"IF THE POWDER AIN'T DAMP."
Morning came with a rush, the rays of the sun seeming to do battle with
the mist that floated over the surface of the river. The golden arrows
of light cut and broke up the one dense, grey, heavy cloud into portions
which floated slowly along, separating more and more, the dull grey
growing rapidly silvery, then golden, and the gold becoming suffused
with soft light. So beautiful was the scene that, while Archie gazed
thoughtfully at its beauty, even commonplace, powder-besmirched Peter
sat with his lips apart, staring hard, and then, forgetting himself and
their risky position, with its need for concealment, he clapped his
hands softly.
"Just look at it, Mister Archie!" he said. "Blest if the place don't
look just like the inside of one of them big hyster-shells that they get
the pearls out of!"
"Hush!" said Archie softly.
"Mum!" said Peter. "I forgot; but don't it look as if the river was
boiling hot and the steam rising, and the fire that hots it was shining
up through the cloud? I say, nobody could hear me say that," he
whispered.
"I hope not; but for aught we know boats may be floating down, hidden by
that mist."
"Mist--of course, sir! But it do look like steam, and it makes me think
of rations and hot coffee. I say, if one feels like this just at
daybreak, how's it going to be by night? Here goes to tighten my belt."
Peter suited the action to his words, and moved the tongue of his buckle
up two holes.
After this the lad sat peering through a dense, green curtain of the
beautiful tropic leafage, till by degrees all the mist had floated away
with the stream, leaving the water glittering and sparkling in the
bright sunshine, and giving the watchers a clear view of the flowing
river and the jungle that bowed its pendent branches so that they kissed
the water, while farther on tall, rigid palms shot up and displayed
their feathery tufts of great leaves, to sway gently in the hot
sunshine.
"Let's see, Mister Archie; don't seem to be many paths where helephants
and things come down to drink. I don't believe if we were landed there
we could get through those woods. I wonder what makes them call them
jungles. I suppose it means because the trees are all junged up
together so that you can't get through. If they called it tangle
there'd be some sense in it. But that ain't the worst."
"What is, then, Pete?" replied Archie, speaking so that his companion in
misfortune should not think him surly and distant.
"Why, we have got to carry them four little chesties and the gun right
through it in the dark. Well, we've got 'em, sir, and that's what we
come for."
"Yes, Pete; and it will be a relief to get them to the Residency."
"Yes, sir; and we have got to do it; and that means we shall, somehow."
The lad ceased speaking, and bent down to shift the four square,
solid-looking boxes a little, and as he did so he uttered a low grunt.
"I say, sir, it's been so dark that we couldn't tell what we were doing,
but lookye here. These 'ere two bottom ones are standing right in the
water. It's to be hoped they are tin-lined, or else what about the
cartridges? What do you say to laying them two bamboo poles right
across the boat for the day, and standing the boxes on them?"
"Good idea, Pete!" And the two lads busied themselves in placing the
boxes so that the moisture would drip away, with the possibility of
their getting dry in the sunshine, which was already beginning to fill
their shelter with semi-horizontal rays.
"Here, I say, sir, if we had known what a ramshackle old wreck this 'ere
sampan is we should have stepped along pretty gingerly while we were
poling--at least I should, for it looks to me as if you could shove your
foot through anywhere. Look at the sides! Why, they are half-rotten!"
"Yes, Pete; it's a wonder that the boat did not go to pieces when we ran
up against that other one in the night."
"That it is, sir. Why, if I'd known I believe I should have liked to
travel outside, hanging on, with my legs in the water."
"As a bait to tempt crocodiles, Pete?"
"Oh, I say, don't, sir! You give one the shivers."
As the lad spoke he peered over the side of the boat and half drew his
bayonet from his belt.
"Might be one of those beauties under the bottom now, sir," he said
half-apologetically. "Nice morning, though, ain't it? Talking about
hanging one's legs over the side, we might lay them up a bit to dry;"
and he set the example of stretching his own out on the seat-like
thwart, and sitting silently for a while gazing through one of the
openings across the river.
Then, as if being silent wearied him, his tongue began to go again.
"Suppose you can't make out exactly where we are, sir, can you?"
"No, Pete; the river winds about so."
"Of course, sir. Well, no wonder--it ain't got anything else to do.
Got your watch, sir?"
"Yes;" and Archie drew it out from his pocket.
"What time is it, sir?"
"One," said Archie dryly.
"Can't be, sir. Why, that means afternoon, and the sun's only just up."
"It means that it was one o'clock when we waded into the river, and the
water got in, Pete."
"Stopped! I'm blest! If you had thought of it, sir, you'd better have
left it at home. `Home, home, sweet home!'" hummed the lad. "But this
ain't home, and I'm precious hungry; but I'd a deal rather be here,
after all, than in the old whitewashed barracks where we were stationed
last, with nothing but drill, drill, drill, till one felt as if they had
drilled a hole right through you. Feel anything of your head now, sir?"
"Yes, Pete; but not much."
"That's the same with my hurt, sir; but one can't expect what we got to
get well directly. Wish we'd got something to do, if it was only to
clean one's buckles and lay on a bit of pipeclay. Is my face dirty,
sir?"
"Horribly, Pete. Is mine?"
Pete showed his teeth in a broad grin.
"Well, it would be all the better for a wash, sir, before you went in to
mess. We might have a bit of a sluice. But I suppose it would be risky
to try and get closer in to the bank?"
"You couldn't, Pete. It would be impossible to force the sampan through
this tangle. Why do you want to move? We are in a capital place."
"I was thinking of getting some soft mud out of the bank to use instead
of soap. It's wonderful cleansing, sir. I know what I should like to
do."
"Not talk, Pete, for you are doing that now?"
"Yes, sir, I know," said the poor fellow sadly. "I feel as though if I
didn't go on saying things and thinking of doing something, I should go
half-dotty."
"Nonsense, Pete! See how beautiful it is all round."
"Yes, sir, lovely! But who's going to enjoy it when your inside keeps
on saying, `Soup and 'tater--soup and 'tater--soup and 'tater,' and
there ain't none? Plenty of croc soup, of course. But, I say, Mister
Archie, sir, think it would be safe to bathe?"
"No; but I think you must be _half-dotty_, as you call it, to propose
such a thing."
"Right, sir. Of course! It does look very pretty about here, but one
can't help feeling that one of them pretty, smiling creatures may be
lying in there, just where the leaves touch the water, and watching us
all the time. Here, I should like to murder some of them. What do you
say to fixing bayonets on the end of them bamboo poles, and then
pitching leaves or bits of dead wood into the water as a bait for them
reptiles, and having a bit of sport to pass away the time?"
"I don't feel much disposed for sport, Pete."
"Course you don't, sir; but, you see, we've got hours and hours to sit
here till it's dark. One feels as if one must do something. Here, I
know! Capital! I've got no tackle but green leaves. I'll clean that
gun."
"No cleaning-rod, Pete."
"Must be, sir."
"Of course; but it will be hanging up somewhere in the Doctor's
bungalow."
"Might cut a young, thin bamboo, sir," said Pete, looking sharply round,
and feeling in his pocket for his knife.
"I can see no bamboos," said Archie--"nothing but crooked boughs."
"Well, anyhow, sir, we might rub the specks of rust off with leaves.
Would you like to have first turn?"
"No, Pete. I feel as if I could do nothing but sit still and rest and
think."
"What about, sir?"
"What they are saying about us at the Residency. I suppose they will
give us the credit of not deserting."
"Course they will, sir. They will be saying that we are lying speared
somewhere not far from headquarters. My word, sir, won't Mrs Morley
take on about losing you, sir! And, oh dear! nobody won't miss me--
except old Tipsy. Haw, haw, haw! He'd like to have me to bully-rag
when he gets back to headquarters again."
"Will nobody else miss you, Pete?"
"No, sir--I d'know, though. Yes--old Mother Smithers, next time she has
a chance to have a turn at the wash-tub. It will be, `Now, Pete, fresh
water, please.' Wish she'd got some of what's in this precious boat!
Talk about a leaky sieve! Why, it's coming in everywhere. We shall
have to begin baling soon, Mister Archie. To be sure; that will be next
job after I've rubbed up the gun, and--This 'ere ain't a fruit-tree, is
it, sir?"
"Absurd!"
"Suppose it is, sir. I was thinking of cocoa-nuts and getting one down
to bale with. I shall have to use my cap. It's wonderful how it's
stuck on. I ketched it slipping off twice, though, when we were
creeping through the wood."
Peter reached for the gun, and began to rub the barrels with such leaves
as he could pick; but after trying to polish for some time, he shook his
head in despair.
"Only making it worse, sir.--I say, Mister Archie, you are not going to
sleep, are you?"
Archie, who was resting one hand on the side of the boat and bending
down sideways, rose quickly.
"Hist!" he whispered. "Listen."
Peter sat motionless for some little time, and then, looking full in his
companion's eyes, shook his head slowly. Then a look of intelligence
came into his face, and he nodded two or three times quickly, leaned
forward, and placing his lips close to his companion's ear, he
whispered:
"Poles! Boat coming up-stream."
The two lads sat thinking of their own slow advance as they had punted
upwards in the darkness, and fully understood the effort that was being
made to force the advancing boat against the running water.
Then the same thought must have animated both, for after peering through
the leaves by which they were surrounded, each lay back upon the thwart
he occupied and cautiously began drawing one of the thick boughs that
touched the water closer in so as to increase the shelter; but no sooner
had Archie begun to disturb the water at the side of the boat than there
was a violent disturbance, and something dashed out into the open river.
"Croc," whispered Peter, "or some large fish. Wish I had him on my
bayonet, sir. I could eat him raw."
"Hist!" whispered Archie, for the sound of splashing poles was giving
place to the regular beat of oars; and crouching low, wondering whether
their shelter would be pierced by the keen eyes of the enemy, they lay
waiting, listening to the steady plash and the muttering of voices,
which grew louder, and, looking bright in painted gold, with the rowers'
silken bajus gleaming gold and yellow in the sunshine, a large
dragon-boat glided by, so close to the lads' hiding-place that the
rowers' blades on their side nearly swept against the leaves, and they
could see the gleam of the eyes and glint of spears, for the boat was
crowded with armed men, and beneath the palm shelter in the stern they
could note the gaily plaided silken sarongs of the principal leaders of
the party of Malays.
Feeling that they must be seen, the lads hardly dared to breathe till
the gilded stern of the naga had passed; and even then it seemed as if
the steersman was looking back straight through the hanging leaves so
that he must detect the boat.
At last both were breathing freely, for the plash of oars was growing
more distant, and Peter, who had found it horribly painful to remain
silent so long, hazarded a few words.
"Felt as if my heart was in my mouth, sir. But do you know what I was
thinking all the time?"
"That they must see us, Pete?"
"Of course, sir; but something else."
"Speak lower, man!"
"All right, sir; they can't hear. But can't you guess?"
Archie shook his head.
"Well, I'll tell you, sir. Here's a double gun; there's four boxes of
cartridges. Why haven't you got it loaded and ready to blow a couple of
the enemy overboard, and then _click, click_, shove in two more
cartridges, as I should hand to you, ready for two more shots? That
would be enough to send them to the right-about, for they wouldn't know
but what there might be half a company of us hiding here."
"How are we to get at the cartridges, Pete?" said Archie, brightening
up, for his companion's words sent a thrill of hope through his breast,
and their position seemed not half so defenceless as before.
"I've got my knife, sir."
"What! to cut through the lid?"
"No, sir. It's screwed down. I think I could turn the screws with the
big blade."
Taking one of the boxes on his knee, he brought the blade to bear, but
dared not put forth all his force, and for some time he could not get
even one of the fastenings to move, for the water had made the wood
swell.
"It's no use, Pete."
"Oh, ain't it, sir? They are in precious tight, but we have got lots of
time; and look--the top of this box is steaming, and it's drying fast.
I shall do it if I don't break my knife."
_Click_!
"There, now, if half-an-inch of the blade ain't gone! And I thought it
was a bit of the best stuff in our company. Well, there's a bit left to
work with, and I must try and cut through."
"No, no!" cried Archie eagerly. "Try if the broken blade will not go
into the ends of the screws."
"What! and use it as a screw-driver, sir?" cried Peter joyously. "Why,
it will be quite easy now. Call mine a head! Why, it's as thick as a
bowl. Here, take it coolly, sir! Here's one coming out as easy as
easy.--There's one! Don't shout `Hooray!' sir, for sound runs along
over the water like a skate on ice. Why, my knife is like a real tool.
Couldn't have broke off better, sir, and in half-an-hour we shall be all
right if--"
"If what, Pete?"
"The powder ain't damp."