CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
OUR HILL-FORT.
It was amusing to see the two naturalists eagerly examining the nautiluswhen we brought it in.
"Walter, you have rendered science an important service!" exclaimed MrHooker. "So difficult is this creature to be obtained, that I know ofone only that has ever been brought to England, now preserved in theRoyal College of Surgeons."
Immediately a jar of arrack, which my uncle had brewed for the sake ofpreserving his specimens--certainly not for drinking--was produced, andthe nautilus was carefully embalmed within it.
"If you can obtain another, which we can dissect, you will have renderedMr Hooker and me the greatest possible service," he exclaimedenthusiastically. "Us, did I say!--the whole scientific world at large.You will deserve to become a member of all the societies of Europe--themost honourable distinction which a man of any age might desire toobtain."
Of course we undertook to manufacture a further number of fish-pots, andto place them out in deep water, where we might have a chance ofcatching another of these creatures. We measured the hole they wouldrequire for entering, and discovered that out of the number we had made,the one which had caught the nautilus was the only one with a holesufficiently large to allow it to enter.
"But surely, uncle, the nautilus has sails by which it glides over thewater," said Emily, as she was examining the creature.
"In the imagination of the poets only, my niece," he answered. "Theshells often float from their excessive lightness, in consequence of theair contained in certain chambers within them. It is then often sweptaway by wind or tide to some neighbouring shore. Thus large numbers ofthe shells are found thrown up on the beach. The animal, however, whenalive, floats occasionally with its shell on the surface; but I doubtmuch whether it has any power of locomotion beyond that which the windor current gives it."
"How disappointing!" exclaimed Emily and Grace together. "We alwaysthought that it had tiny sails, which it spread to the breeze; andpictured it to ourselves skimming on the calm surface, and delighting inits freedom and rapidity of movement."
"There is, no doubt, an abundance of wonders in Nature, young ladies,"said Mr Hooker, "but a more intimate acquaintance with the habits ofanimals will often dispel some of the common ideas which have beenconnected with them, albeit in many instances held for centuries. Forinstance, till within a very late period people believed that theupas-tree, which grows in Java, possessed such noxious qualities that itdestroyed all vegetable life in the neighbourhood. The sap is,undoubtedly, a poison; but I believe people may sleep under its boughswithout receiving the slightest injury, though perhaps, were any of thesap to fall from the tree and to enter a wound, it would prove fatal.Once upon a time people believed that the barnacles which are foundattached to ships' bottoms, or pieces of timber long floating on theocean, turned into geese, and the barnacle-goose was so called becauseit was supposed to have its origin in that common mollusc, thebarnacle."
Mr Thudicumb had more than once to suggest to the two enthusiasticnaturalists that we should lose no further time in commencing thebuilding of our vessel, for although we had no great reason to complainof our position, yet the mate was anxious to let his friends know thathe was safe, as also Captain and Mrs Davenport that their daughter andthe rest of us were still alive. The sea was now so calm that we hadplenty of occupation in going backwards and forwards to the wreck. MrThudicumb, who was at length able to accompany us, suggested that a raftshould be made, by which means we might bring a larger quantity ofstores on shore at a time. All hands were thus actively employed.Tanda had to attend to affairs on shore, the Frau and the two girlsassisting him in household matters. The two naturalists were engagedall day long in collecting and arranging their specimens, while thethree other men, under the command of the mate, with Oliver and I, werepreparing for the building of the vessel.
It must be understood that all the timber and the heavy things weretowed round to the bay I have before described, which we now called HopeHarbour--the _Hope_ being the name we proposed giving our vessel.Oliver and I, with Roger Trew, generally managed the boat, while theothers remained on board tearing up the planks, and collecting sucharticles as they could fish up from the bottom.
We had just returned on board one forenoon, when, on scrambling up onthe deck, we found our friends in a state of great agitation. "Seedere!" exclaimed Potto Jumbo, who was the first person we met. "What doyou say to dat?" There, standing in towards the island, though still ata considerable distance, were several mat-sailed vessels, which hadcertainly a great resemblance to the piratical craft we had before seen.Mr Thudicumb had been examining them with his glass, and had greatfears that they were pirates.
"We must get on shore as fast as we can," he said, "and prepare ourfriends. If they come here, we must try and seek for safety in theinterior. I know these fellows too well. It would be madness to trustto their mercy; and I am afraid, if they once get sight of the wreck,they are sure to overhaul her. It is fortunate we have got most of thethings on shore;--but we must lose no time."
As the boat could not carry the whole party, Mr Thudicumb and Tarboxremained on board, sending Potto Jumbo with Oliver and I on shore, whileRoger Trew was to return with the boat for them. We pulled away as fastas we could lay our backs to the oars, and as soon as we landed wehurried up to the house. We were anxious not to alarm the young ladiesand the good Frau, and therefore as we came in sight of it we walkedrather more steadily. Fortunately our uncle and Mr Hooker were withindoors, engaged in their usual work. I hastened up to them and told themwhat we had seen.
"I must go down and judge with my own eyes," said my uncle. "Theirfears probably have made our friends imagine that these vessels in sighthave a piratical look. After all, possibly, they are only a fleet ofharmless traders, bound for the south part of Borneo, or perhaps up toSumatra, or the Malay Peninsula."
"However, in case of accidents, brother Sedgwick, we may as well get ourvaluables into a place of safety," observed Mr Hooker, quietly.
I accompanied my uncle back to the beach, as we agreed we would not tellthe Frau or her charges what we had seen. My uncle had a spy-glass withhim. After examining the vessels, which were still at a considerabledistance, he shut it up with a slam.
"There is no doubt about it," he exclaimed. "Those, if I mistake not,are Sooloo pirates, and bloodthirsty villains they are. I wish ourfriends were on shore; but we must hurry back to the house, and get ourvaluables packed up as fast as we can. I do not think they will followus far inland; but if they do, we must be prepared for them."
"Had we not better at once hasten to the hill we fixed upon, and beginto fortify it," I asked. "They are not likely to make their way therein a hurry, and we shall probably have time to put it into a fair stateof defence."
"The best thing we can do, Walter," he answered. "I only hope the goodFrau will not go into fits with alarm; and as we will take the way bywhich we came the other day--along our torrent road--we shall at allevents have a good start of our invaders."
By this time we had reached the house. I found that Oliver hadgradually broken the news to my sister and Grace, as well as to theFrau, and they were now all prepared for whatever might be arranged.They were already indeed busily employed in making up bundles of suchthings as were likely to be most required. Mr Hooker was now all lifeand spirits.
"The first thing we require, remember, is a good supply of provisionsand ammunition. Those are the chief necessaries. Water we cannotcarry, but I hope we may find it on the hill. At all events, let ustake care to have some pitchers to contain it. Then some cookingapparatus, seeing we cannot eat our provisions raw. Then we shallrequire some bedding for you young ladies. We can rough it well enoughon the ground."
We had made some progress in our preparations, when Mr Thudicumb andDick Tarbox arrived. With their assistance we got on still morerapidly. Roger Trew had remained on the beach to watch the movements ofthe supposed pirates. The bo
xes of collections were at once carried toa place of concealment which had been arranged, and a few other articleswhich were likely to excite the cupidity of the pirates. All thingswere now ready for commencing our march, but we were unwilling to beginit till we ascertained that we were really likely to be attacked. Wewere still in hopes that the pirates might pass by, or land on someother part of the coast where they were not likely to find any traceswhich might lead them to the house.
"Quick, quick! haste away!" cried a voice, and Roger Trew was seenrunning up as fast as his legs could carry him to the house. "Thepirates have seen the wreck, and are pulling in fast towards it," heexclaimed.
We were all now in rapid movement. Mr Sedgwick led the way, as knowingthe country best; followed by the Frau and the two girls, with Oliverand I to assist them. Mr Hooker came next, carrying his gun, and asmuch ammunition and provisions as he could strap on to his back. Thetwo coloured men and Roger Trew came next, well armed; Mr Thudicumb andDick Tarbox bringing up the rear, with Merlin, who seemed to considerthat the post of danger and honour. Several of the tamer animals hadbeen let loose, and now followed us, a buffalo and babirusa followingbehind, two deer keeping close to Emily and Grace, whose especialfavourites they were. Several monkeys flung themselves along thebranches over our heads, to the great astonishment of their kindred whomthey met on the road. Several tame jungle cocks and hens ran in and outamong our feet. Indeed, so attached had all the more tameable animalsbecome to our uncle, that they would follow at his call, wherever hewent. We had representatives, therefore, of a large number of thecreatures inhabiting those regions. As soon as we reached the highroadI have described along the rocky but dry stream, we halted, to concealas much as possible the place where we entered it from view, by placingboughs at the entrance and strewing the ground thickly with leaves,retreating backwards as we did so. This done, we again moved forward ata rapid rate. The men could not march more easily, in reality, than theweaker members of our party, as they were all heavily laden. We hadgone some way, when Mr Sedgwick thought of despatching Tanda as a scoutto bring us information of what the Malays were about. We should thusrun less risk of being taken by surprise. Our road was far from even,or such as would have suited delicately-nurtured people, but fortunatelyeven the girls had become accustomed to rough walking, and made nocomplaint of the difficulties. Now and then we had to descend into ahollow, now to scramble over some huge boulders. More than once,scorpions, centipedes, snakes, and other reptiles, started up from underthe rocks. We each of us, I should have said, carried pieces of ratanin our hands, which against such enemies proved useful weapons, as awell-aimed blow with a ratan at even a large snake will turn it aside.Our numbers, also, kept the larger serpents and beasts of prey at adistance.
We had still some way further to go, before we could reach our proposedfort, when we who were in advance heard a loud rustling in the underwoodnear us. We called to Mr Sedgwick. He turned round and peered inamong the trees. Nothing could be seen. "Perhaps Merlin will find thecreature, whatever it is." I called Merlin up, and he instantlyunderstood what he was to do. My uncle was unwilling to fire, lest thesound of the shot might be heard by the pirates. He told the men,however, to be ready to use their bamboo spears, which might keep even atiger at bay. Suddenly Merlin began to bark furiously. Now he dartedforward, now he retreated. There was evidently some animal concealedthere. "Shout!" cried my uncle; "that may possibly rouse it." We didso, when Merlin having pushed aside some boughs, we saw lurking amongthem a huge tiger. The creature was apparently alarmed at seeing somany enemies, and unaccustomed to the sound of the dog's voice, couldnot make out what it was. The underwood, also, was so thick that he wasentangled among it, and could not make his usual spring.
"I am sorely tempted to fire," exclaimed Mr Hooker.
"Do not till it is absolutely necessary," said my uncle.
The animal was moving slowly along, apparently trying to hide itself, asa cat does when in search of its prey. Presently it caught sight ofseveral of our party with their formidable looking spears pointedtowards it. It seemed for once to consider discretion the better partof valour, and an open space appearing on one side, we had thesatisfaction of seeing it creep more rapidly, and then bound away intothe distant part of the forest.
We had no other adventure of importance till we reached the foot of thehill, up which we wound our way. At the steeper part, however, Oliverand I, as well as the girls and the Frau, found it impossible to carryour burdens. "Put them down, young people," said Dick Tarbox, "and wewill come back for them. You get up yourselves." At length we reachedthe top, and piled our goods in the centre.
"The first thing to be done is to clear away some of this brushwood,"said Mr Thudicumb. "Were it not that we might point out where we areto the enemy, the quickest way would be by burning it."
However, the men with their axes soon cleared off a sufficient space onwhich we might build our huts; and this done, they set to work cuttingdown thick stakes to form our proposed palisade. At this Oliver and I,as well as Mr Hooker and our uncle, worked away, the Frau, Emily, andGrace carrying them up as we cut them, and placing them ready to bedriven into the ground. For some distance round the hill the rocks wereso precipitous, that we had no fear of being attacked on those sides.We therefore first fortified the part where the slope was more gradual;and we hoped that, should our ammunition last, we might be able to keepa large number at bay. We continued working on in spite of fatigue, theFrau and her assistants bringing us a draught of water, or a piece ofsago-cake to recruit our strength. Thus in a short time we had aconsiderable number of stakes ready for use. Mr Thudicumb and theother men now began driving them in, while the two gentlemen, withOliver and I, continued cutting more stakes.
By this time we were anxiously looking out for the appearance of Tanda.Already some progress had been made with the fortifications, and MrThudicumb expressed his opinion that even should the pirates appear atonce, they would afford us great assistance in keeping them at bay. Theremainder of our stakes were now brought up, and we were still drivingthem in, when, the sun setting, darkness began to steal over the forest.
"And all this time we have not thought of a shelter for you, youngladies!" said Mr Hooker. "That must be our next consideration."
We accordingly hastened down the hill, and brought up a quantity of thehuge palm-leaves which I have before described, as well as a number ofbamboos, and with these we soon erected a hut sufficient to accommodatethe Frau and the girls. For ourselves, we agreed that, as we shouldhave to work all night, it mattered nothing our having no shelter. Wefound, indeed, the night air, in that elevated spot, thoroughly dry,cool, and refreshing; so that, in spite of the labour we had alreadygone through, we were well able to continue it. Having at length drivenin the stakes all round, we commenced an embankment. The outer crust ofthe soil looked hard and dry enough; but we soon found, on digging down,that it was sufficiently soft to enable us to get our spades into itwithout difficulty.
"What can have become of Tanda?" said Mr Sedgwick.
"I hope the tiger has not carried him off," I could not help saying.
"No fear of that," was the answer. "The tiger is not likely to returnto the spot from whence we drove him, and Tanda has so quick an ear thathe would easily get out of the creature's way. It is more likely thathe has ventured too near the pirates, and been captured."
"I am afraid, then, that he will betray us to them," observed MrThudicumb.
"I think not," answered our uncle. "He is a faithful fellow, and Ibelieve that he would rather be torn in pieces than do so."
These remarks were made while we were taking a few mouthfuls of food,and resting for an instant from our toils. Just then the sound of avoice reached our ears. Mr Sedgwick shouted in return.
"All right," he said, "here comes Tanda;" and directly afterwards ahuman form was seen climbing the side of the hill. He stopped, andagain uttered an exclamation as he approached the fortific
ation.
"He thinks it is the work of magic," answered Mr Sedgwick, "andscarcely likes to enter the circle." Mr Sedgwick then spoke a few morewords to Tanda, who now came forward with greater confidence. We hadleft a small opening on one side for going in and out, and by this Tandaentered the fort. An earnest conversation ensued between him and hismaster, who explained that the pirates, after proceeding some way alongthe coast, had caught sight of the wreck; that they had pulled close upto it, and then gone on board. They had also visited Flagstaff Rock,and hauled down the flag, of which they had taken possession. They hadbeen till dark engaged in plundering the wreck. Not finding, however,any good landing-place, they had pulled away along the shore, happily inthe opposite direction to that where our vessel was building. Tanda hadthen followed them. Having anchored their prows in the sheltered bay,they had, as is their custom, landed and encamped. He had left them allbusily engaged cooking and eating their food, so that there was no fearof their moving that night. It was but too probable, however, that theywould return to the wreck on the following morning. We could only hopethat there would be too much sea on the rocks to enable them to landnear the house.
This information was satisfactory, and we agreed that the probabilitiesof their attacking us were less than we had supposed. We accordinglylay down to rest for a short time, till the return of daylight shouldenable us the better to recommence our labours. Two of our party,however, stood assemblies during the remainder of the night, to givetimely notice of the approach of the enemy, should the pirates havediscovered us.
As soon as it was daylight Tanda again went out to watch theirproceedings, taking some sago and a little cocoa, to enable him toremain out as long as necessary without returning. We, havingbreakfasted, recommenced our labours, and at length had finished thefort to the satisfaction of Mr Thudicumb. We had now, however, to digsome pits, in one of which the ladies might be sheltered should we beattacked, while in the other we might stow our ammunition.
"But we are ready to run every risk you do," said Emily, when sheunderstood what we were about.
We however persuaded her that it would be much more to our satisfactionto know that the Frau and they were in safety, should bullets be flyingabout. "Besides, Miss Emily, if any of us are wounded, we must look toyou to attend to us," said Oliver.
She gave a glance up at Oliver's face. "Oh, I pray that may not be,"she observed. "How dreadful to think that, although we have done no oneany harm, we run a risk of having to fight those savage men."
The tops of the trees came so short a distance above our hill, that MrThudicumb thought, by erecting a post in the centre, we might have agood look-out over the sea. The idea was so excellent, that weaccordingly at once went down the hill to obtain a tall and straighttree for the purpose. A little way down the hill were some beautifulcotton-trees. Although the trunk of the largest was not more thantwelve inches in diameter, it rose to a height of thirty feet, which wethought would be sufficient for our purpose. The bark was of lightolive-green, remarkably smooth and fair. The limbs shot out in whirls,at right angles to the trunk; and as they were separated by aconsiderable space, they would form, we agreed, steps by which to mountto the top. These trees appeared to great advantage, rising out of thethick jungle amidst which they grew. The fruit, I may as well observe,is a pod, and the fibrous substance within it greatly resembles cotton.I do not know whether it can be used for the same purpose; but MrHooker and our uncle employed it for stuffing the birds they killed. Wesoon had one of these trees down, and fixed in the centre of the fort.We stayed it up by ropes, while another rope hanging from the topenabled us to ascend without difficulty. Our rope, I should say, wasformed from the fibre of the gomiti or sagaru palm-tree. The largepetioles of this tree spread out at the base into broad fibrous sheets,which enclose the trunk. It is from this material that the natives ofthese regions manufacture the coir-rope. It is a very coarse, roughstyle of rope, for the fibres soon break, and projecting in everydirection, make it difficult to handle. We had an abundance of thispalm growing on the hill-side, as it prefers higher land than thecocoa-nut. Its most valuable property is, being almost indestructiblein water. Among the fibres there are some coarser ones, with which theDyaks of Borneo manufacture arrows for their blow-pipes, andoccasionally the Malays use them for pins. Interwoven with them is amass of small fibre almost as soft as cotton. This, from itscombustible nature, is used as tinder. From the tree, also, arefreshing beverage is extracted. The flower part is cut off with aknife, when the sap which issues is gathered in a bamboo cup. It is nowof a slightly acid and bitter taste, resembling the thin part ofbutter-milk. When this is allowed to ferment, it becomes what thenatives call tuak--a very intoxicating beverage, of which they are veryfond. The seeds grow in such large bunches, that one alone is as muchas two men can carry. The envelopes of these seeds contain a poisonousjuice, in which the natives dip their arrows.
Well, as I was saying, we manufactured a supply of this rope for ourlook-out post. As soon as it was erected, Roger Trew climbed to thetop.
"Capital!" he exclaimed. "There is the sea away on two sides of us,though as to the pirates, I can see nothing of them. Maybe they arenear the wreck, and that's too close in to be seen."
We thought that perhaps by erecting a higher post we might obtain abetter view; but when Mr Thudicumb went up, he calculated that thetrees were far too high near the shore to enable us to do this. We allin succession went up to have a look at the blue sea; but it was thenagreed that the post might possibly be seen by our enemies, and wetherefore at once lowered it, but kept it ready to set up again in caseof need. We had been so much occupied in preparing our fort, that wehad thought little of eating or drinking.
"What we do for water?" exclaimed the Frau, bringing a large shell intoour midst. "This is the last we have got!"
"I must blame myself for my forgetfulness," exclaimed Mr Sedgwick. "Weought to have lost no time in searching for water. If one of you willcome with a spade, we will go out at once to look for it, while the restcontinue at the work in the fort."
I volunteered to accompany my uncle. "But we may require a strongerdigger than you are, Walter," he said, and fixed on Roger Trew.
Roger, throwing his spade over his shoulder in navvy fashion, answered,"I am ready, sir."
"Well, you can come too then," said my uncle to me. "You may bring yourgun, though, in case of necessity. We must remember not to fire if itcan be helped."
As only one iron spade could be spared, my uncle and I armed ourselveswith a couple which we had formed out of bamboo, and which might assistRoger should we have to dig deep. We took our way down the hill, and aswe looked up we agreed that our fort presented a very satisfactoryappearance, and that, probably, should we be discovered, the enemy wouldbe wary before they attacked us; indeed, they would very likely supposefrom its appearance that our numbers were far greater than they were inreality. As those people fight for plunder, and never for glory or merevictory, they would, we hoped, take their departure without attemptingan assault. This cheered our spirits. We had arranged that shouldTanda return with any important news, we were to be instantly summoned,though as the fort should we proceed into the forest, would becompletely hid, from our sight, it would be necessary for some one to besent after us. Oliver agreed to come. My uncle examined the ground aswe proceeded, now telling Roger to dig a hole here, now there; but nowater was found. He therefore said that it would be of no use diggingmore, as the hill was evidently of volcanic origin, and no water wouldbe contained within it.
"Let us go on further, however," he observed. "If a stream does notflow there, at all events a spring may be found."
The ground as we advanced grew softer, and the herbage greener andgreener.
"Stay," he said; "I think some animal must be there! We will advancecautiously."
As we proceeded my uncle signed us to stop, and looking along theboughs, a huge black creature appeared before us, digging his snou
t intothe ground.
"That's a huge pig," whispered Roger to me.
"A pig, man!" answered my uncle. "That is no less a creature than arhinoceros!"
We watched it for some time, afraid of moving lest we might draw itsattention towards us. Sometimes these creatures are savage, and willattack man. At length, however, it began to move off in an oppositedirection to where we were posted.
"A rifle-ball would do little to stop that fellow," said my uncle; "butwe may possibly yet capture him, and I should like to obtain hisskeleton, though I may not add him to my menagerie."
"But we have come to search for water," I suggested.
"To be sure we have," answered my uncle. "I was forgetting that. Here,at this very spot, I am sure we shall find it without having to dig verydeep."
Roger Trew instantly dug his spade into the ground, and beganenergetically throwing up the earth. It grew softer and softer as heproceeded, I helping him with my bamboo. My uncle had meantime cut downa tall bamboo, the end of which he sharpened, and he now came back andforced it into the ground. Drawing it up, the end was perfectly wet."This is encouraging!" he exclaimed; and Roger and I now setting to workwith greater energy, at length a little whitish-looking liquid camewelling up. A larger quantity appeared as we dug deeper and deeper, andat length we had an ample supply to fill the shell we had brought forthat purpose. It was somewhat like dirty milk; but my uncle said it waswholesome, and if allowed to settle, that it would become perfectlyclear. After resting a little the upper part became purer, and fromthis we thankfully quenched our thirst. As our well was at aconsiderable distance from the fort, it would be necessary to carry up asupply, for should we be besieged, it might be difficult to reach it.
"Now," said my uncle, "as our friends are not absolutely suffering fromthirst, we may as well try and catch the rhinoceros."
"What! make chase after it?" asked Roger.
"No; the creature is sure to come back here, and we will make a trap."
"A hard job to make one strong enough to catch that brute," answeredRoger.
"Very little strength is required," said my uncle. "With your spade andmy axe we can quickly make it. Here, let me set to work and dig!"
Roger, however, would not hear of that, and he and I commenced under myuncle's directions, who aided us in digging a pit about the size of therhinoceros, the earth around being somewhat soft and slimy. In themeantime the water in our well had not only bubbled up, but settleddown, and was perfectly sweet and clear. Under Mr Sedgwick'sdirections, we covered over the pit with boughs and leaves, so that thehollow below was not visible.
"The next time Mr Rhinoceros comes this way, he will find himselfprevented from proceeding on his journey," observed my uncle. "I haveseen the creature caught in a pit like this, and I have little doubtthat ours will succeed."
We now filled the shells we had brought with water, and slinging them ona bamboo, proceeded back to the fort.