him, and bade Moses get ready for a start
several hours before dawn.
"You see we must do the first part of our trip in the dark, for Baderoon
has a keen eye and ear. Then we will land and sleep all day where the
sharpest eye will fail to find us--and, luckily, pirates have been
denied the power of scenting out their foes. When night comes we will
start again and get out of sight of land before the next dawn."
"Mine frond," said the professor, turning his moon-like goggles full on
the hermit. "I vill go viz you."
"I should be only too happy to have your company," returned the hermit,
"but my canoe cannot by any contrivance be made to hold more than
three."
"Zat is no matter to me," rejoined Verkimier; "you forget zee trader's
boat. I vill go in zat to Sumatra. Ve vill find out zee port he is
going to, ant you vill meet me zere. Vait for me if I have not
arrived--or I vill vait for you. I have longed to visit Sumatra, ant
vat better fronds could I go viz zan yourselfs?"
"But, my good friend," returned the hermit, "my movements may not
exactly suit yours. Here they are,--you can judge for yourself. First
I will, God permitting, cross over to Sumatra in my canoe."
"But it is t'ree hoondert miles across, if not more!"
"No matter--there are plenty of islands on the way. Besides, some
passing vessel will give me a lift, no doubt. Then I will coast along
to one of the eastern ports, where I know there is a steamboat loading
up about this time. The captain is an old friend of mine. He brought
me and my companions the greater part of the way here. If I find him I
will ask him to carry my canoe on his return voyage through Sunda
Straits, and leave it with another friend of mine at Telok Betong on the
south coast of Sumatra--not far, as you know, from my home in Krakatoa.
Then I will proceed overland to the same place, so that my friend Nigel
Roy may see a little of the country."
"Ant vat if you do _not_ find your frond zee captain of zee steamer?"
"Why, then I shall have to adopt some other plan. It is the uncertainty
of my movements that makes me think you should not depend on them."
"Zat is not'ing to me, Van der Kemp; you joost go as you say. I vill
follow ant take my chance. I am use' to ooncertainties ant
difficoolties. Zey can not influence me."
After a good deal of consideration this plan was agreed to. The
professor spent part of the night in giving directions about the
preserving of his specimens, which he meant to leave at the village in
charge of a man whom he had trained to assist him, while Van der Kemp
with his companions lay down to snatch a little sleep before setting out
on their voyage, or, as the Dyak chief persisted in calling it, their
flight! When Nigel had slept about five minutes--as he thought--he was
awakened by Moses.
"Don't make a noise, Massa Nadgel! Dere may be spies in de camp for all
we knows, so we mus' git off like mice. Canoe's ready an' massa
waitin'; we gib you to de last momint."
In a few minutes our hero was sleepily following the negro through the
woods to the spot where the canoe was in waiting.
The night was very dark. This was in their favour,--at least as
regarded discovery.
"But how shall we ever see to make our way down stream?" asked Nigel of
the hermit in a whisper on reaching the place of embarkation.
"The current will guide us. Besides, I have studied the river with a
view to this flight. Be careful in getting in. Now, Moses, are you
ready?"
"All right, massa."
"Shove off, then."
There was something so eerie in the subdued tones, and stealthy motions,
and profound darkness, that Nigel could not help feeling as if they were
proceeding to commit some black and criminal deed!
Floating with the current, with as little noise as possible, and having
many a narrow escape of running against points of land and sandbanks,
they flew swiftly towards the sea, so that dawn found them among the mud
flats and the mangrove swamps. Here they found a spot where mangrove
roots and bushes formed an impenetrable screen, behind which they spent
the day, chiefly in sleep, and in absolute security.
When darkness set in they again put forth, and cautiously clearing the
river's mouth, were soon far out on the open sea, which was fortunately
calm at the time, the slight air that blew being in their favour.
"We are safe from pursuit now," said Van der Kemp in a tone of
satisfaction, as they paused for a breathing spell.
"O massa!" exclaimed Moses at that moment, in a voice of consternation;
"we's forgotten Spinkie!"
"So we have!" returned the hermit in a voice of regret so profound that
Nigel could scarce restrain a laugh in spite of his sympathy.
But Spinkie had not forgotten himself. Observing probably, that these
night expeditions were a change in his master's habits, he had kept an
unusually watchful eye on the canoe, so that when it was put in the
water, he had jumped on board unseen in the darkness, and had retired to
the place where he usually slept under hatches when the canoe travelled
at night.
Awakened from refreshing sleep at the sound of his name, Spinkie emerged
suddenly from the stern-manhole, right under the negro's nose, and with
a sleepy "Oo, oo!" gazed up into his face.
"Ho! Dare you is, you mis'rible hyperkrite!" exclaimed Moses, kissing
the animal in the depth of his satisfaction. "He's here, massa, all
right. Now, you go to bed agin, you small bundle ob hair."
The creature retired obediently to its place, and laying its little
cheek on one of its small hands, committed itself to repose.
Van der Kemp was wrong when he said they were safe. A pirate scout had
seen the canoe depart. Being alone and distant from the rendezvous of
his commander, some time elapsed before the news could be conveyed to
him. When Baderoon was at length informed and had sailed out to sea in
pursuit, returning daylight showed him that his intended victim had
escaped.