CHAPTER X
The Pirate Stronghold
"At last we are close to these Malays and the sea Dyaks," said Tylerwith a sigh of relief, when the news of the proximity of the Sarebusriver was brought to him, "and as it is very necessary that the leaderof our party should be fully acquainted with their haunts, I shallleave the tribe at once and push on with a few followers. To you, John,I leave the post of commander during my absence, with instructions toremain here in hiding till I return or send for you. You will placescouts all round, and keep a most careful watch, for were you to be seenby any stray native the news would buzz to the ears of Hanns Schlottand his men, and we should have to turn tail and run for our lives.Remember that sudden attack, and still more rapid disappearance, are theonly movements for us, and that to stand up to all the pirates would befatal, for they have firearms in plenty, while we have none."
"Then the orders are to remain here for the present," replied the youngboatswain, touching his cap. "Right, sir! and I'll obey so long as allgoes well. But supposing you fall into this Dutchman's clutches? What'llI do then?"
"Whatever seems most sensible, but rescue will be out of the question.Don't imagine that Hanns Schlott would keep me a prisoner for long. Hewould have me killed at once, and it is that fact which will make mefight all the harder in case I am attacked. But it will not come tothat, I hope, for I and the men who are to accompany me will steal uponthem like ghosts."
"But massa may happen to be seen," interrupted Li Sung, who had listenedintently. "Supposing Malay or sea Dyak come suddenly up while huntin' inde forest, and see de white man? Den him runee for him life, and shoutdat de enemy am near. And velly soon de white man havee him head rightoff--a-a-ah!"
Li Sung grasped at his pigtail, and, lifting it well above his head,made as if to sever his neck with the long blade which dangled from hisbelt.
"Not nicee, dat," he went on with a grimace. "Dis Dutchman wantee dehead of massa, and massa him likee to choppee de head of de pirateleader. Velly fine, but massa must havee plenty care. Suppose you golike de Dyak? Den if de pirates see you dey tink you one of demselvesand not shout and try to takee de head."
Li Sung cocked his head knowingly on one side and looked at Tyleranxiously, for he thought much of the young Englishman who had sosuddenly come into his life, and was fearful for his safety.
"Den p'r'aps you be able to takee plenty fine sight of de stockade," headded eagerly. "Besides, Li Sung him knowee de river, and draw him foryou so."
Reminding Tyler that he had once been one of the pirates, though muchagainst his will, and had been with them into the Sarebus river, theChinaman again dragged his sword from his belt, and, clearing a widepatch of sandy ground from fallen leaves, began to roughly outline thecourse of the river and the position of the Malay towns and stockades.
As for our hero, the suggestion which Li Sung had just made occupied histhoughts almost to the exclusion of all others, though when the sketchwas completed he followed each line with the utmost attention, and, notsatisfied with that, transferred the drawing to a scrap of crinkledand dirty paper which he happened by good chance to have with him. Buthe did not allow the question of disguise to escape him, and at oncereturned to it.
"There is no doubt that the sight of a white man other than theDutchman or a European who is in league with him would at once raisethe neighbourhood. Hanns Schlott and his men would immediately guessthat I was near at hand, and that would put them on their guard andruin our plans. Besides, there is no doubt that it would mean thedestruction of the tribe who have selected me as leader, for our numbersare ridiculously small when compared with the pirates, while we arepractically unarmed. We should be cut to pieces in the jungle, and thatwould be the end of our journey. No, I must go as a Dyak or as a Malay,and in that way escape observation."
"And I reckon as it wouldn't be a bad thing for me to do the same,sir," broke in John Marshall. "Yer see, there ain't any knowing when wemay drop on some of these covies, and the sight of me would send 'emhowling, jest the same as it would if they dropped their eyes on you.Let's both get made into darkies, and then we'll be ready for anything."
"And Li Sung him see dat allee managed for you," said the Chinaman witha smile. "Him velly fine man, de China boy, and him done same ting oftenand often. Plenty dye wid de Dyaks, and if massa and his friend haveelittle patience Li Sung bring de stuff. De dress am noding. Ebery manhere help wid dat."
"And what about our feet?" demanded Tyler suddenly, realizing thatit would be impossible to trudge through the forest without becomingrapidly lame. Indeed, he knew that it would require more than a week ofcareful walking to harden the skin sufficiently to allow them to crosssmooth ground, but when there were stones and thorns progress would beimpossible, or, at any rate, exceedingly painful.
"You see," he went on, "we have worn boots up to this, and I am surethat it would never do for us to go barefooted. We should be laid upafter the very first day's tramp."
"Then why not get these darkies to make sandals or some suchfoot-covering for us, sir?" asked the boatswain. "They're clever enoughat that sort of thing, and I ain't a doubt but what they'll be able toturn out something suitable from bamboo or some of the leaves in theforest. What do yer say, Johnnie?"
"Dat you am velly right. De Dyaks makee plenty fine sandal velly soon.Leave it to Li Sung, and him comee back wid de tings."
"Then be as quick as you can," said Tyler, "for I wish to push on atonce. We have made a fairly rapid march up to this, and it is probablethat the pirates are not expecting us as yet. Indeed I hope that theywill have taken it for granted that we have made a wide detour, in whichcase they will have sent men towards the mountains, the line which weshould have taken had it been our object and intention to avoid thisriver on which they have their stronghold. In any case, as I havesaid, they would hardly expect us here at present, if at all, and byseeing that we do not delay, we shall have all the more opportunity ofeffecting a surprise. How long will you be, Li Sung?"
"One, p'r'aps two little hour, massa. But Li go see at once, and comeback velly soon."
With this reply the Chinaman went away towards the encamped tribe ofDyaks, with his pigtail dangling over his arm. Evidently the cunningfellow was busily thinking over his master's wants, for his chin wason his breast and his face lined with wrinkles. But, like all of hiscountry, his wits were sharp, and as he went he had already made uphis mind how to carry out Tyler's wishes. In fact, only half the timementioned by him had elapsed when he was seen to be returning, carryinga bundle.
"If de massa and him friend will stripee off de clothes Li will stain debodies of both wid dis stuff," he said, producing a gourd filled withan oily liquid of reddish-brown colour. "Dey need not fear dat dis ampoison, for me tellee dem dat it only de juice of de betel-nut. Whendeir bodies seen to, Li havee someting else for dem."
With a grin of pleasure at the thought of his success, and at therapidity with which he had carried out the matter, Li Sung accompaniedTyler and John Marshall to their bivouac, where the latter quicklyremoved their clothing. Then, with a splintered end of bamboo which hehad pounded between a couple of smooth boulders till it was as pliableand soft as any brush, the Chinaman set about the work of transformingthem from clear-complexioned Englishmen to the colour of Dyaks. Twicedid he go over the surface of their bodies, and then, standing somepaces away, he inspected them critically, his head on one side and acomical air of severity and anxiety upon his features. As for the twoyoung fellows, they stood before him with grave faces, which bore onlythe smallest traces of trouble, for they were confident of the abilityof Li Sung to convert them to the appearance of Dyaks.
"After all," said Tyler, with a little laugh which he attempted to makecareless in tone, "we need only be disguised sufficiently to escapedetection at some distance, for if the enemy actually come within a fewpaces of either of us it will be a case of fighting, for they are boundto discover that we are not what we seem to be. You must recollect thatwe do not speak more than a few
words of the language."
"But de massa may pass with oders who am plenty able to talkee Dyak,"cried Li Sung. "S'pose him go soon to de strong place of de pirates andwish to enter. Den if he stay behind de oders, and not seem to have delead, one of de warriors speakee to de enemy. But me not satisfied. Onelittle moment and me see how you lookee. Massa and him friend must puton de Dyak cloths."
Unfastening the bundle which he had brought under his arm, and whichwas enclosed in a couple of enormous leaves, he produced a couple ofthe loin-cloths worn by the natives, and also two gaudy handkerchiefsto bind about their heads. Within them were wrapped two pairs of neatsandals manufactured by the Dyaks, and composed of thin slips offlexible bamboo thickly padded with strips of skin.
"De hide make him soft to de feet," explained Li Sung, holding them upfor inspection with great pride. "Den dey velly silent, so dat massaand him friend can comee plenty near to de pirate without making noise.Now for de betel-nut and de stain again. Please to open de mouth of youboth, and Li him paint de teeth."
Baring their teeth in obedience to his wish, both Tyler and JohnMarshall submitted to the operation of having them colouredreddish-brown with the stain, and then chewed at the nut which theirChinese helper had thrust between their lips.
"I suppose that it is a custom which one has to acquire," remarked Tylerwith a grimace. "I must say that if I had any choice in the matter Iwould rather not chew anything, and least of all the betel-nut. Still,all the natives have the habit, and it will be as well for us to developit also."
"I'd rather a plug of twist any day," grunted John in disgust. "Sour!Why, this here betel's worse than anythin'. But as yer say, it's forthe best, and as I reckon our safety'll depend upon sich little things,why--"
The boatswain turned the nut into his other cheek with anotherexclamation of disgust, and set to work to chew it with an air ofresignation which called a smile to Tyler's features. A moment later theChinaman again demanded their attention.
"P'r'aps de massa and him friend smilee at de China boy," he said inengaging tones. "Me wishee to see how de mouths look, and then me telleeyou if de dress and eberyting am allee nicee."
Once more did Tyler and his companion follow the wishes of Li Sung,and, turning towards him, opened their mouths and smiled, so as to showtheir coloured teeth. Then they walked up and down the clearing while hestared at them, his head still on one side, and his fingers grasping hispigtail.
"Massa and de friend of massa will do plenty fine," he said at length."Dey Dyaks now in eberyting but de tongue, and him dey can keep still.Li have done him best and am satisfied."
"And we too," responded Tyler. "But I have delayed long enough already,and will at once set out to reconnoitre. John, take command of the campand of the tribe while I am gone. Li, you can come with me as far as theliver, but after that you had better keep in the forest, for some ofyour old comrades might recognize you."
At once there was a stir in the camp, while those who were to accompanytheir leader hastily gathered their weapons together and prepared tomarch. Then one of the scouts who had returned with the news that theSarebus river was at hand placed himself at the head of the little bandand led them into the forest, their departure being watched with thegreatest interest by all who remained behind. Indeed there was an airof excitement and of anticipation about all the warriors, for upon thereport which their leader and his friends brought would depend theirfuture actions, and no doubt their success. Had it not been for the fearthat some of the enemy might be in the neighbourhood, hunting the forestfor game, the tribesmen would have shouted their farewell to theirleader, and would have accompanied him some distance on his journey.As it was, however, they remained in the camp, and at once set aboutplacing themselves in a position of defence. As for Tyler, marching atthe head of his little band, he could not help but be gratified by thewilling obedience which each of the warriors gave him. That his changein costume had won him still more of their esteem was evident also, forthey realized that he had made the alteration so as to assure the safetyof the tribe. Stalking ahead of them, Tyler found his sandals even morecomfortable than boots, while his light clothing, the fact that hislimbs were freer now than ever before, and that the heat was so greatthat he had no feeling of being cold, made him more active than ever.About his shoulder he still carried his rifle, while the betel-pouchat his waist was filled with ammunition. In his waist-cloth, hidden bythe folds, were his revolvers, while a shield of enormous dimensions wasslung to his back for the sake of appearances alone.
"Once within easy distance of the river we will search for a path,"he said as Li Sung came up beside him. "Perhaps if the forest is verydense, as seems to be the case close to the rivers, we will hunt for aboat and borrow it. But then we should be more easily seen, and my aimand object is to remain unobserved. One thing I am particularly anxiousto search for is a fleet of their prahus, for with boats at our commandwe could laugh at Hanns Schlott and all his men."
"But dere are de booms to be thought of," said the Chinaman. "Dey arebelow de forts, but sometimes, no one knowee when, dey am moved, and denno prahu can sail down de river."
"Nothing would stop a fleet of boats coming down with wind and stream,"answered Tyler, undismayed by the prospect which the Chinaman hadsuddenly unfolded. "These booms will be made of bamboo and other trees,and will be chained to the banks by means of enormous posts. Very well,if the boom itself is too strong for us, we must hack the posts topieces. But the weight of the fleet alone should be enough. However,that is a question for the future. For the present we have to think ofthe pirates and their lair, and before considering booms have to comeacross the prahus."
"Dat you will do plenty easy, massa. If de pirate at home de ships amdere also. But me tink dat all de men better go out into de forest andkeep eye wide open."
"Then give them the order," said Tyler. "You and I will walk together,and they can keep up with us by following the sounds."
Accordingly the men who formed the party which had set out from thecamp for the purpose of watching the enemy divided, and, plunging intothe trees on either hand, quickly became lost to view. Nor was itpossible to hear them, as a general rule, so silent were they in theirmovements. At length, after a hot and weary tramp, the little band cameupon a narrow stream, which the scout at once proclaimed to be part ofthe Sarebus river.
"We follow this for an hour," he said, "and then we strike the mainchannel. Another half-hour will bring us to another river, which forkswith the one we shall be following, and with it pours into the wide bedof the water-way which is known as the Sarebus. There will our leadercome upon the pirates, and at that spot he will see that they have atown and many forts. I myself was there in the early hours, and at onceturned to come swiftly with the news. As for a path, there is one besidethe larger of the streams, and we shall be able to make use of it. Is itour leader's wish that we push on?"
"Do so at once," answered Tyler, Li Sung interpreting the words. "Wewill halt when we come to the larger stream, and will then go morecarefully."
Once again did the little party set forward, and, plunging throughthe trees, finally came to a spot where the smaller tributary emergedinto a larger one, which in its turn discharged its contents into themain channel. And now each one prepared for instant flight or forhostilities, and, unslinging weapons, advanced in a crouching attitudebeside the water.
"See, massa," suddenly whispered Li Sung when they had crept forwardhalf a mile, "there are de huts and de stockades or forts. Dat am Paddi,de big place of de pirates, where all de gold and riches go, and wherede slaves am kept. Me knowee him velly well, for it am dere dat Chinaboy first taken when him captive, and from Paddi him pull down de riveron de prahu, for de first time in him life living wid de pirates."
"And the next time you sail to the sea let us hope it will be moreas your own master," murmured Tyler, scarcely able to repress hisexcitement at the sight of the stockades before him. "But let us get tosome more advantageous point from which we can look down u
pon this placewhich you say is called Paddi. Lead us into the bushes, Li, for you mustknow better than anyone where we shall be able to obtain the best view."
Emboldened by the fact that no one seemed to be stirring in theneighbourhood of the pirates' stronghold, and that not a single sampanor boat of any description ferried across the water, the party of scoutspressed on, led by the cunning Chinaman, and at length arrived at a spotwhich permitted them to look over the walls of the bamboo stockade whichsurrounded Paddi, and see all that was taking place within.
"One would almost imagine that the town had been deserted," remarkedTyler in a whisper, after staring into the stronghold for some minutes."The huts seem for the most part to be empty, and so far I have seenonly women and a few old men and children. What can it mean? SurelyHanns Schlott and his followers are not scared at the thought of ourcoming."
"De Dutchman am too wise and too bold for dat," answered Li Sungemphatically. "Him havee some little game. Him gone into de forest,p'r'aps, to find de white men and deir Dyak friends, or him at sealooking out for oder ships to makee up for de loss of de schooner. Himnot deserted Paddi, dat China boy knowee for sure."
"For how long does he cruise away from this place?" asked Tylerthoughtfully, after another long interval during which his eyes werefixed upon the town which lay before him.
"P'r'aps one day, p'r'aps many. Li him not say for sure. If ships to befound in plenty outside, he stay dere and take dem every one."
"We might even destroy the whole stronghold," murmured Tyler to himself,"for it seems to me that it is practically without men. Of course Idon't like the thought of attacking a place which has only women andchildren to defend it, but I would see that they were not harmed,and, after all, the burning of this town would, I fear, be too bigan undertaking. Li once said that there were other places on thisriver, and as they must be lower down it is probable that they would atonce take the alarm, and their prahus would put out into the river tostop our escape. No, silence is what we must aim at, and a dark nightwould be the best, only navigation then of the water-way would be verydifficult. As to Hanns Schlott and his men, it is clear that they areaway on an expedition, though whether in search of ourselves or not itis difficult to decide. Where do you think that they have gone?" hesuddenly demanded, turning upon the Chinaman.
"Dat Li can only guessee at, massa. But dere no prahus here, and sode China boy him tink dat de Dutchman and him Malays at sea lookingalong de coast in case de white man and him friends come dat way. Odersgo into de forest and lie in wait along by de mountains. Scouts leftbetween de two, and when we am found de news taken to both de parties."
That the question was difficult to decide was clear, and for long Tylerlay flat upon the ground, hidden in the undergrowth, thinking the matterout; and all the while his eyes were busily engaged in taking in everypart of the town and forts of Paddi. Lying at the fork of the river,the huts in which the pirates lived were protected on the water side bystockades of bamboo, strongly erected and placed in most advantageouspositions, so that the Sarebus was commanded for some hundreds ofyards. In the rear there were other forts, but of less strength andimportance, for attack from that direction could not be very dangerous,seeing that the forest was there of the densest, and would almost forbidthe approach of an enemy. Stretching across the mouths of each of thetributaries which poured into the main channel, and between which laythe town, were two enormous booms, awash in the water, and half-coveredwith twigs and reeds which had been swept against them and caught. Eachboom was anchored by means of chain-cable to a tree on either shore,while the same material bound the bamboos together.
"A heavy ship would soon break through," thought Tyler, "but to lightboats the task would be a difficult one, and axes would be needed. But Idoubt very much whether the pirates place their prahus above the booms.It is pretty certain that they anchor them in the river below, so asto be able to drop down stream without a moment's delay. But in caseof attack in force by an enemy coming up the river I have little doubtthat they would swing one of the booms aside for a time until all theprahus had passed through, and would then close it again. Well, nothingis stirring, and for the time we must be content to remain where weare and keep watch. If their fleet was here now I should call up allthe tribe and let them lie in the forest while I told them off to thedifferent boats. Then as soon as darkness fell we would slip aboard andfloat down-stream. Once in safety we would search for our friends, andif only the _Dido_ came in sight would lead an attacking-party againstthe stronghold. Yes, that would be fine, but it is too bright a prospectto hope for. It is more than likely that we shall have to fight for ourlives, and for the ships should the latter come upon the scene. Halloo!"
His exclamation, which was whispered in low tones, was caused by amovement on the part of Li Sung and the Dyaks who lay beside him; for ofa sudden, while staring at the stronghold before them each had turnedhis head to the right, while an onlooker could see that they werelistening intently.
"H-h-ush!" said the Chinaman, creeping closer to his leader. "We heareeplenty noise down de stream, and we tink dat de pirates come. Li himsay dat de prahus am using de sweeps, and dat dere am many of dem. Butwaitee a little longer and we see all. P'r'aps de enemy returning hometo search for us."
Lying there upon his face it was not long before Tyler too coulddistinguish some distant sounds, and soon these came to his ear as thesplash of many oars. Then voices could be heard, sweeping up the surfaceof the water, though as yet a bend in the banks of the Sarebus hidthe oncomers from view. Ah! Each of the watchers gave vent to a gaspof surprise, for of a sudden a huge prahu came into sight, her decksloaded with dusky pirates, while, above, an immense spread of sailflapped loosely against her masts. On either side projected some twentylong sweeps, and, propelled by these, she was coming up the stream at awonderful rate. In an instant Tyler recognized her as the vessel whichhad lain in the harbour of Singapore, and the one to which Hanns Schlotthad retreated when beaten back by the Dyak tribe. Nor was it long beforehe caught sight of the rascally leader, the man who had murdered Mr.Beverley, for, thanks to the pace at which she was driven, the prahuwas very quickly sweeping before them, and a glance showed the Dutchmanstanding in his old place at the helm, his eyes fixed upon the town ofPaddi before him.
"He is anxious to learn whether there is any news of us," thought Tyler,"and I am sure that he has not the faintest notion that we are watchinghim at this moment. Wait, my friend, and I will show you that an Englishlad can beat you, even though you have so many villains to count uponand to come to your aid. But what is coming now?"
His gaze left the leading prahu and went back to the bend of theSarebus, round which other vessels were now appearing. But on thisoccasion their progress was slower, though it seemed that they wereemploying a similar number of sweeps. But closer inspection soon showedthe reason, for a rope was seen stretching taut behind the foremost to asecond prahu, which again was made fast to a third.
"Towing something, a prize of some sort," said Tyler, "and in a fewseconds we shall be able to see. Perhaps they have been making a raidupon some of the neighbouring towns, or have captured a prahu sailingwith merchandise from Singapore. By Jove!"
A startled cry escaped his lips as another object came round the bend;and well it might, for, dragged into sight at the tail of the last ofthe three prahus, came a vessel of European build, with high bulwarksand tapering masts, which seemed to strike against the trees whichoverhung the river. On her deck were some ten of the Malays, with longpoles in their hands with which to propel her should she come to shallowwater and show signs of holding there. In addition, four of theircomrades had placed themselves in the bows, and were busily seeing tothe anchor, preparing to let it go.
"Where could the ship have come from? Who was the owner, and what hadbecame of the unfortunate crew?" Tyler found himself wondering vaguely,and attempting to find a solution to the questions. "The last is easyto reply to," he said bitterly. "Hanns and his rascals will have killedthem without
mercy, and will have thrown them overboard. But a Europeanvessel! That must be a prize indeed, and adds another to the manyserious crimes which Hanns Schlott has committed. But they are nearlyat their berth, and we shall see what is to happen; and here are otherprahus coming round the bend."
Breathless with excitement, and almost unable to remain still in hiding,he watched eagerly the scene taking place before his eyes. It wasevident that the pirates were filled with elation at their capture, andthat they had returned to their stronghold in the best of spirits, forthey shouted to one another, and as the walls of the fort were linedwith their women and children, they answered their cries of welcome withthunderous shouts of joy and triumph. Then, as the leading prahu cameopposite the first of the stockades, and within a stone's-throw of theboom across the entrance to the river beside which Tyler was hiding,she was thrown into the wind, the sweeps were taken in, and an anchordropped. Almost at the same moment a big sampan splashed from her deckand Hanns Schlott descended into it.
"Let all come to their moorings and bring our prizes ashore," he calledout so loudly that the words came clearly to the ears of the watchersand were promptly interpreted by Li Sung. "When we have had a meal wewill see to that beggarly Englishman who is journeying this way, and Ishall hope to hear from the men whom we sent towards the mountains thatthey have sighted them, and are merely awaiting our help to fall uponthem and kill every one of the tribe, their leaders included."
Waving his arm to his followers he sprang into the sampan, his bulkyweight causing the frail boat to rock dangerously and ship some water.Then the oarsman, who stood in the stern with a couple of long paddles,the handles of which crossed, bent to his work and ferried his leaderto the forts. A minute later and the rascally Dutchman had disappearedbehind the stockade, and later on was seen to enter the largest of thehuts which lay inside. By now the remaining prahus had reached theirmoorings, and at once a busy scene ensued, the men dropping into theirsampans, which the majority of the vessels had in tow, and taking theropes to the barrels and kegs which floated on the surface of theriver with an anchor or a heavy stone to hold them to the bottom. Asfor the big ship which had fallen a prize, her new crew kept her withhead up-stream, and conscious that she would require more than a singleanchor, for the stream came strong and swift, sent out a couple of extracables which were made fast to trees which grew on the bank. Then theyprepared to leave her and go to their homes.
"Let us hope that they will remain there over the night," said Tyler ina whisper, scarcely able to repress the excitement with which he wasfilled. "Or better, perhaps they will send off a large party to jointhose who have gone to the mountains in search of ourselves, leavingfewer for us to deal with. How many men do you think there are?"
"First count de prahus, massa, and den easy tell. Dey carry fifty toeighty on board, and sometimes more. Plenty men dere, massa."
At once Tyler and the Chinaman set to work to count the prahus assembledat their moorings, and, thanks to the fact that all had come wellround the bend, they had little difficulty at arriving at their correctnumbers.
"Fifty-four prahus," said Tyler with something approaching a groan, forthe odds were desperately against them. "With, say, sixty on board eachthere will be three thousand of the pirates to deal with, and we areonly to be counted as about three hundred. The numbers are dreadfullyagainst us, and were it not for the fact that we hope to take them at adisadvantage, and also that our object is to disappear when they showssigns of collecting together to attack in force, I should feel quitedisheartened. But we shall see."
"And massa him must keep in him mind dat some of dese men havee gone tode mountains, and dat oders will follow dem. Den we plenty fine numbersto fight them, and de Dyaks show dem dat dey have something to punishdem for. Wait a little bitee, massa. De time comee velly velly soon forde Dyaks to shout and laugh, and for de pirate to run. Li him feel vellysure of dat."
The Chinaman gave a knowing nod, and once more turned to the prahusto go over each one again and count them on his fingers, while hisslit-like eyes followed the movements of their crews closely as theyprepared to leave.
"Dey all plenty fine spirit," he said suddenly, as though a thought hadoccurred to him. "Dey havee returned to deir place wid a velly greatship, and dey feel dat dey am rich. Wait, and massa see dat dey go todeir homes and make jolly. To-night dey dance and sing, and de womencome round de watch-fires wid plenty to drink. Den, as de ashes diedown, and all am cold and dark, dey creep into de hut and sleep likepig."
He looked at his young leader with an encouraging smile, and snoredheavily, the better to show his meaning.
"To-night am de time for de Dyaks and for massa," he went on earnestly."Dey creep to dis spot and dey wait and watch. Soon as de fires diedown and de men crawl off to deir beds dey cross de river. Dey go toPaddi like de ghosts, and only de night know. Den massa give one littlesignal, and ebery man of de tribe creep and run dis way and dat intode huts. Take velly little time to kill all of de pirates, and den deDyaks smile and laugh. Dey go to de prahus, and dey cut de ropes. Den inde morning dey find demselves at sea, and plenty soon sail rightee toSarawak."
Carried away by the thought of the possible victory in store forthose in whose company he was, the Chinaman forgot for the moment hisaccustomed tranquillity. His usually impassive features became wrinkledas he indulged in a smile, while he turned to Tyler with questioningeyes as if to demand his approval.
"Can't be done," said the latter curtly, favouring him with a frown."Englishmen do not fight in that manner, and I would never consent tokilling a single one of the pirates while in his sleep. It would bemurder, and that I cannot think of. No, I know well that they deservesuch a death, for who can say how many poor unhappy people the ruffianshave killed in cold blood? Who that does not know all of their doingscan tell how many deaths they are responsible for, what miseries theyhave caused? But men of my country do not make war in such ways. Fightopenly, if at all, is our motto, and it is one which I will carry outto the letter. There shall be no massacre, but if necessary we willfight them for the prahus, and do our best to beat them handsomely. Asto their being overcome by wine to-night, I hope that that may be thecase, for it will help us greatly. We will wait till they are quiet andwill then steal upon their boats. If we are cautious and organize themovement well we shall be able to embark all the woman and children andeach member of the tribe without making a sound and without alarming thepirates. Then we will cut the cables, as you suggested, and drift downupon the stream till we are in the open sea. After that Sarawak shall beour destination, where these poor Dyaks shall find a home. I shall havemore to do then, for at the first opportunity I shall offer to be theguide for an expedition to Paddi, with the object of hunting out thesepests and of capturing their leader. But I see that the majority of thecrews have already set foot ashore, and soon the prahus will be left tothemselves."
Once more there was silence between them, the Chinaman lying there inperplexity, wondering at the words which his leader had given vent to.
"Not take advantage of the pirates, the men who had harmed the Dyaksso often and so severely, and slay them in their beds!" To this man ofthe East it was the maddest and strangest of decisions, and his cunningmind, trained to take advantage of an enemy in any manner, failed tograsp its meaning. "Could his young master have suddenly lost hiswisdom?" he asked himself. "Was it possible that the sight of all thesepirates had brought fear into his heart, so that he refused the onlycourse open to brave men?" For long did Li Sung ponder over the mattertill he was bound to confess that he was bewildered. Indeed, a verylittle consideration had shown him that the Englishman, who alone hadattacked the mias, was not the one to be so easily scared, and then,all through the march, it was Tyler who had shown coolness and courage,and whose fine example of cheerfulness and whose bright view of thefuture had encouraged the tribe of Dyaks, and had converted them from adowntrodden dispirited race to one which was filled with energy and withconfidence in themselves.
"Li
Sung him not see velly fine how you not do as him say," he whisperedin tones of perplexity, taking his pigtail in his hand and twisting itinto a knot. "If not fall on de pirate when him sleep, and when himheavy wid wine, den dey allee escape and de Dutchman come to worry usagain."
"When we shall be fully prepared for him," answered Tyler with a smile."It is useless to suggest such a course as a wholesale massacre, forit is one which I will never consent to. We will beat them fairly andhandsomely, and once we join our friends we will throw our lot in withtheirs and will help them to exterminate these rascals. But I think thatit is almost time that we were moving in the direction of our friends,for if we are to make the attempt to capture their boats to-night weshall have little time to lose. Signal to the other men, Li Sung, andtell them to make ready."
"One little minute, massa. De big ship not empty, and Li him tink datdere someting dere to keep us. De Malays still on board, and dey haveshouted for anoder sampan. Perhaps dey bring de bags of gold which deyhave captured from de English, and look, massa, me see de name of deship."
He pointed to the stern of the captured vessel, which had swung roundwith the stream sufficiently to allow the name painted there to belegible, and instantly Tyler read _The Queen_, Liverpool.
"English!" he gasped. "Then there is all the more reason why I shouldtake her from these men. But wait. What is happening?"
As he spoke, the remaining Malays came running upon deck and wenttowards the side where the sampan lay, with something in their midst.Arrived at the rail they lifted their burden over and returned tothe companion ladder which led to the cabin, only to repeat the samemovement. Then two of their number swung themselves into the boat andbegan to paddle her to the shore. A minute later the little sampan hadswung clear of the vessel's side, and was visible to the watchers, whoat once gave vent to cries of surprise.
"Prisoners!" exclaimed Tyler, starting to his knees and thrusting hishead so far between the leaves that Li Sung placed a warning hand uponhis arm. "White prisoners, too, and, as I live, they are not men."
"The one is little more than a babe, massa," broke in the Chinaman,"while the other is a woman of twenty years."
Not daring to move, lest they should attract attention to themselves,and yet filled with eagerness to rush forth and rescue the haplessprisoners who had fallen into the hands of the pirates, Tyler and hisfollowers watched with staring eyes as the sampan was rowed to theshore. They saw a little girl of some seven years of age lifted from theboat, and gazed with saddened faces as she turned with outstretched handto clasp that of the young woman who accompanied her. Then they watchedas the two white and forlorn figures were led into the stockade and wereushered into a hut.
"Time to be returning," said Tyler suddenly, and in such determinedtones that the Chinaman was startled. "Give the word and let us hurry."
Without waiting for his followers he sprang to his feet and went offthrough the jungle, his brow deeply furrowed and his mind full of thelast scene which he had witnessed.