CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.
ATTACKED BY PIRATES.
The party who had remained in the fort had made good progress instrengthening it, and we now felt ourselves prepared for the pirates'reception.
"We shall have no difficulty in beating them back," I observed to MrThudicumb, "with a fort like this for our protection."
"I hope not, Walter," he answered; "but they are fierce and desperatefellows, and they may use means for our destruction which we littleexpect. Still it is our duty to be prepared and to fight to the last.We can do no more!"
"But if they conquer us what will Emily and Grace and the poor Frau do?"
"We must leave that in God's hands, Walter," answered the mate. "Wemust fight like men, and not yield while life remains. If we are allkilled, he will take care of the helpless ones who are trusting in him."
Tanda at this time had not returned, and we were once more afraid thathe had been caught by the pirates. At length my uncle's anxiety toascertain what was going on made him resolve to set out to try and getsufficiently near them to watch their movements. I begged to accompanyhim.
"If you do, you must promise one thing--to keep behind me; and should Ibe captured, to make your escape, and carry back news to the camp ofwhat has occurred," he observed.
I of course willingly gave the promise he desired. While we werespeaking, we saw, rising in the distance, a thin column of smoke. Itrose higher and higher in the sky. All those in the fort gazedanxiously towards it.
"They have discovered the house, and set it on fire," observed MrHooker. "Oh, what treasures they are destroying--the ignorant savages!and yet, I am afraid, under similar circumstances our own countrymenwould not behave much better. They are not likely to appreciate suchtreasures more than these dark-skinned Asiatics."
"I am not quite so certain that that is the house on fire," observed MrSedgwick, after watching the smoke for some time. "I should not be atall surprised if it was the brig that is burning. The smoke, in thisclear atmosphere, is seen a long way off; and though my house would burnrapidly enough, I scarcely think it would send up such dense volumes asare now ascending to the blue sky. What do you think, Mr Thudicumb?It appears to me that the smoke is somewhat to the right of the house,and further off?"
"I have been watching it attentively," said the mate, "and I agree withyou, sir."
"Still, as the wind is off shore, and there will be no surf in our bay,I am afraid the fellows will very likely land there; and if so, it willnot be long before they discover the house," observed Mr Sedgwick."However, come along, Walter, and we will try to ascertain the truestate of the case."
My uncle, charging our friends to be on the alert, set off down thehill, rifle in hand; and I, bidding farewell to Emily and Grace,followed him. I soon caught him up, and we made our way along ourtorrent road. We calculated that we should have ample time to get intothe neighbourhood of the house and return to the fort before dark. Icould not help recollecting the tiger we had seen on our way up, and thenumerous serpents which I knew were crawling about in all directions.My uncle, however, seemed utterly indifferent to them. We had got tothe end of our torrent road, and were working our way through thejungle, when the sound of human voices reached our ears. On this,instead of going straight forward, my uncle turned to the right towardsthe sea. I followed him, literally crawling on hands and feet,something in the fashion of the monkeys, from bough to bough amid thethick entanglement of the forest; sometimes close down to the ground,though not often more than a few feet above it. I could not help havinga fear that in those places there often lurked the fearful python; whilesome dark pools over which we crawled might, I thought it more thanpossible, harbour a hermit alligator or some other monster.
We had gone some distance, moving as noiselessly as possible, when myuncle stopped and looked eagerly forward, keeping his body concealedbehind a bough. I imitated his example. Our worst anticipations wererealised. In the distance I could see the brig burning furiously, whilealongside the rocks lay several long prows with swivel guns in theirbows, and their general appearance betokening them to be, what wesupposed, pirates of Sooloo. A number of their crew were on the beach,while others, in a compact body, were making their way up the road inthe direction of the house. They were fierce-looking fellows, armedwith krisses and swords as well as spears and long bows. They wereshouting to each other, and evidently expected, from the appearance ofthe road, that they were approaching some village which they hoped tosack. We watched them for some time. Fortunately they were making somuch noise that they were not likely to hear us, even should they passquite near. My uncle, therefore, turning round, led by the way we hadcome. I found that he was approaching as near the house as the thickbrushwood would allow. I shall not easily forget the shout of savagedelight the pirates set up when they came in sight of our peacefulabode. They instantly rushed forward, sending a shower of arrows beforethem, and shrieking at the top of their voices. It was somewhat tryingto my companion's temper to see them rushing up the steps of the houseand along the verandah into the rooms. I was glad we had left Merlinbehind us, for he would probably not have restrained himself, but wouldhave rushed forward and betrayed our whereabouts. My uncle did not movefrom the spot, but continued to peer out from among the bushes. Thepirates who had first reached the house were seen going in and out atall the doors like a troop of monkeys. They now came to the verandahand shouted out to the others. They were evidently disappointed atfinding no one within. I could not help feeling pleased, however, thatthey were not likely to find anything which they would look upon asvaluable, however much the articles might be prized by the owners. In ashort time those who had been on the beach came up, and now they allrushed in together, and we could hear them shouting to each other asthey ran about seeking for booty. Their shouts of satisfaction weresoon changed to cries of disappointment and rage, as they found thateverything they prized had been carried off. Some of the provisions,however, which had been left behind were at length discovered; andbefore long they found their way to the menagerie. This seemed toastonish them not a little. Several of the creatures, however, havingbeen left without food, were howling piteously. At last I caught sightof a fellow rubbing away with two pieces of bamboo, and I knew wellenough that he was striking a light. Another brought some dried boughs,and they soon had a torch twisted up and blazing away. Uttering a shoutof triumph, one of them rushed up the steps of the house with a blazingtorch, and ran round it, setting fire to the light wood-work and thatch.It rapidly caught, and the flames darting out in all directions, thewhole house was soon furiously blazing away. Some of the men who hadbeen inside rushed out, reeling as if they were drunk, and I guessedthat they had got hold of some of the arrack which had been kept forpreserving specimens. They now began to dance round the house, shoutingand shrieking as if in delight at the destruction they had wrought.Some of them, however, were hid from our view by the building, so thatwe could not see what they were about. Presently their shrieks andcries seemed to increase, and we saw those from the other side of thebuilding scampering away as fast as their legs could carry them,apparently in a panic. The rest followed. Away they went, each mantumbling over the other, and caring only for his own safety. I reallythink that at that moment, had our whole party been together, we mighthave rushed out and cut them to pieces. I heard my uncle utter a lowchuckle of laughter, and presently there issued from behind the buildinghis huge python, hissing furiously, and making its way at a rapid ratealong the ground, as if in pursuit of the pirates.
"The fellows have set his cage on fire, and the creature has made hisescape from the flames," said my uncle. "He is wisely rushing to thenearest water to cool himself, and I suspect he thinks less of attackingthem than of soothing his wounds."
The python, however, as he was speaking, began to move slower andslower. He evidently had considerable difficulty in working his wayover the ground. Presently his head, hitherto erect, sunk down, and helay stretched out
at his full length apparently dead.
"It will be as well," said my uncle, "to make our way back to the fort,for these fellows will soon recover from their panic, and will suspectthat the owners of the house are not far off. We cannot remain longconcealed from them, for if they once begin to search about, they willsoon discover the path to our river road."
We accordingly hurried back to the fort. We found that Tanda hadarrived before us. The whole party were in a great state of alarm, forhe had made signs that the pirates had landed, and they also had seenthe smoke from the burning house. They also dreaded from his signs thatwe had fallen into their power. I was glad to find that some deep caveshad been dug, in which Emily and her companions could find shelter. Theprovisions had also been stored in them. All our arms were loaded. Anumber of bamboo stakes had likewise been formed, their pointsprojecting out between the palisades to prevent the pirates fromclimbing over them. Our return quickly restored the spirits of theparty. Emily threw herself into my arms and burst into tears, and Gracefollowed her example.
We had now a time of great anxiety. In spite of it, however, I was veryglad when Mr Thudicumb proposed that we should pipe to supper.
"I never knew people fight so well on empty stomachs as on full ones;and as we may have sharp work before the morning, it will be wise if wefall to while we can," he remarked.
I found that during our absence Roger Trew had led the way to the well,and brought up an ample supply of water to last us for some time. Thusour fort was pretty well stored; and even should the pirates lay siegeto it, we might be able to hold out for some time.
"By-the-by, Mr Walter," observed Roger, "the last time I came up, I sawthat the boughs had given way over the pit we dug; but I was in toogreat a hurry to look in. I have a notion, however, that something orother has been caught, and whether it is that great brute with a horn onhis nose, or some other creature, I cannot say."
As darkness came on, we assembled in the largest cavern which had beendug, in order that the light might not betray us. Here we found thatwithout danger--as the flame would be hid, and the smoke would, ofcourse, not be seen--we might light a fire and boil water, and cook ourfood, which was a great luxury. Two of the party kept on watch whilethe rest of us assembled to supper. The sentries were accompanied byMerlin, who was a host in himself, as his quick ear was more likely tocatch the sound of approaching footsteps than any one among us. Wewere, however, allowed to enjoy our meal in peace, and we, most of ustired out, lay down to rest, while our watch was set as usual. Oftenduring the night I fancied I heard the cries of the Malays rushing upthe hill, and I started up to find that I had been dreaming. Hour afterhour passed by, Mr Thudicumb would not let me go on guard, as he said Iwas already tired out. I slept on and on, and at length daylightstreamed in through the entrance of the rustic hut in which I had passedthe night. Emily and Grace were on foot, and soon afterwards FrauUrsula made her appearance at the entrance of their bower. "No piratecome," she observed. "I hope they go away, and not find us out." Iheartily hoped so also; but, at the same time, had it not been for thegirls, I own I should rather have liked to have had a brush with thepirates, so confident did I feel that we could beat them off. Oliversoon joined us. He looked somewhat pale, I fancied.
"I have not slept at all," he whispered to me. "I have been prayingthat we may be protected from those fearful men. It would be sodreadful to have to fight them. Before they could be driven off, somany would be killed; and Walter, I confess I cannot bear the thoughtsof destroying our fellow-creatures."
"I do not wish it either," I said; "but if they come, they must take theconsequences."
I was sure that, notwithstanding his feelings, no one would fight morebravely than Oliver. Those who had been on watch during the night, nowgot up, and the whole party assembled in the centre of our fort.
"Gentlemen," said Mr Thudicumb, "on board the _Bussorah Merchant_ wealways used to have morning prayers when the weather permitted, and,with your leave, we will have them now. We have plenty to pray for, andmuch to be thankful for. We should be thankful we have escaped thedangers from which so many of our fellow-creatures have suffered, andthat we are all alive and well; and we need to pray that a stronger armthan ours may fight for us, should we be attacked by those fierce andignorant savages."
"Very right," said Mr Hooker, "and I am sure all will agree with you."
Mr Sedgwick, however, made no remark. He had never said anythingagainst religion; but I had observed, since we first found him, that hedid not appear to be in any way under its influence. However, as he didnot object, Mr Thudicumb forthwith produced a Bible which he had foundin the cabin of the brig uninjured. He now read a portion of Scripture,and then offered up an earnest prayer for our deliverance. I know I forone felt more cheerful after it, and so I am sure did Emily and Grace,while a tear stood in Oliver's eye. He had entered more than any of us,with all his heart, into the simple prayer of the untutored sailor.Watch was, of course, kept meantime by one of the party, and we then ingood spirits went to breakfast, having lighted our fire as before in thepit, making as small a one as possible, so as not to allow the smoke tobe seen at a distance.
Once more Tanda went out as a scout to try and ascertain what thepirates were about. Soon after he had gone, we were aroused by a loudsqueaking which seemed to come from the wood at the bottom of the hill.It sounded exactly like the cry of a pig. Oliver and I offered to godown and ascertain what it was. I was starting without any arms, andhad got to the gate, when it occurred to me that I might as well take afowling-piece. I ran back for it, and Oliver and I then set forwarddown the hill. The squeaking sound increased for a little time, andthen ceased. We had, however, marked the place from whence it had come.We were making our way through the forest, when Oliver seized my arm.
"Stop, Walter," he exclaimed; "not a step further! See, see!" There,at the foot of a large tree, with its tail coiled round an upper branch,its body circling the trunk, was a huge python. Our uncle's pet,compared to it, was a mere pigmy. It was pressing with its enormousbody a large pig, which, with its huge mouth wide open, it was preparingto swallow. So eager was it that it did not observe us. We stoodtransfixed with a feeling akin to horror, lest any movement mightdisturb it. We knew that we should be much safer should it once get theunfortunate pig within its jaws. Greatly to my relief, it now darteddown upon the pig, taking the head within its mouth, and gradually itbegan to suck in the body. We watched it without moving or speaking.In a short time, more than half the quadruped had disappeared, and I nowknew, from the formation of the animal's teeth, that no power could drawit out again, and that thus, till it had entirely swallowed it, we weresafe. Now was the time, therefore, to beat our retreat, and we hurriedback to the fort with an account of what we had seen.
"We must prevent the creature from causing further mischief," said MrHooker, seizing an axe. "When it has digested the pig, it may pay us avisit, and may be a more awkward enemy to deal with than even thepirates. Now, if we make haste, he is at our mercy."
Potto Jumbo begged that he might accompany us, and Oliver and he and I,with the two gentlemen, each armed with an axe and a long bamboo spear,hurried back to where we had seen the python. As we reached it the hindlegs of the pig were just disappearing within its jaws. "Now is thetime for the attack," cried Mr Sedgwick, rushing forward with his axeand dealing the animal a blow behind the neck. It instantly uncoiledits powerful tail and attempted to seize its enemy. It seemed as if itcould have crushed him with one blow against the tree, but he gave aspring and just escaped it. At the same instant Potto Jumbo sprang inand struck the tail, which instantly flew back and again encircled thetree. The monster now tried to lift up his head to make a springtowards us, but the pig prevented it from opening its jaws, though theforce with which it projected its enormous head was sufficient to haveknocked down the strongest man and killed him on the spot. Mr Hookerwas on the watch, and received it on the point of his spear, whichtrans
fixed its throat, and must have gone through the pig's body at thesame time. Still his spine was uninjured, and there was great danger ingetting within the coils of its body. Potto Jumbo, however, keptwatching the tail, which was again unwound from the branch of the tree."You cut, cut at the back while I hold," he cried out, seizing the veryend of the tail. He threw himself out so as to stretch out the animal.Oliver and I, who had been waiting our opportunity, rushed in, and dealtit several severe blows with our hatchets. Potto pulled away at thesame time. "No fear now," he cried out; "one more cut and he die!"Once more we rushed in with our hatchets. No sooner did we deal theblows than the creature lay stretched out apparently quite dead.
"We have settled him," said Mr Sedgwick. "And now let us measure hislength."
He paced along the body, which lay stretched out on the ground, and wefound it to be fully twenty-five feet long.
"An unpleasant creature to encounter in a morning's ramble," observedMr Hooker. "But how have you managed to escape these reptiles,Sedgwick?" he asked.
"Simply, I suppose, because they prefer pork to man," he answered; "andas we have the same taste, we may as well get piggy out of his maw."
To do so was impossible without cutting off the serpent's head. This weaccomplished with our hatchets. However, the appearance of the pig whenwe got it out was far from tempting, and as we had a supply of food inthe fort, we agreed to let it remain where it was. We had been sointerested in this encounter that we had almost forgotten the positionin which we were placed. A shout from Mr Thudicumb, however, quicklyrecalled us, and we hurried up to the fort. Tanda had just arrived.
"He is in a state of great agitation, sir," said Mr Thudicumb, as MrSedgwick appeared, "but what he says I cannot make out."
Tanda and his master exchanged a few words.
"Friends," said Mr Sedgwick, "the pirates are approaching. They havefound their way up the river road, and will be here in a short time.Once more I must urge you to fight to the last. I know them well.Should we yield, a fearful death or painful captivity would be our lot."
"We are all aware of that, sir," said Mr Thudicumb; "and I can answerfor all hands that none will fail in their duty."
The bank round the more gentle slope of the hill had been raisedsufficiently to protect our bodies, so that by keeping close to it, noshot--should the enemy have fire-arms--could hit us. All the musketswere laid carefully loaded against the bank, and the Frau and the girls,who had been practising loading for some time, took their places inhollows which had been formed on purpose, where they might load withoutrisk, as soon as the guns were handed to them. We all now stood at ourposts anxiously watching for the approach of the enemy. At length wesaw some dark-skinned faces appearing amid the brushwood, and directlyafterwards some thirty or more wild-looking savages rushed through itand began to ascend the hill. They stopped for an instant on seeing theformidable preparations made for their reception, while, of course, theycould not tell how many people were within the stockades ready to fireon them. At length one of their chiefs apparently came to the front,and waving his curved sword, seemed to urge them to follow him. On hecame, a humpbacked savage-looking fellow. Even at that distance Ifancied I could distinguish his hideous features. More than once hewent back, and seemed shouting to his followers to keep up with him; andwith wonderful agility, considering his form, he toiled up the hill.
"Mr Hooker, you are the best shot among us, please to pick off thatfellow," said Mr Thudicumb. "If it were not for him, I do not thinkthe fellows would have come on."
The hunchback still continued to advance, his long arms and claw-likefingers assisting him up the steeper places. Again he stopped andappeared to be swearing at his men for not coming faster. He was nowwithin range. I could not help looking on one side to watch Mr Hookeras he stood perfectly calm with his musket covering the pirate chief.Little did the man think that a musket in the hands of an unerring shotwas pointed at him. The pirates, finding no opposition as yet, now cameon more readily, and soon another body of an equal number appearedbehind them, coming from the woods. I could by this time clearly seethe countenance of the pirate. He was an old man, with two or more uglygashes about the face, showing that he had not followed his professionwith impunity. The pirates, uttering fierce cries, were now rushing on.
"I must stop that fellow's career, at all events," said Mr Hooker,levelling his piece. He fired. The old pirate stood up for an instanton a rock which he had just reached, waving his sword above his head,and then fell backwards over the men who were coming up behind him. TheFrau instantly seized the gun, and began reloading it. The pirates, whohad been quickly advancing, now appeared to waver.
"If we had a dozen more fellows with us, we would quickly sally out andput them to flight!" exclaimed Mr Thudicumb.
"But as we are only nine in all, not counting de ladies and Merlin, anddem fellows fight like wild beasts, we hab hard job to drive dem back,"said Potto Jumbo. "Still we fight while we got drop blood in de veins.Merlin fight wid teeth dough; you see dat! Hurrah, boys!" and Pottotook aim at another Malay leader who now occupied the position of thefirst.
Merlin was fully as eager for the fight as any one, and rushed backwardsand forwards, poking his snout between the palisades wherever there wasan opening, and barking furiously.
"I wish we had another python to let loose on them, uncle," I said toMr Sedgwick, near whom I was standing. "It might have a usefuleffect."
"Ah, yes; we should not have killed the other fellow, Walter," heobserved. "But, to be sure, it would have been a difficult matter tocapture him, and still more so to make him take the right course when welet him loose again."
The pirates, fortunately, had but very few fire-arms among them, andthey evidently depended on a hand to hand combat to overcome us. Thelarger body had now gained a more exposed part of the hill, and began toascend quicker than before. We therefore, taking good aim, had to fireas rapidly as possible. No time for speaking now. Thanks to the skillwith which the Frau and the young ladies loaded the muskets, we wereable to keep up a constant fusillade, which must have made it appearthat we had far more men within the fort than was really the case. Tokeep up the deception, we ran from side to side, thus extending thelength of our line, now firing out through one opening, now throughanother.
"Do not throw a shot away," Mr Thudicumb continued saying. "Fix onyour man before you fire."
I had never seen a shot fired in anger; but I own my blood quickly gotup, and I no longer felt the slightest compunction in killing ourenemies. Even Oliver, so gentle and tender-hearted, played his partwell, and I believe every shot he fired took effect. In my eagerness Imissed once or twice; but seeing the importance of following the mate'sadvice, I endeavoured to restrain my excitement and take steady aimbefore I pulled the trigger. Still our ferocious enemies so faroutnumbered us, that if they once got up to the palisades, even thoughmany might be killed, a superior force would be able to climb up andoverpower us. They were within a dozen yards when, greatly to mydismay, I saw another strong body emerging from the wood, and with loudshouts rushing up the hill to join their companions. I began for thefirst time to think that all would be lost. My heart sank as Icontemplated the dreadful fate of the two poor girls. What would becomeof them and the good Frau when we were all killed? for killed I fullybelieved we all should be. Still, as yet, none of us were hurt,although their arrows flew thickly over our heads, and they had begun tothrow their darts at us. Four or five, armed with muskets, nowadvanced, and also began firing away--their shot pinging against thepalisades. We had far more to dread from them than from the arrows, Ifancied. As they got nearer, however, several arrows came through theopenings, and I heard a bullet whistle close to my ear. It was thefirst time I had heard such a sound, but I knew it well, and could notavoid bobbing my head, though the shot had passed me. Mr Thudicumb andDick Tarbox, however, never flinched the whole time. Uttering loudshouts and shrieks, the fresh body of men now joined their compa
nions,while the first continued to shower arrows and darts and to send theirbullets among us. I saw Oliver suddenly fall. An arrow had struck himon the shoulder.
"It is nothing," he called out; "it is nothing," and endeavoured to drawthe weapon from his wound.
Frau Ursula saw what had occurred, as she was at that moment handing upa musket, and springing up, carried him down into their cave. Thedreadful thought came across me that the arrows were poisoned. I couldnot, however, leave my post to inquire. His fate might be that of anyone of us the next instant. I could only wish that all were as preparedto meet death as I knew he was. Directly afterwards I saw my unclestagger. A bullet had struck him; but recovering himself, he cried,"Never mind, lads! A mere graze;" and instantly again fired. Themuskets came from below loaded, less quickly than before. I guessed thereason--that the Frau or the girls were attending to poor Oliver. Againa flight of arrows came flying over and through the palisades, somesticking in them, when I felt one pass through my cap, and, as Ithought, wound my head. I could not help having the fearful dread thatthe poison would quickly enter my veins, and expected every instant todrop. Still there was but little time for thought, and I resolved tofight away with my companions to the last. A few minutes more of lifewere of but little value, and I now fully expected that, in spite of thedetermined way in which we were defending our fort, it would be stormedat last. Directly afterwards the Malays, showering their missiles uponus, with loud shouts and shrieks rushed on. Some caught hold of thepalisades, and attempted to pull them down; others began to climb overthem. Some forced their hands through the openings to seize the bamboospears as we thrust them out at our enemies. I caught sight of a numberof pirates making their way to one side where the fort was undefended.Nothing now, it seemed to me, could prevent them from getting in; butwhen I shouted out, Potto Jumbo joined me, and we rushed to the spot.Just then a loud shouting was heard coming up from the bottom of thehill. I could distinguish through the opening, for the space was clearwhere we then were, several pirates turning their heads. The shoutingincreased. Some ran down the hill, the others turned and followed, andthose who had been climbing up the palisades dropped to the ground, andthen, as if seized by a sudden panic, rushed down the hillhelter-skelter, eager to avoid the shot which we sent after them. Wecould scarcely believe what had occurred.
"Heaven be praised!" said Mr Thudicumb. "We are saved, and I do notthink they will come back again."