Having quenched our burning thirst, our next impulse was to seek for
rest. Since we had been sleeping on the deck of the ill-fated frigate,
not one of us had closed his eyes. Collecting, therefore, a quantity of
dried leaves and boughs, we made a bed, on which we threw ourselves, the
boughs forming a shade overhead. In an instant almost I was asleep, and
so, I believe, were most of my companions. We had escaped the dangers
of the sea, but we had a good many more to encounter. The thoughts of
them, however, could not drive away sleep. I was awakened by feeling a
gnawing sensation of hunger. It was not so painful, perhaps, as thirst,
but it was very trying. I could have eaten a raw lizard had I found it
crawling over my face. My companions soon awoke from the same cause,
but nothing eatable, animal or vegetable, could we find. We hurried
down to the beach, and searched about for shell-fish. Not one could we
see.
"It will not do, lads, to stop here to starve," observed Kiddle. "What
do you say, Mr Burton? Had not we better push on along the shore,
while we have a little strength left, and try and find some natives who
may give us food?"
Esse and I agreed at once to Toby's suggestion, and returning once more
to our fountain for another draught, we set out along the coast. Esse
and I had on shoes, but, after being so long in the salt water, they
became shrunk and shrivelled when they dried, and were rather an
inconvenience than any assistance in walking. The rest of the party had
no shoes, and the hot sands burned and blistered their feet. We dragged
ourselves on for about a mile, or it might have been more, when, turning
a point, we saw before us in the deep bay a prow at anchor. She was so
close in shore, that should we continue in that direction we could
scarcely hope to escape the observation of those on board. Should she
prove to be one of the fleet with which we had had the scratch a few
days before, her people might not be inclined to treat us very civilly.
Still, hunger made us desperate. We pushed on, therefore; when,
surmounting a rocky height and looking over the ridge, we saw down below
us a party of dark-skinned natives, collected at a short distance from
the shore, while three or four other prows were at anchor a little
further on. Some of the people were squatting round a fire cooking,
others were repairing a boat, and others lying on the ground. An old
man with silvery beard, whom we took to be a chief, was seated on a
carpet, under the shade of a tree, smoking his long pipe, while two or
three men squatted at a little distance, apparently ready to obey his
commands. We discovered that they had each of them some ugly-looking
weapons in their hands, and it suddenly occurred to us that should we
make our appearance together, they might, without asking questions, use
them upon our heads. I, therefore, undertook to go forward by myself,
advising my companions, if they saw me killed, to make the best of their
way off in an opposite direction.
"By the powers, though, but that will never do!" exclaimed Brady. "If
anybody's to be killed, I'm the boy, and so just let me go forward, if
you plase."
"No, no," I said, "I am young, and much less likely to excite their
anger than you would be."
Pat still demurred. At length I had to exert my authority, and directed
him to stay quiet while I went forward. I shall not forget the poor
fellow's look of anxiety as he saw me creep away down the hill, for I
was anxious that the Malays should not discover from what direction I
came. I confess that I did not feel quite comfortable about the matter,
but I thought to myself, it is just as well to be killed outright as to
die by inches from starvation. The Malays were not a little astonished
at seeing an English midshipman in their midst, although I certainly had
very little of the smart look which belongs to the genus. The guards in
front of the old Rajah, as soon as they cast eyes on me, started to
their feet with uplifted weapons, at which I halted, and made a profound
salaam to the old gentleman beyond them. It had its due effect, for
directly afterwards they lowered their swords, and their looks became
much less threatening. I thought, therefore, that I might venture to
approach, and advancing slowly, I made another salaam. As I could not
speak a word of Malay, I had to explain by signs the intelligence I
wished to convey. I therefore pointed to the sea, and then put my hands
together, rocking them up and down, in imitation of a vessel, and then
making the sound of an explosion, I endeavoured to explain that my ship
was blown up. Next, I pointed to myself, holding up one finger, adding
five others, and then, moving the palm of my hand from the sea toward
the shore, indicated that we had just landed. I judged from the
expression of the spectators' countenances that they understood me, and,
making another salaam, I asked permission of the Rajah to go and fetch
my companions. He nodded, and I hurried off. I could not, however,
resist the temptation of passing near the fire where the men were
cooking. On it was boiling a large pot of rice. I held out my hands,
and entreated that the cooks would put some of their food into them.
They understood me, and I presently had my hands filled with hot rice,
so hot, indeed, that I nearly let it fall. In spite, however, of the
heat, my mouth was soon embedded in it. Before I had gone far, I had
eaten the whole of it. I made signs that I should like to take some to
my companions, but the Malays in return signified that they must come
and fetch it themselves. Pat Brady's delight on seeing me knew no
bounds. Followed by the party, I quickly returned. We were none of us
objects to excite fear. Malay pirates are not much addicted to feelings
of pity. Such we believed to be the occupation of the gentry before us.
Smith, I found, could speak a little Malay, and, putting him forward as
interpreter, we explained more clearly to the Rajah what had happened,
and begged him to help us to reach some European settlement, whence we
could find our way back to our ship. This request made him cast a
suspicious look at us.
"Are you Dutch?" he asked us suddenly.
Smith assured him that we were British.
"He says, sir, it is fortunate we are so," observed Smith to me,
interpreting the Rajah's reply. "They vow vengeance against the Dutch,
whom they say tyrannise over them, and declare that if we had been Dutch
they would have cut the throat of every mother's son of us."
"If they have any doubt about the matter," exclaimed Brady, "tell them
that I will dance an Irish jig, and, by the powers, that's more than any
Dutchman could ever do. But I say, Bill, before I favour them with a
specimen of my talents, just hint that a little provender will be
acceptable down our throats."
Smith explained that we had a great dancing-man among us, an art in
which the chief in his sagacity must be aware the Dutch did not excel,
and he hinted that not only to the dancing-man but to the rest of us
some food would be very acceptable. The Rajah in reply told him, if we
would sit down, our wants should soon be supplied. By this time the
messes over the fire were cooked, and, with more liberality than I had
expected, the Malays placed before us a couple of bowls full of fish and
rice. Without ceremony, we plunged our hands into the food, which
disappeared with wonderful rapidity down our throats.
"Take care the bones don't stick in your gullets, boys," cried Pat,
every now and then turning round to the Rajah and making him a bow. "I
say, Smith, just tell his Majesty, or whatever he calls himself, that as
soon as I have stowed away as much as I can carry, I will give him a
specimen of the jintalist Ballyswiggan jig that he ever saw in his life
before."
Paddy was as good as his word, and no sooner was our meal finished than,
jumping up, forgetting all his fatigue, he began dancing a real Irish
jig with wonderful agility, making the music with his own voice, crying
out to us, every now and then, to strike up an accompaniment. The
effect was at all events very advantageous to us, for the old Rajah
looked on with astonishment and approval as Paddy continued his
performance. When he ceased, the chief called Smith up to him, and
spoke a few words.
"He asks where you learnt the art of dancing," said Smith.
"Oh! Jist tell his honour, or his riverence, if that title plaises him
the better, that it comes natural to an Irishman with his mother's milk.
I have danced ever since I put foot to the ground. Just as natural,
tell him, as it comes to him and his friends to go out robbing and
murdering, and such like little divartisements."
I rather fancy Smith did not give an exact interpretation of Brady's
answer; at all events the performance put the old pirate into a very
good humour. Seeing the condition of our clothes, which were the worse
for having been soaked in salt water so long, he sent a boat aboard his
prow, which returned with a supply of Eastern garments. How they were
come by we did not inquire. They had never been worn, and were most
probably part of the cargo of some captured trader. We very thankfully
put them on, and the chief then told Smith that if we liked to lie down
and sleep, we should have another meal when we woke up again, provided
our dancing-man would undertake to give more of his performances, as he
would then have a few other friends as spectators.
"Tell his honour I will do it with all the pleasure in the world,"
answered Brady, making a salaam at the same time towards the Rajah, who
seemed highly pleased with his good manners. The chief then pointed to
a shady spot, on which his attendants spread some carpets. Here we
thankfully lay down, and I do not think I ever slept more soundly in my
life, forgetting all the hardships I had gone through. When we awoke
the sun was well-nigh dipping into the ocean, and the Malays had
finished the repair of their boat. The old chief was, however, still
seated on his carpet, with four or five other individuals, habited much
in the same way, and all gravely smoking. As soon as we sat up, another
bowl of rice and fresh meat was brought us. After we had partaken of
it, the Rajah called to Smith, who told Paddy that he was expected to
begin his performance.
"With the greatest pleasure in life!" he exclaimed, springing up, "but
you must all come and support me, and sing and clap your hands, and toe
and heel it, too, every now and then. It will make my dancing go off
better, and show the old boy that we wish to do our best to please him."
Paddy's strength having been completely recruited by his sleep and ample
meals, he far outdid his morning's performance, and elicited the warmest
signs of approval from the spectators of which Orientals are capable.
When it was over, all hands got into the boats, the Rajah taking us with
him on board his vessel. We had from the first suspected, as was the
case, that the prows did not belong to this part of the country. It
being evident that the pirates did not intend us any harm, we went to
sleep again soon after we got on board, in spite of our afternoon
snooze. At daybreak the fleet of prows made sail for the spot where the
frigate had blown up. No part of her was, however, now above water. A
few seamen's chests were seen floating about, and pieces of the wreck;
and the saddest sight of all, here and there, the corpses of some of our
late companions. From the way we were treated, we concluded that our
friends did not form part of the fleet with which the boats of the
"Resolution" had been engaged a few days before, and of course Smith
wisely forbore to mention the subject. Finding that nothing more was to
be picked up from the wreck, the pirate fleet continued their cruise
along the coast, looking out for trading craft, from China, Java, and
other parts. At night, when the weather was fine, we kept under way,
like a pack of wolves, hoping to come suddenly upon a quarry. In the
day-time the fleet would lie hid behind some point of land, so that they
might dart out on any unwary passer-by. I learnt a lesson from their
mode of proceeding, from which I hoped some day to benefit, should I, in
the course of service, be ever sent to look after such gentry. What
were their intentions regarding us all this time we could not tell. The
old chief, though ready enough to ask questions of us, was not very
communicative in return, and Smith could learn nothing from him.
"Perhaps he intends to demand a ransom for us," I observed.
"He may, sir, but I rather think that he will keep us until some day he
is hard pressed by any of our men-of-war, and then he will threaten to
cut our throats if our friends do not let him get off, and it is my
belief he would do it, sir. These sort of people are very civil as long
as you please them, but just get on the other tack, and they will not
scruple a moment to knock their best friend on the head."
This was not a pleasant piece of information, but it did not greatly
damp our spirits. We had all recovered from the effects of our exposure
on the raft, but were getting somewhat weary of our long detention on
board the prows. That Smith was right in the description of our hosts,
we had soon too clear evidence. It was night. We were gliding calmly
over the moon-lit ocean when suddenly we came upon three native craft.
Smith said they were Javanese. The prows boarded, one on each side of
the strangers. In an instant the Malays threw themselves on board.
There was very little resistance, and they returned almost immediately,
each man laden with a bale of goods. With wonderful rapidity the more
valuable part of the cargo was transferred on board the prows. The
chiefs prow remained at a little distance, ready to render assistance
apparently if required. Esse and I were watching what was taking place.
Presently we saw a figure appear at the stern of the prize. The next
instant there was a plunge, and the waters closed over the man's head.
Another and another followed. The prow then cast off, and a bright
flame burst forth from the merchant vessel. The materials of which she
was composed ignited rapidly, and in another instant she was one mass of
fire; one after the other was treated in the same way. We had got
half-a-mile from the scene before all the vessels taken had burned to
the water's edge and sunk, leaving not a trace behind, while we sailed
away with the goods which had lately filled their holds. I confess I
did not feel quite as comfortable in the society of our friends after
this occurrence as I had done before. We had been nearly six weeks on
board, and the pirates had taken a considerable number of prizes, when
Smith told us that he suspected, from the conversation he overheard,
that they were about to return to their own stronghold, to which traders
were wont to resort for the purchase of their goods. Our best chance of
escape will be to make a bargain with one of the captains, and get him
to buy us of the Rajah, we promising to repay him. Esse and I talked
over the matter, and, though it did not appear very promising, we of
course agreed to attempt it, if we could find no other way of escape.
Two nights after this we were at sea, with the wind aft, and the water
smooth, though the sky was overcast. Now and then the moon came forth,
soon again, however, to be obscured. Our prow was leading. A small
vessel, apparently a trader, appeared ahead, and we gave chase. She
must have seen us, and made all sail to escape. We pursued eagerly.
Now we saw her, now the darkness hid her from sight. On we went. The
night was hot, and Esse and I, with our companions, were on the
fore-part of the deck watching the chase, hoping heartily she would
escape.
"She's distancing us, sir," observed Kiddle. "She's in luck, for I
don't think the black fellows will have her this time."
Suddenly the moon beamed forth.
"Hillo! Why, what is that?" exclaimed Esse.
We all eagerly looked out. A little on the starboard-bow, the rays of
the bright luminary fell upon the white canvas of a tall ship standing
across our course.
"She's a man-of-war, or I am a Dutchman!" exclaimed Kiddle, "and a
frigate too."
"Perhaps she is the Orion herself, after all," cried Esse. "Hurrah!
Hurrah! Hurrah!"