In the grip of the Mullah: A tale of adventure in Somaliland

  CHAPTER VI

  ON AFRICAN SHORES

  There was no doubt that Jim had good cause to be thankful, for his hadbeen an extremely narrow escape; and as he turned away from hiscompanion, he was quite overcome at the thought, for this was the veryfirst time he had known what it was to be face to face with death.Burying his face in his hands, so that Tom should not see his emotion,he stood there, leaning upon the bulwark, for at least five minutes.Then suddenly he roused himself, and went to join his comrade, whorespecting his feelings, had walked away to the other side of the deck.

  "Well, Tom," he said cheerfully, "the expedition has so far proved anundoubted success, and this gun-runner is safely in our hands. The nextquestion to be considered is what we are to do with her. You said thatyou would probably sail her back to Aden; but doesn't it seem a shame,now that we are almost within sight of Africa, to return to ourstarting-point?"

  "It does, Jim; and I am in hopes that that will not be necessary. As faras I have been able to make out, we have held steadily upon our coursesince we left Aden; and in that case the gunboat should soon catch usup. I propose that we remain where we are until she comes up with us,and then we'll ask them to do us the favour of taking us on to Berbera.They'll be glad enough to help us, for this capture will appear in theirnames, and will be a feather in the captain's cap, though he will notfail to give us the credit that is due to us. You see, it wouldn't do topublish the full facts of the case, for, if the natives learnt that Ihad a hand in the capture, my life would not be worth an hour'spurchase, and I should have to leave Aden for good and all. But, Isay----"

  "What?" asked Jim. "You were about to suggest something."

  "About those fellows there, old man," Tom replied, pointing to thebodies of the natives.

  "They're not very pleasant objects to look at, Tom; and if you think itright, I vote that we tie some weights to them and throw them over theside. Half a dozen guns should be sufficient if we cannot find anythingbetter. What do you think of the plan?"

  "It will have to be done sooner or later, Jim, and I think had better becarried out at once. Let's slip down into the hold and see what we canfind. But--that would not do, for there is no trusting these nativebeggars; and it's more than possible that while we were beneath decksthey would play a trick upon us."

  "That has occurred to me, too, Tom; but from the look of them, I don'tthink we have much to fear. They are thoroughly cowed, and go in terrorof our revolvers. I'll wait here at the stern while you go below. Justorder the master to go forward, so that I can keep an eye upon both ofthem. If they show signs of wishing to attack me, I'll shout, and youcan hop up to my help."

  "That will do famously," answered Tom. "Look here," he continued,addressing the late commander of the dhow, who stood a few paces away,watching his captors through the corners of his eyes, "get away forwardto your comrade, and sit upon the deck. If either of you attempts tomove, you will be shot. So take good care to keep absolutely still, formy friend is a capital shot, as you have been able to see for yourself."

  The precaution was a wise one; but a glance at the two prisoners showedthat it was scarcely necessary, for all their courage had fled. Indeed,at the mention of Jim's prowess with the revolver, they shiveredvisibly, while their eyes wandered to the two figures lying upon thedeck.

  "You can trust us to be still," said the master humbly. "We have seenyour bravery, and know that we are beaten. Promise that you will spareour lives."

  "I can make no promise at all," answered Tom sternly. "You have beencaught in the act of carrying arms to the Mullah, and in aiding theenemies of the Government, and to the latter you must answer."

  "What is the talk about?" asked Jim at this moment; for, being entirelyignorant of the language, he could not even guess the drift of theconversation. "I hear you chatting away to these fellows, and long to beable to join in and understand what is said. I've quite made up my mindthat, at the first opportunity, I shall begin to take lessons."

  "He is asking me to promise them their lives," explained Tom, "and Ihave told him that it is impossible, and that someone else will have todo that for them."

  "But you could say that you would speak for them," exclaimed Jim, asudden thought occurring to him.

  "And why? You seem to forget, old boy, that a few minutes ago thesefellows were doing their best to kill us. And now you want to help themto escape the punishment which they have earned."

  Tom became quite indignant at Jim's words, and turned away from himimpatiently, as if it angered him to listen.

  "Steady. Wait until you have heard all that I have to say," cried Jim,catching him by the arm and detaining him. "Did you not tell me that oneof the crew knew more than he would admit about that white prisoner ofthe Mullah?"

  "Yes, that is the case," answered Tom, unable as yet to follow hiscompanion's meaning.

  "Well," continued Jim eagerly, "these fellows deserve to lose theirlives, but, you know, the Government are no more fond of hanging peoplethan we are. You could, therefore, safely say to them that you wouldspeak on their behalf on certain conditions. Don't you see my pointnow?"

  "By Jove! Of course, I do, Jim! What a duffer I am, to be sure! I'll seewhat I can do at once."

  They went along the deck towards the natives, who watched themfurtively, fearful of what was coming, and expecting at any moment to beshot where they sat.

  "I have talked this matter over with my friend," said Tom sternly,addressing the man who had commanded the captured dhow. "We both agreethat we should be within our rights if we shot you. But you have askedme to promise you your lives, and I am inclined to do so on certainconditions. The first is that you solemnly promise to remain faithful tous until we hand you over to the Government; and the second, that youtell us all you know about this white man who recently fell into thehands of the Mullah."

  "We shall fall in with your wishes gladly," replied the native, scarcelyable to repress a shout of joy. "We solemnly declare that we will betrue to you, and will not venture to attack you. As for the othermatter, we do not know much, but we have heard that the prisoner was asoldier, what the Hindoos in Aden call a 'sahib.'"

  "He says that the prisoner was an officer," explained Tom, turning toJim, so that he should be able to follow the conversation.

  "Ask him if he heard the name," was the eager reply.

  "My friend wishes to know more," said Tom, continuing his interrogation."What was the name of this prisoner?"

  "That I cannot say; but he was 'sahib' and 'colonel,' so the man whotold me of his capture said."

  Jim was listening eagerly, vainly endeavouring to understand all thatpassed, and he could have leapt for joy when Tom translated the man'sanswer.

  "That settles it, then," he said. "Up to this there has been some doubtas to whether my father was the man who reached shore alive, but now Iam certain that it was he; for I have been through the list ofpassengers, and there was only one colonel on board, and he, of course,was Colonel Hubbard."

  "I think you are right in what you say," answered Tom, after a pause. "Imust confess that, until this moment, I have been very doubtful, far Ihappen to know that nine British officers out of ten wear a watchbracelet upon their wrists. It is a habit which seems to have becomegeneral during the Boer war. Still, the fact that this survivor wastall, and in other respects corresponded with your father, made itpossible that it would turn out to be he. Now, however, the question issettled, for, no doubt, when the Mullah's men captured him he gave hisname, hoping that that would cause them to release him. They know quitesufficient of the British to feel sure that a colonel is a man of someimportance, and they must have boasted of it. That's how the news hasgot to this fellow's ears. Yes, I think you may take it as certain thatyour father is the white prisoner spoken of, for if not, who else couldit be?"

  "There is no doubt about it," answered Jim emphatically. "I was neververy doubtful, and now any fears I may have had are absolutely set atrest. But ask him more, Tom. For instance, perhaps he knows wher
e fatherhas been taken, and whether he is being well treated."

  Turning again to the native, Tom plied him with question after question,and was able to elicit the fact that the white prisoner was constantlywith the Mullah, who often changed his whereabouts. Also that he actedas a slave, but was safe for the time being.

  "How long he will continue to be sure of his life I cannot say," themaster continued thoughtfully. "But I feel certain that if the Mullahsuffers at the hands of the British troops, he will avenge himself byslaying the white man. Indeed, I wonder at his allowing him to remainalive so long, for all those who are not of his own colour and religionare his bitter enemies, and he slays them without remorse."

  "So you can feel easy about his safety for a time," said Tom, as hediscussed the facts with Jim; "we know that the Government is makingpreparations for a general advance, and that nothing can be done tillall is absolutely ready. I should say that we have quite two months, andperhaps more than that, in which to effect his rescue."

  "We must try to do it in two weeks, if that is at all possible," saidJim with decision. "You see, there is always an element of doubt, anduntil my father is out of the Mullah's hands, I do not think we can everconsider him out of danger. These native beggars are cruel andcapricious; at least, so I have always been given to understand. Hemight order his prisoner to be killed in his rage at hearing that theBritish were preparing to attack him, and even might make the capture ofthese guns sufficient excuse to execute father. It is horrible toimagine such a thing."

  "Don't be down-hearted, old boy," exclaimed Tom encouragingly. "If youallow yourself to think in that way, you will be miserable. Make up yourmind that your gov'nor is alive and well, and badly in need of hisfreedom; and that you are going to bring it to him. That's the way tolook at the matter."

  "You're right," answered Jim with a sigh of relief.

  "Better look at the bright side of things, and just put all one's backinto the task. Yes, that is the way, I'm sure; and by Jove! I'll do asyou advise, and what's more, I'll rescue father, or die in the attempt."

  "Spoken like a man! If you say that you'll carry the job outsuccessfully, I am sure that that is half the battle, and that you willget along ever so much better. I can tell you this, that I will help youto the best of my power, for this expedition has taken my fancy; andbesides, Jim, I owe you something. Remember that half an hour ago yousaved my life. I want to pay back the debt, you know; and how could I doit better than by standing beside you in this affair?"

  There was no doubt that Tom was thoroughly in earnest, for he spoke witha vigour to which his companion was unused, and to show how deeply hefelt, grasped him firmly by the hand.

  "Thank you," Jim answered, returning the clasp with one as warm. "As tothe debt, I fancy that we are quits, for, had you not stood by me, weshould both have been like those two poor fellows there. Let's get ridof them. I cannot bear to look at them, for it reminds me that it was Iwho caused their death."

  "Right. We'll set these two natives to work, for they will understand itbetter."

  Tom beckoned to the master, and gave him instructions to tie half adozen guns to each corpse, and then consign them to the sea. When thatnecessary but unpleasant task was satisfactorily accomplished, heordered the two prisoners into the bows again, and retired with Jim tothe stern, from which point of vantage they could keep a watch upontheir prisoners. Not that that was necessary now, for the promise thathe would speak on their behalf, made by Tom, had put the natives ontheir best behaviour. Indeed, unbidden, they began to sweep the decks,and then suggested that they should prepare some food.

  "We have taken nothing to break our fast," said the master, coming tothem as they sat by the tiller. "Is it your wish that I and my comradeshould go in search of something with which to stave off our hunger?"

  "You can go, certainly," answered Tom readily; "but one at a time. Itdoes not matter what it is so long as there is sufficient, for we arebadly in want of food."

  In a short time the master returned and placed before them a plate ofdried meat and some pieces of wheaten cake. This they devoured with theutmost satisfaction, completing the repast with a copious draught ofcool water. Then both rose to their feet, and began to patrol the deck,for after having lived ashore for the greater part of one's existence,the craving for movement, for exercise of some description, when aboarda ship of such small proportions as the dhow, is very great. Half anhour later Jim gave vent to a sudden shout of joy and pointed astern.

  "What do you make of that?" he asked in excited tones.

  "No, not there, but more to the left."

  Stretching out his arm so that his companion could follow the direction,he pointed to the horizon, where a faint streak of dark colour wasvisible. Tom looked at it for some minutes without answering, but atlast he turned to Jim with smiling features, which told that he hadguessed at the origin of the cloud.

  "It's the gunboat, sure enough," he said, "and I tell you that it liftsa weight from my mind. You see, things have been rather uncertain, andthere is no doubt that we have been in great danger. Of course, we camethrough this scuffle remarkably well, but if that pirate fellow hadturned up again we should have been in a nasty mess. There can be nodoubt that the patch of dark colour on the horizon is a steamer of somesort, and I fancy it will turn out to be the gunboat, for this is rightout of the track of ordinary shipping, and though a few steamers arejust now engaged in bringing stores to Berbera for the Mullah'sexpedition, I happen to know that none were leaving Aden during thisweek. So we can take it for certain that that is the gunboat, and I cantell you I am jolly glad. Won't it be grand when she comes alongside andfinds the capture already made!"

  "It ought to get you promotion, at any rate," answered Jim. "After all,when you come to look at the matter quietly, you must admit that it wasrather a risky thing to do. Who else would have thought of making up asa Somali native and shipping aboard the very dhow upon the capture ofwhich you were bent? Mind you, I take no credit to myself for that partof the adventure. It was you who planned the whole thing, and I thinkyou deserve no end of praise. But, I say, look at her again."

  By now the dark streak had developed into a low-lying hull, which wasfast coming up from the horizon. Very soon a stumpy mast could be seen,poking up barely into the blue sky, and, within twenty minutes, Jim andTom could even make out her guns, two of which stood amidships, andformed her only broadside, an amply sufficient one in such waters. Halfan hour had barely passed before the gunboat came rushing alongside,surging through the swell, and sending the foam seething in a broad bandof white from her cut-water. Then she put her helm hard over, andturning upon her heel in the space of a few seconds, and with a heavewhich caused her to roll her scuppers into the sea, she came up on theother quarter, and lay to, with the muzzle of one of her quick-firersgrinning at the occupants of the dhow.

  "Dhow ahoy!" came in stentorian tones. "Who's that?" shouted Tom inreply, springing upon the bulwark to obtain a better look. "Is itHumphreys?" "Yes; and who are you?" "Government agent from Aden," sangout Tom, refraining from giving his name, for, had he done so, thenatives would have heard, and it would have become common propertybefore very long. "I want to hand over this vessel to you. She's full ofcheap guns, which were going to the Mullah. We've a couple of prisoners,too."

  "Bravo! Congratulate you!" was shouted from the gunboat, while at thesame moment a figure, clad from head to foot in snowy white, leapt uponthe diminutive bridge and signalled to the dhow. "We'll come rightalongside, and then you can slip aboard, and give us the tale. Anycasualties?"

  "None, I'm glad to say, though one, if not both, of us, was nearlykilled. But we shot two of the crew, and threw their bodies overboardhalf an hour ago."

  "Look out for us now," was shouted from the gunboat. "If you have a ropefender, or two, you might sling them overboard. Our plates are too thinto stand bumping, even against the wooden sides of your dhow."

  Jim saw the commander of the gunboat grasp the handle of the telegraph,an
d, so short was the distance intervening between the two vessels, thathe could actually hear the tinkle of the bell sounding down in theengine-room. Then the screws whirled around, the blades churning thewaters of the gulf into white foam, which went hissing and frothingalong the sides of the vessel as she ran astern. Five minutes later, shewas securely fastened to the dhow, great care being taken to placeseveral thick rope fenders between the vessels, together with some fibrematting which happened to be aboard the dhow. No sooner was all to hisliking than the captain of the gunboat stepped on to the bulwark of hisown vessel, and leapt lightly upon the deck of the one which Jim and hiscompanion had contrived to capture. A particularly smart officer helooked, too, in his spruce and neatly cut white drill-clothing. Comingforward, with outstretched hand, he advanced towards Tom with a smile ofwelcome.

  "Glad to see you--heartily glad to see you!" he said. "'Pon my word,when the Governor told me for what I was wanted, and packed me offpost-haste last night, I quite thought I was on a wild-goose chase. Itseemed to me that you and your young friend must have run your headsinto a perfect hornets'-nest, and I tell you, had I come across yourbodies floating in the sea, I should not have been by any meansastonished. But I'm bound to say that the Governor, though fullyrealizing the extent of the danger, thought far better of your chancesthan I did. You see, I've often met you before and known you in the Clubat Aden as a clerk in the Civil Service, and as a particularly goodbilliard-player. And to hear suddenly that you were an Intelligenceofficer, who was notorious for success in worming out the secrets of thenatives, was quite astonishing, for you must understand that I alwayslooked upon you as a peaceful sort of fellow."

  "And so I am," laughed Tom. "You see, I've lived the best part of mylife in Aden, so that to appear as a native is nothing out of the wayfor me. I am so thoroughly used to it that I run very little danger. Butit's different with my friend here, for he is only just from school, anddoesn't understand a word of the language, and yet he boldly came withme; and if it had not been for his help, I can honestly say that thiswould have proved my last adventure. But he turned out trumps, andproved to be as cool and steady as an old hand, and thoroughly pluckyinto the bargain. But, I say, let me introduce him. Jim Hubbard--CaptainHumphreys."

  "Glad to meet you, and I congratulate you on coming so well out of yourfirst engagement," said the officer, gripping Jim by the hand. "Neverbeen under fire before, I suppose, and never seen men fighting in realearnest?"

  "Never!" answered Jim, returning the handshake with equal fervour; forthe captain of the gunboat was an open-hearted, cheery individual, towhom one was bound to take on the instant. "I must admit, too, that theexperience for the first time was far from pleasant; and if it hadn'tbeen that the fighting came suddenly, and before I was really preparedfor it, I am sure I should have been in a regular funk. You see, waitingalways did upset me. I was the same at school when I was in for alicking, and had orders to attend in a few hours at the Doctor's study.I'm too impatient, I suppose, and employ the interval in imagining allkinds of awful things. But I'm sorry to say that I killed two of thenatives during the struggle."

  Jim looked the captain steadily in the face, and then flushed guiltily,for it appeared to him a terrible admission to have to make.

  "I know what you feel, my lad," was the hasty answer, given with anencouraging smack upon the back. "But that's the fortune of war, youknow, and everyone has the same regrets at first. Why, I remember howterribly upset I was when I sent a bullet into the body of a rascallyslave-dealer. It thoroughly unnerved me when I looked at the fellowafterwards. But my chief took me aside, and just put the matter to me asI have to you. You may take it from me, that if you engage in adventuresof this sort, you will kill more men before you have done, though alwaysin self-defence. It's just that that helps one to get over the feeling."

  "And now about the dhow," interposed Tom. "She's full up to her hatcheswith cheap guns and ammunition, and I now hand her over to you. Inreturn, I ask you, if you possibly can, to take us to Berbera, for weare bound for Africa."

  "So the Governor told me, and you may rely on it that I shall do as youask, for I know how important it is for you both to make an early startinto the interior. You say that the dhow is full of cheap arms. If thatis the case, they are unlikely to prove of any use to the Government,and we should not be thanked for bringing them back. I'll just popbelow, and look for myself, and then we'll put a charge of gun-cottoninto her and blow her to pieces. It will be the cheapest and best planin the end. But you may rely upon it, Dixon, that I shall make a fullreport to the Governor, and if there is no promotion in your particularbranch, then I prophesy that your salary will be increased, for thereis no doubt that this is a most important capture. Indeed, had all theseguns reached the Mullah, so many more lives would be lost in the comingexpedition. So you can see for yourself what good service you havedone."

  "It's very good of you to say so, Humphreys," answered Tom, "and I willonly ask you, while mentioning the fact to the Governor, to be sure thatmy name is not published in connection with the capture, for it isimportant for me to continue to be known as a simple clerk in the CivilService."

  The captain of the gunboat readily assented to this proposal, and then,stepping along the deck, quickly disappeared through the hatchway. Tenminutes later he appeared again, and returned aboard his own vessel. Anorder was given, and within a short while a couple of seamen went intothe hold of the dhow, where they remained for half an hour. Meanwhile,the lashings which connected the two vessels were cast off, the fendersand matting removed, and all aboard the dhow, except the men who wereplacing the fuse, were ordered to leave and take up their quarters uponthe gunboat. Five minutes later the two British tars appeared, and whenthey had joined their own ship again, she sheered off from the low-lyinggun-runner. When she had run a mile at the top of her speed, she wentabout, and stopped her engines. And there, with eyes fixed upon thedistant vessel, all waited for the explosion that was to rend her topieces and send her cargo to the bottom.

  Bang! The roar of the bursting fuse could be loudly heard, followed by aspurt of fire which rose high into the air, accompanied by a densecolumn of smoke. As the latter cleared away, all looked to see what hadbecome of the dhow, but not a vestige of her was to be seen.

  "The Mullah will grieve for her, and will grind his teeth with rage whenhe learns that the freight of guns and ammunition is lost to him,"laughed Captain Humphreys. "But we can smile, for we have done a goodturn to those who are going with the expedition. And now, I want to askyou young fellows whether you intend to land as you are. If you wouldprefer to change into European costume, I have plenty of togs aboardwhich will fit you, and to which you are heartily welcome."

  For the moment neither answered, but each looked at the other, as ifawaiting a reply.

  "I've been thinking the matter out," said Jim at length, "and I've cometo the conclusion that we should be wise to make no alteration in ourdress. Secrecy seems to me to be the object at which we particularlyaim. Now, if we take advantage of your kind offer, and appear asEnglishmen, our coming will certainly be noticed at Berbera."

  "No doubt about it, Hubbard," said Captain Humphreys decisively. "LikeAden, Berbera has a very large native population, consisting, for themost part, of Arabs. The landing of a couple of Somali men would passunnoticed, whereas it is perfectly certain that each white man causes astir. He becomes the subject of conversation in the bazaars, and if hismission to the town is not perfectly clear, it sets every nativewondering. Of course, if you were officers come to join the troopsthere, you would arouse no further interest. But as you are not that,and not traders, then for what reason have you come to Berbera? That'show these fellows look at such a matter, and they're cute enough andcurious enough to go more deeply into it. Therefore, I think you will bewise to make no change in your dress."

  "And I fully agree," cried Tom. "Our aim, as Jim has just said, is toarouse no curiosity, and to maintain our incognito. That can be bestdone by appearing as Somal
i natives. Once ashore, we can go to theConsul's to tell him our plans, and from there we shall strike straightaway for the camp, where Ali Kumar awaits us with the followers. Thesame night we shall disappear, and when we have received our baggage andstores, and put a day's march between ourselves and the coast-line, wecan get rid of this paint and these long white robes, and reappear inour ordinary costume."

  "And now for a meal!" interposed the commander of the gunboat. "I expectyou two fellows will be glad of one, for the grub aboard that dhow musthave been of the coarsest. Let me see, it's a hundred and forty milesfrom Aden across to Berbera, and I reckon we have already steamed thegreater part of the distance. By the time we come on deck again thecoast should be in sight, and shortly after noon we should be at ourdestination."

  Accordingly, the trio descended to the tiny cabin, where they did amplejustice to an excellent luncheon. Then they chatted for an hour beforegoing on deck again. When they did so, it was to discover a low-lyingcoast before them, with purple headlands, and a long range of hazy bluehills in the distance. Indeed, at the first glance, it was ahospitable-looking coast, for the sand-dunes and the desolate, treelesswastes were not visible. Soon Berbera itself was sighted, and thegunboat was headed for the harbour, which seemed to be filled withtrading dhows, and with a few steamers of small size, which had comethere with stores for the troops. Half an hour later they were safelymoored inside.

  Jim and his companion took farewell of the captain, and watched him ashe was rowed to the tumble-down pier which did duty as a landing-place.Then, as the dusk of evening fell, they put off in a small dinghy whichthe gunboat carried, and were landed at a deserted part of the town.Stealing away in the darkness, they were soon lost among the Arabstreets, and had the satisfaction of feeling that their expedition wasto begin under the best auspices. For who would take the trouble toenquire about them? Captain Humphreys had impressed upon his men theneed for silence, while the two prisoners who had been captured with thedhow could do them no harm, for they were at that moment in ironsbeneath the deck of the gunboat, and likely to remain there until theywere thrown into prison at Aden.

  It was, therefore, in the highest spirits that they sauntered throughthe town, and made their way towards the British Consul's.