CHAPTER XVI.
BEGINS WITH A TERRIBLE FIGHT AND ENDS WITH A HASTY FLIGHT.
The hunt, we need scarcely say, was abruptly terminated, and immediatepreparations were made for conveying the wounded man and the two orangsto the Dyak village. This was quickly arranged, for the convenientbamboo afforded ready-made poles wherewith to form a litter on which tocarry them.
The huge creature which had given them so much trouble, and so nearlycost them one human life, was found to be indeed of the largest size. Itwas not tall but very broad and large. The exact measurements, taken bythe professor, who never travelled without his tape measure, were asfollows:--
Height from heel to top of head, 4 feet 2 inches.
Outstretched arms across chest, 7 " 8 "
Width of face, 1 foot 2 "
Girth of arm, 1 " 3 "
Girth of wrist, 8 "
The muscular power of such a creature is of course immense, as Nigel andthe professor had a rare chance of seeing that very evening--of which,more presently.
On careful examination by Nigel, who possessed some knowledge ofsurgery, it was found that none of Gurulam's bones had been broken, andthat although severely lacerated about the shoulders and right thigh, novery serious injury had been done--thanks to the promptitude and vigourof the hermit's spear-thrust. The poor youth, however, was utterlyhelpless for the time being, and had to be carried home.
That afternoon the party reached a village in a remote part of theforest where they resolved to halt for the night, as no otherresting-place could be reached before dark.
While a supper of rice and fowl was being cooked by Moses, Van der Kempattended to the wounded man, and Nigel accompanied the professor alongthe banks of the stream on which the village stood. Having merely goneout for a stroll they carried no weapons except walking-sticks,intending to go only a short distance. Interesting talk, however, on thecharacter and habits of various animals, made them forget time until thediminution of daylight warned them to turn. They were about to do sowhen they observed, seated in an open place near the stream, the largestorang they had yet seen. It was feeding on succulent shoots by thewater-side: a fact which surprised the professor, for his inquiries andexperience had hitherto taught him that orangs never eat such foodexcept when starving. The fat and vigorous condition in which thisanimal was forbade the idea of starvation. Besides, it had brought aDurian fruit to the banks of the stream and thrown it down, so thateither 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 ourtravellers were peeping at it in mute surprise through the bushes. Thatthey had approached so near without being observed was due to the factthat a brawling rapid flowed just there, and the mias was on the otherside of the stream. By mutual consent the men crouched to watch itsproceedings. They were not a little concerned, however, when the bruteseized an overhanging bough, and, with what we may style sluggishagility, swung itself clumsily but lightly to their side of the stream.It picked up the Durian which lay there and began to devour it. Bitingoff 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 offthe thick rind and began to enjoy a feast.
Now, with monkeys, no less than with men, there is many a slip 'twixtthe 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 andNigel had mistaken for a log, suddenly opened its jaws and seized thebig monkey's leg. The scene that ensued baffles description! Graspingthe crocodile with its other three hands by nose, throat, and eyes, themias almost performed the American operation of gouging--digging itspowerful thumbs and fingers into every crevice and tearing open itsassailant's jaws. The crocodile, taken apparently by surprise, went intodire convulsions, and making for deep water, plunged his foe thereinover head and ears. Nothing daunted, the mias regained his footing,hauled his victim on to a mudbank, and, jumping on his back began totear and pommel him. There was nothing of the prize-fighter in the mias.He never clenched his fist--never hit straight from the shoulder, butthe 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 hebegan to tear open with fingers and teeth. Wrenching himself free with asupreme effort the crocodile shot into the stream and disappeared with asounding splash of its tail, while the mias waded lamely to the shorewith an expression of sulky indignation on its great black face.
Slowly the creature betook itself to the shelter of the forest, and weneed scarcely add that the excited observers of the combat made noattempt to hinder its retreat.
It is said that the python is the only other creature that dares toattack the orang-utan, and that when it does so victory usually declaresfor the man-monkey, which bites and tears it to death.
The people of the village in which the hunters rested that night wereevidently not accustomed to white men--perhaps had never seen thembefore--for they crowded round them while at supper and gazed in silentwonder as if they were watching a group of white-faced baboons feeding!They were, however, very hospitable, and placed before their visitorsabundance of their best food without expecting anything in return. Brassrings were the great ornament in this village--as they are, indeed,among the Dyaks generally. Many of the women had their arms completelycovered with them, as well as their legs from the ankle to the knee.Their petticoats were fastened to a coil of rattan, stained red, roundtheir bodies. They also wore coils of brass wire, girdles of smallsilver coins, and sometimes broad belts of brass ring-armour.
It was break of dawn next morning when our hunters started, bearingtheir wounded comrade and the dead orangs with them.
Arrived at the village they found the people in great excitementpreparing for defence, as news had been brought to the effect that thepirates had landed at the mouth of the river, joined the disaffectedband which awaited them, and that an attack might be expected withoutdelay, for they were under command of the celebrated Malay pirateBaderoon.
Nigel observed that the countenance of his friend Van der Kemp underwenta peculiar change on hearing this man's name mentioned. There was acombination 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 nightout?" 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 theirintercourse was that Van der Kemp was incapable of the sensation offear.
"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 plansmore than once. When he hears that it is I who have warned theOrang-Kaya against him he will pursue me to the death--and--and I _mustnot_ meet him."
"Indeed!" exclaimed Nigel, with renewed surprise.
But the hermit took no note of the exclamation. Anxiety had given placeto a frown, and his eyes were fixed on the ground. It seemed to Nigel soevident that he did not wish to pursue the subject, that he slightlychanged it.
"I suppose," he said, "that there is no fear of the Dyaks of the villagebeing unable to beat off the pirates now that they have been warned?"
"None whatever. Indeed, this is so well known to Baderoon that I thinkhe 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 thepirates 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 hear
d the news.
"I think not. And even should it be so, and they should return, you areready 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 youthswho had brought the news.
"Yes, all went in a body to the north--except one boat which rowedsouthward."
"Hm! I thought so. My friends, listen to me. This is no pretence. Theydo not mean to attack you now you are on your guard; but that boat whichwent south contains Baderoon, and I feel certain that he means to hangabout here till he gets the chance of killing me."
"That is well," returned the chief, calmly. "My young men will hunt tillthey find where he is. Then they will bring us the information and Vander Kemp will go out with a band and slay his enemy."
"No, my friend," said the hermit, firmly; "that shall not be. I must getout of his way, and in order to do so will leave you at once, for therewill be no further need for my services here."
The chief looked at his friend in surprise. "Well," he said, "you have agood judgment, and understand your own affairs. But you have alreadyrendered me good service, and I will help you to fly--though such is notthe habit of the Dyaks! There is a trader's vessel to start for Sumatraby the first light of day. Will my friend go by that?"
"I am grateful," answered the hermit, "but I need no help--save someprovisions, for I have my little canoe, which will suffice."
As this colloquy was conducted in the native tongue it wasunintelligible to Nigel, but after the interview with the chief thehermit explained matters to him, and bade Moses get ready for a startseveral hours before dawn.
"You see we must do the first part of our trip in the dark, for Baderoonhas a keen eye and ear. Then we will land and sleep all day where thesharpest eye will fail to find us--and, luckily, pirates have beendenied the power of scenting out their foes. When night comes we willstart again and get out of sight of land before the next dawn."
"Mine frond," said the professor, turning his moon-like goggles full onthe 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 thanthree."
"Zat is no matter to me," rejoined Verkimier; "you forget zee trader'sboat. I vill go in zat to Sumatra. Ve vill find out zee port he is goingto, ant you vill meet me zere. Vait for me if I have not arrived--or Ivill vait for you. I have longed to visit Sumatra, ant vat better frondscould I go viz zan yourselfs?"
"But, my good friend," returned the hermit, "my movements may notexactly suit yours. Here they are,--you can judge for yourself. First Iwill, 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, somepassing vessel will give me a lift, no doubt. Then I will coast along toone of the eastern ports, where I know there is a steamboat loading upabout this time. The captain is an old friend of mine. He brought me andmy companions the greater part of the way here. If I find him I will askhim to carry my canoe on his return voyage through Sunda Straits, andleave it with another friend of mine at Telok Betong on the south coastof Sumatra--not far, as you know, from my home in Krakatoa. Then I willproceed overland to the same place, so that my friend Nigel Roy may seea 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 uncertaintyof 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 villfollow ant take my chance. I am use' to ooncertainties antdifficoolties. Zey can not influence me."
After a good deal of consideration this plan was agreed to. Theprofessor spent part of the night in giving directions about thepreserving of his specimens, which he meant to leave at the village incharge of a man whom he had trained to assist him, while Van der Kempwith his companions lay down to snatch a little sleep before setting outon their voyage, or, as the Dyak chief persisted in calling it, theirflight!
When Nigel had slept about five minutes--as he thought--he was awakenedby Moses.
"Don't make a noise, Massa Nadgel! Dere may be spies in de camp for allwe 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 thewoods to the spot where the canoe was in waiting.
The night was very dark. This was in their favour,--at least as regardeddiscovery.
"But how shall we ever see to make our way down stream?" asked Nigel ofthe hermit in a whisper on reaching the place of embarkation.
"The current will guide us. Besides, I have studied the river with aview to this flight. Be careful in getting in. Now, Moses, are youready?"
"All right, massa."
"Shove off, then."
There was something so eerie in the subdued tones, and stealthymotions, and profound darkness, that Nigel could not help feeling as ifthey were proceeding to commit some black and criminal deed!
Floating with the current, with as little noise as possible, and havingmany a narrow escape of running against points of land and sandbanks,they flew swiftly towards the sea, so that dawn found them among the mudflats and the mangrove swamps. Here they found a spot where mangroveroots and bushes formed an impenetrable screen, behind which they spentthe day, chiefly in sleep, and in absolute security.
When darkness set in they again put forth, and cautiously clearing theriver's mouth, were soon far out on the open sea, which was fortunatelycalm 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 ofsatisfaction, 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 thatNigel could scarce restrain a laugh in spite of his sympathy.
But Spinkie had not forgotten himself. Observing probably, that thesenight expeditions were a change in his master's habits, he had kept anunusually watchful eye on the canoe, so that when it was put in thewater, he had jumped on board unseen in the darkness, and had retired tothe place where he usually slept under hatches when the canoe travelledat night.
Awakened from refreshing sleep at the sound of his name, Spinkie emergedsuddenly from the stern-manhole, right under the negro's nose, and witha sleepy "oo, oo!" gazed up into his face.
"Ho! Dare you is, you mis'rible hyperkrite!" exclaimed Moses, kissingthe animal in the depth of his satisfaction. "He's here, massa, allright. Now, you go to bed agin, you small bundle ob hair."
The creature retired obediently to its place, and laying its littlecheek on one of its small hands, committed itself to repose.
Van der Kemp was wrong when he said they were safe. A pirate scout hadseen the canoe depart. Being alone and distant from the rendezvous ofhis commander, some time elapsed before the news could be conveyed tohim. When Baderoon was at length informed and had sailed out to sea inpursuit, returning daylight showed him that his intended victim hadescaped.