"Look sharp, sir," I said, after going forward, and in a few words
explaining our position.
"Right, my lad. Get your men together in the stern of your boat, and
keep up the fire, while we make fast and try and tow you off. Hi! quick
there!" he roared; and a cheer told us that another boat was close at
hand.
But my work was cut out, the men placed well under cover, and we waited
listening for the first sounds of the returning enemy, while from time
to time Mr Brooke's clear, short orders came out of the darkness behind
us, and we knew that he had sent a party into the fixed boat to rock it
from side to side. Then came a cheer, as the water rolled hissing and
whispering among the reeds; there was the simultaneous plash of oars,
and a creaking sound.
Then another sound from the bank of the creek, which I knew well enough.
"Say when, sir," whispered Tom Jecks. "They're a-coming on." To our
astonishment, for the enemy had crept forward so silently that we had
hardly heard a sound, there was a hideous yell, and a crashing volley,
the bullets hissing over our heads again, and once more the gong-beating
began.
"Fire!" I said.
"Yes, fire, my lads, steady--where you see the flashes of their
matchlocks."
The voice came from close to my ear.
"Mr Reardon!" I cried in astonishment.
"Yes, Herrick; that bullet quite stunned me for a minute or two. I'm
better now. But hasn't it grown dark rather suddenly?"
"Yes, sir," I said; for I felt in my excitement as if it would be
impossible to enter into explanations then.
"But we're in motion."
"Hooray!"
Every one took up that cheer; for the combined efforts of the men who
rowed the laden craft, and the tugging of two boats' crews of men
straining with all their might at their stout ashen blades, had the
required effect. We were indeed in motion, and going steadily down the
stream.
"Ahoy, there: Mr Reardon!"
"Answer him, Herrick," said Mr Reardon; and I hailed again.
"Can you keep them off with your fire?"
"Say, yes."
"Yes; all right," I cried.
"Then we'll tow you out as fast as we can."
"Thank Heaven," I heard Mr Reardon whisper, as he crouched there,
listening to the yelling, gong-beating, and firing, and with our men
replying from time to time whenever there seemed a chance.
And now the bullets from the matchlocks began to patter upon the bales;
for the banks were growing lower and lower, and the trees more open, but
not a man was hit; and after another quarter of an hour's sharp replying
we heard fresh cheering, the overshadowing trees on the banks suddenly
began to grow distant. Then it became lighter still, with the stars
twinkling over head and the lights of the _Teaser_ apparently close at
hand.
But the enemy, enraged at our escape, now crowded down to the bank and
began to fire rapidly, while the men replied till the _crack crack_ and
_ping ping_ of the rifles was silenced,--the men stopping as if by
mutual consent. For there was a flash from the side of the _Teaser_
right in front of us, a shell whistled over our heads and crashed in
among the trees where the petty firing of the matchlocks was kept up.
Then--_crash_! the shell sent shrieking amongst them exploded, and all
was still but the steady beating of our oars.
"Are you much hurt, sir?" I said to Mr Reardon; but Ching took the
inquiry to himself.
"Velly stiff; velly hungly," he said.
"I wasn't speaking to you," I cried angrily; for my temper seemed to
have suddenly grown painfully acid, and a titter rose from among the
men.
"No, Mr Herrick, scarcely at all. The bullet struck my cap-band, just
above my temple, and glanced off. I can think more clearly now. How
many men are hurt in this boat?"
There was no reply; and as we at the same moment glided alongside, the
question seemed to be echoed from the _Teaser's_ side high above our
heads.