_ CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. DEALINGS WITH THE DEEP
There was no little excitement at this announcement, and Captain Smithers sent at once for Lieutenant Johnson from the steamer, while a file of soldiers went for the messenger who had asked for admission.
The ladies were too much interested to think of leaving, so Mary Sinclair ran to fetch Mrs Major Sandars, and returned with her to see that a rough-looking Malay had been brought up to the group she had left.
Captain Smithers waited a few moments, to allow of the coming of the lieutenant; and meanwhile they all gazed at the Malay, a wild, half-naked fellow, whose scraps of clothing were torn by contact with thorns, and being soaked with water clung to his copper-coloured skin.
He was scratched and bleeding, and gazed sharply round from one to the other in a strange wild-eyed way, as if feeling that he was not safe.
Just then the lieutenant came hurrying up, and the Malay, evidently supposing him to be the officer he sought, began to unfasten a knot in his sarong, from which he took a short piece of bamboo about the size of a man's finger. One end of this was plugged with a piece of pith, and this he drew out, and then from inside, neatly rolled up and quite dry, a little piece of paper.
"You Cap-tain Smit-ter?" said the Malay.
"No, my man, that is the captain," said the lieutenant, pointing. "Cap-tain Smit-ter. Ali Rajah send," said the man, holding out the paper.
"Did Ali send us this?" said the captain, eagerly.
"Cap-tain Smit-ter, Ali Rajah send," said the man again.
"Where did you leave him?" said the captain.
"Cap-tain Smit-ter, Ali Rajah send," repeated the man, parrot fashion, showing plainly enough that he had been trained to use these words and no more.
Captain Smithers unrolled the scrap of native paper to find written thereon,--
"Found the party. Fighting for life in a stockade. Send help in steamer up right river.--Ali."
"Have you come straight from him?" exclaimed the captain, eagerly.
"Cap-tain Smit-ter, Ali Rajah send," said the man again.
"Where is Wilson?" cried the captain, "or Gray? Ah, you are here, Gray. You have made some progress with the Malay tongue. See what this man knows."
Private Gray came forward, and by degrees, and with no little difficulty, learned from the Malay that the English party were in an old stockade upon a branch of the river, forty miles away, defending themselves against a strong body of the sultan's forces.
"Ask if they are well," said the captain.
"He says there are many ill, and many wounded, and that they have buried many under the palm-trees," said Gray, in a low sad voice, "and that when the young chief, Ali, came upon them, they were at the last extremity from weakness and hunger."
Rachel Linton uttered a low wail, but on Mrs Major Sandars passing an arm round her, she made an effort and mastered her emotion, fixing her eyes on Adam Gray as, in a low, deep voice he continued the narrative after, at Captain Smithers' wish, again questioning the Malay.
"He says that after giving him the message to bear, the young chief, Ali, left him, saying that he was about to try and join the party in the old stockade, and fight with them to the end!"
There was a mournful silence at this, and for a few moments no one spoke. Then Captain Smithers leaned towards Lieutenant Johnson.
"Have you any questions to put?" he said.
"Yes," replied the lieutenant, and he turned round to their interpreter.
"Tell me, Gray, what is your opinion of the messenger?"
"At first, sir, I thought him genuine; but since then, there is something in his manner that makes me doubt the truth of his tale."
"And yet it seems feasible?"
"Yes, sir, it does; and I confess I have little cause for doubting him; but still I do."
Lieutenant Johnson turned to Captain Smithers, and they went aside for a few minutes talking earnestly together, while all present watched eagerly for the next scene in the drama they were passing through.
"Gray," said Captain Smithers then, sharply, "ask the messenger if he knows where the old stockade is."
"He says _yes_, sir, perfectly well."
"Ask him if he will guide the steamer there."
"Yes!" was the reply, "if the English officers would protect him from his people, and not let him be seen."
"Tell him," said Captain Smithers, "that if he is faithful he will be handsomely paid; if he is treacherous, he will be hung to the yard-arm of the steamer, and his body thrown to the crocodiles."
Gray interpreted this to the Malay, who smiled, uncovered the hilt of his kris, drew it, took it by the blade, and knelt down before the officers, placing the point upright on the left shoulder close to his neck, then reaching out with his right hand, he motioned to Captain Smithers to strike the weapon down into his breast.
"He says his life is yours, sir, and bids you kill him if he does not lead you to the stockade."
"One more question," said Lieutenant Johnson. "Ask him if there is water enough up the right river?"
Gray questioned the Malay, who nodded eagerly and then shook his head.
"He says there is plenty of water, for the river is narrow and very deep, all but in one place, about a mile from the stockade, and of that he is not sure, he will not pledge himself to its being sufficiently deep; but all Rajah Gantang's prahus have gone up and down in safety."
"That will do," said the lieutenant.
"Yes," said Captain Smithers, "take him aside, give him some food, and guard him well."
It fell to the lot of Adam Gray to take charge of the Malay who ate voraciously of what was placed before him, and then smiling his satisfaction he prepared himself a piece of betel-nut, and lying down in the shade went off fast asleep, evidently wearied out.
Meanwhile a short consultation was held, during which it was settled that at any risk the steamer must go to the assistance of the beleaguered party, Captain Smithers being on the alert to retire into the barracks when it became necessary.
This place he would have to hold with stubborn determination, knowing that the steamer could not be long away, and that Lieutenant Johnson was going with the knowledge that those he left behind were in need of help.
The fires were lit on the instant, and every effort made to get the steam up, but all was done as quietly as possible, so as not to take the attention of the Malays, and about ten o'clock all was ready for the start, when Adam Gray went and roused up the Malay.
The man rose, shook himself, and then accompanied his guide without a word, climbing the side of the steamer, where everything was ready; the cables were cast loose, and at half-steam the great vessel moved softly up the river by the light of the stars, which just made their way visible.
As far as they could see, the alarm of the departure had not been spread; and the steamer glided away so softly, and with so little noise, that there was the chance of her escaping the notice of the Malays, who might not find out their departure until morning.
This would delay any attack that might be made for many hours; but all the same, Captain Smithers felt it better to at once evacuate the outer works, and two hours after the steamer had glided away, almost invisible to those who saw her go, the outer works were lying unguarded, and the whole of the force safely barricaded in the stronghold, with every sentry on the alert.
Everything had been done in the quietest manner. There was neither noise nor loud order; the men caught the lightest whisper; and there was something weird and strange-looking in the silent figures moving here and there; but nothing like so weird of aspect as about a couple of dozen dark shadows that were creeping over the ground taking advantage of every bush or inequality of the ground to cover their movements till they reached the deserted earth-works, and crouched there exultingly.
An hour later the sky was overclouded; and in the darkness the Malays came crowding up by hundreds, evidently ready for an assault, while most ominous of all was the fact that numbers of them bore bundles of light wood, and some lumps of dammar ready to continue the task they had had to give up, consequent upon the steamer's return. _