CHAPTER VI
A Trap for a Trap
That Owen and his companions would indeed have to make the most of thecoming darkness was abundantly clear to all. But how to make the most ofthe time, was a question they asked one another. What could they do?What course could they take? As they lay there beneath the shadow of thebush, following the movements of the Indiaman and of the four nativecraft, the one idea filled their minds--they must escape. They mustleave the shore that very night if ever they were to do so.
"But how? That is the question," blurted out Owen, as if thinking aloud,as he stared first at Jack Simpson, and then into the thoughtful eyes ofMulha. "That is what bothers me. There is the boat below, I know,but----"
"She is heavy, and the labour would be great, sahib," ventured Mulha."Still, when it is a matter of life men can do much, even to pulling aheavy boat far out to sea, for the ship will never dare to lie close into the bay."
"And I own that I feel done up. Completely played out," said Jack,dropping his aching head on his arms. Indeed, a glance at his pale faceshowed that he was feeling the effects of the stunning blow which he hadreceived, and that he told but the truth when he said that he was doneup and of little service where more effort was required.
"Then we shall have to make use of one of the native craft," exclaimedOwen, some minutes later, having meanwhile fixed his eyes upon the scenebelow. "I agree that for three men, one of whom at least is unused tomuch pulling, the feat of rowing a heavy boat like that far out to seais out of the question, and, besides, one of the two is a youngster."
"With plenty of pluck, Owen. Don't forget to add that," burst in Jack."But you wouldn't. I never came across such a modest fellow. You comeaboard, and hide away in odd corners, working like a horse at languageswhich are as dry as dust. Every one thinks you are a timid fellow--a bitof a johnny, you know--and some begin to take advantage of the thought.You put up with a lot, and then one day you select the very biggest ofyour tormentors and give him a jolly good hiding. Afterwards you go onjust the same, still swatting up languages, still unobtrusive, till thisday comes along. And now what sort of a tale have I to tell?"
Jack lifted his pale face from his hands and looked his friend full inthe face, with a quaint little smile on his lips which meant much, whichspoke of the gratitude in his heart, and of more than that--of the faithhe had in Owen, of a regard for him which was fast nearing the point ofgenuine admiration.
"You don't reply," he went on earnestly. "But I will tell you. I saythat you have shown pluck, and that I swear you behaved nobly when thatbeast charged me. More than that. You have taken up this matter in acuriously business-like way all your own, and I shall be surprised ifyou don't contrive to get us out of this mess. As for the boat. It isheavy, I know, but if you say that we must row it out till we are in theopen sea, why, we'll do it. I feel better already since I heard thesuggestion."
But his looks belied the words, for he was still very pale, with blacklines beneath his eyes, and a tired look in the latter which told of hiscondition.
"We could do it if we set our hands to the job," admitted Owen sturdily."But there is another question. Supposing we were followed. We should benowhere, for those beggars carry sweeps. Didn't you see them in use asthe boat left the shore below and ran through the surf?"
A nod from Jack showed that he remembered, while Mulha gave anexclamation of assent.
"The sahib has sharp eyes, which seem to take in everything," he said,dipping his face into his hands in a salaam, a custom which he had whenaddressing Owen. "My master spoke of a native vessel, and perhaps he cansay of which he speaks and how he would use her?"
For a little while there was silence again, all three staring out atthe bay, Jack listlessly and with half-hearted interest, for he feltthoroughly ill, while his head, as he had said some two hours before,ached till it seemed to be on the point of bursting. Mulha squatted onhis heels, in the position loved by the native, and viewed the scenethoughtfully, his eyes every now and again seeking Owen's face as if heexpected to receive help from him. And this in fact was the case. Thenative of India often finds a subtle attraction about the white man, andonce he has cause for devotion is never tired of showing his loyalty andgood feeling. It matters not what is the age of the white man, so longas he displays parts which are attractive to the native and rouse hisadmiration. And Owen had already done that in the case of Mulha. He hadhonoured the Mahrattan exile by chatting with him every day as if hewere a friend and an equal, thereby bringing many hours of unexpectedhappiness. For Mulha's heart was far away in his own country, and hesighed to be back. Then Owen had undoubtedly shown that he was possessedof resource and pluck, and that entirely clinched the matter. He was aborn leader, so said Mulha to himself, and to be obeyed and followedblindly.
"The sahib spoke of a native craft," he ventured again, after a longpause. "What passed in his mind? To me there is but one way out of thisdifficulty, and that even may depart as the darkness falls. There is theboat, and if it remains we can use it. On the other hand, it may wellhappen that the enemy will be before us. In which case----"
"We shall be in a mess," laughed Owen, showing of a sudden unwonted goodspirits. "But I'm hungry. A man fights and struggles better when wellfed than he does when suffering the pangs of hunger. We've plenty ofmeat, and fruit is close at hand. What is to prevent our having a meal?And while it is cooking we can still keep watch. As to the nativecraft--I have my eye on it, Mulha, and I fancy that very soon we shallwant to make the acquaintance of those aboard her. No. I have no planfixed yet, but this I will say, that I mean to reach the ship to-nightif that is possible. Now, what about the grub?"
"There is the deer, sahib, while for me fruit will be sufficient. If youwill remain where you are I will light a fire behind the bushes, and insuch a way that not even the sharpest eyes shall detect it. Then I willbring you a steak and some fruit, which should appease your appetite."
He crawled away through the bush, and Owen watched him as he descendedthe landward side of the rise and walked towards the forest. But he tooklittle note of his movements, for his thoughts were on other matters andother men; and presently his face turned towards the sea once more, andhe stared out at the Indiaman and at the native craft with deeplyfurrowed brows, and with every appearance of perplexity. And as hewatched, the firing of guns ceased altogether, while the native craft,one by one, hauled in their sails and steered back towards the coast.
"Disappointed," he thought. "They must have had information that a bigship had put in here after the storm, and hoped to come upon herunawares. Lucky for all of us that they did not arrive when we werecareened. As it is they have failed, and I should fancy that they willgive up all thoughts of further attack. The question is, do they knowthat there are still some of the ship's company ashore?"
It was a knotty question to solve, and for a long while he pondered overit.
"It looks as though they did not suspect our presence," he thought, "forwould they have left the boat otherwise? On the other hand, they musthave asked themselves why there was a boat ashore at all, and with onlythree men in her. On second thoughts I believe they know that some oneis ashore, and have left the boat, hoping we shall come down and put outtowards the ship, when they will make an easy capture."
"What on earth are you chattering about, old chap?" suddenly exclaimedJack, lifting his head from his arms and staring at his friend. "You'vebeen talking aloud for the last ten minutes, asking all sorts ofquestions, and going on without waiting for a reply. What's it allabout? Look here, I'm lots better. Half an hour ago my head felt as ifit would burst, and I was giddy and almost sick. But the rest has doneme good. What's happening?"
As a matter of fact he had fallen asleep very soon after reaching thetop of the rise, and Mulha and Owen had taken good care to leave himundisturbed. His face was still pale, but there was a brighter lookabout his eyes, the sleep, short though it was, evidently having donehim a world of good.
"I was arguing with myself ab
out those beggars down below. It's a way Ihave," responded Owen apologetically. "I've come to the conclusion thatthey know that some one is still ashore, and that they left the boatbelow to act as a trap. The question arises, then, whether the fliesshould walk into the trap and be taken, or whether they should lay alittle trap of their own? But look at the ship!"
"She's hove-to, and that's a signal, I am sure."
Jack was evidently far brighter and more wide awake, for his arm shotout and he pointed to the Indiaman, lying rocking to and fro some twomiles from the entrance to the bay, and flying a long stream ofbrilliant flags, with a Jack at the top, all seen distinctly, even atthat distance, owing to the wonderfully clear atmosphere.
"If we belonged to the navy we might be able to read the message," saidOwen as he stared at the flags, "but as it is, we can't. I fancy weshould do well to sit quietly where we are and take no notice. You see,they know that we are ashore, for they will have seen the boat attackedand the men in her killed. They will guess that we have kept out of theway, and common sense will tell them that we shall make an effort to getaway from Sumatra. That being so, we can safely leave the signalunanswered. Take note of that little native vessel over there, Jack."
It was his turn to point, and he did so at the very craft which hadleft the shore below, her hands having dragged the ship's boat on to thesand after killing her crew. "She is the one to suit us. She has onesail, as you can see for yourself, and there are barely a dozen menaboard her."
Jack sat up on his elbow and stared at his friend as if he could barelybelieve his ears. Then he scrambled on to hands and knees and crawledclose up to him.
"What game are you after?" he asked in a whisper, as if he feared thatthe enemy below would hear. "You don't intend to make a dash,--byGeorge! if you do, I'm with you. I don't care if you don't explain. Ifyou think that that will help us, why, I'm in with you and will help allI know."
"Dinner," said Owen with a laugh. "Can you eat anything now? I'm ashungry as a hunter. We'll sit here, and watch the boats as we eat.That's grand, Mulha."
He smiled in Jack's face, refusing to answer one of his questions, foras yet his plans were not matured. He had an idea, that was all, and hemeant to ponder on it for a time. The sergeant had taught him to thinkwhere there was time to do so, before taking action, to look, in fact,before making a leap; and in such a serious position as this was hedetermined to do nothing that was rash or would lead to disaster. Itwas, therefore, with a light-hearted laugh that he turned to Mulha asthe native came towards them, and eagerly looked at the food he broughtwith him. This native seemed to have a thousand virtues, and one ofthose was concerned with the art of cooking. He had retired to theforest, some hundred yards behind the spot where they were lying, andthere, with the aid of flint and steel, he had soon set fire to ahandful of brittle wood. Dried sticks piled on that had soon burst intoflame, and within a few minutes the good fellow had had a couple of finesteaks, cut from the deer, skewered on his ramrod and frizzling over theembers. And now he brought the meal, on a fresh palm-leaf, smoking andhot, and wonderfully appetising. Then he had filled Owen's flask withwater, and had not forgotten to bring a bunch of bananas. Our hero'smouth watered, for the unwonted exercise, the excitement of theirhunting adventures, and of the scene which they had been watching, hadgiven him a healthy appetite. Even Jack was so far recovered by the restas to declare himself ready. They sat down close together, with aboulder only intervening, and on this the palm-leaf dish was placed.Each had a good-sized pocket-knife, and with these they cut up theslices, transferring the pieces to their mouths with their fingers.
"Made before forks, you know," laughed Jack, looking a comical object ashe sat there in front of his friend, a faint tinge of pink in his cheeksnow, but with his head still swathed in Owen's coloured handkerchief.
"This is a picnic. Who would have thought that we should have had such atime! But I was forgetting those poor fellows down there. They have hadlittle cause to bless the pirates."
"And we may have still less," Owen reminded him. "But we're alive, andwe're going to win through. You asked me what I meant when I pointed tothe boat down yonder."
Jack leaned towards him eagerly, while Mulha went down on his heels andstared into the white youth's face.
"Yes. Go on. What were you thinking of? How could her capture help us?"Jack asked eagerly.
"There will be a moon late to-night," said Owen thoughtfully. "If wecould get aboard that craft in time, and without much noise, we couldeasily make out to sea and so fall in with the ship. I've beencalculating. I had forgotten the moon till a little while ago, and thenI reflected that if we started directly it was dark the chances werethat we should get out of the bay before the light came. I reckon it tobe an eight miles' pull. Well, supposing we reached the edge of the baywhen the moon got up----"
"We might still fall into the hands of the enemy, sahib," interruptedMulha. "These robbers below, if they have left the boat to tempt us,will think, perhaps, that it will take us a little while to gathercourage for the attempt. They will rely upon the moon rising before weare near our friends. They would pounce down upon us, and then----"
"You need not go on," said Jack with a shudder and a comical grimace;"we can guess. Cut-throats have many ways of dealing with their enemies,but they all lead to the same end. I see the drift of Owen Sahib'sargument. The chances are that we should be taken, for the boat is veryheavy and the ship far out now."
"While the attempt to reach her would be a natural one on our part, andit is more than likely that these rogues will expect us to make it,"went on Owen. "That being so, a little surprise might help us. There arethree of us, and we are armed. I propose that we cut three stout cudgelsor bludgeons before the light goes, and that we slip down to the boatthe instant it is dark. We will push her into the water as quietly as wecan, and paddle gently towards that craft I have selected. Her consortsare at least four miles away, and if there is a rumpus the noise may notbe heard. Of course we must beat these fellows and get possession. Afterthat we'll up anchor and away."
The scheme had much to recommend it, but not a single one of the three,however sanguine he might be, could hide the fact from himself or hisfriends that the enterprise was a desperate one. There were perhaps adozen cut-throats aboard the native craft, and they themselves numberedthree.
"But we shall have the advantage of surprise," said Jack, as theydiscussed the matter; "and after all, we have no other choice. I followyour arguments entirely now. The boat is out of the question. We shouldnearly certainly be discovered and killed."
They sat down beneath the bush again and watched, while the light waned,slowly at first and then more rapidly. And meanwhile Mulha slipped awayinto the forest, and returned before it was dark with three finecudgels. He made a second trip, and came staggering back with theirtrophies, which he placed at their feet.
"In case we are detained aboard, sahibs," he said, with a grave smile."There is the deer for you, while there are bananas here for me. We willfill the flask also."
Just before it got dark a movement was noticed aboard the smaller of thecraft, the one which Owen had selected for their expedition. A tinyskiff dropped from her side, and three men lowered themselves into her,and taking up the paddles went away out to the three larger craft, whichstill stood backwards and forwards some miles from the shore. Then asecond skiff left her side, with four men aboard, who at once rowed forthe shore.
"They have to make farther along the coast," said Owen as he watchedtheir movements. "They intend to land, and cannot do so here as the surfis too rough for them. They will come along later to the boat, and if wehave put out they will signal. That is their object, I should say, andit raises another difficulty. As for the others, I suspect that theyhave gone to the captain of these ships to tell him of the plans theyhave made. We shall have to be very cunning and very quick if we are toget out of this mess."
The sight of the second skiff had indeed damped their hopes andambitions considerably, for the
arrival of men ashore would considerablyupset the plans they had made.
"All depends on the time it takes them to get ashore and along to theboat," said Jack, with something approaching a groan, for he had hadsufficient dangers and difficulties to contend with that day.
"And also upon the time we take to launch the boat below and get out tothe pirate. If we are there before these beggars send their signal, allthe better, and remember there can be only five or six aboard her now.If we're still on our way things will not be so prosperous nor nearly sorosy as we had hoped. Still, our chances will not be spoiled."
"Unless the men ashore hear the noise of the conflict, sahibs," venturedMulha. "Then their signals would be sent to the ships, and our taskwould be even harder. We should have to run the gauntlet of threefast-sailing craft, armed with guns. The fourth does not count, for shelies at anchor, her masts having been shot away."
"Then we'll have to make a small alteration," exclaimed Owen quietly."You will both back me up, I know."
"Through thick and thin. Give the order, old chap, and I will certainlyfollow."
"And I too, sahib. You can trust in Mulha."
"We'll make a move, then. Pick up the stick, Mulha, and come along downto the beach. Wait, though; are the guns loaded?"
"Both are fully charged," answered the native.
"Then draw the bullets and powder. This job must be managed silently.There must be no accidental letting off of guns or intentional shooting.We'll use our cudgels. If a fellow runs at you, Jack, catch him a crackacross the shins and then give him one over the head. Don't shout. Ourgame is to make as little noise as possible."
They waited a few minutes longer while Mulha drew the charges from theguns. And even then Owen stood still, listening to the boom of the surfbelow, and trying vainly to discover the whereabouts of the men who hadlast set off from the native craft. But Sumatra was buried in darkness,which blotted out the forest behind, the ships, and the water. Athousand stars shone out from the heavens, and their reflections couldbe watched in the water. But they gave little light, and in any caseinsufficient to show the whereabouts of any of the enemy.
"As good for us as for them," said Owen at last. "But there's just oneother matter that has occurred to me. It will be pitch dark aboard thatboat. How are we to avoid striking one another?"
Mulha made no reply, but as they stood there in the darkness they heardthe sharp sound of ripping linen, and guessed that he was tearing somepart of his clothing. Then he came to each in turn and bound a strip ofwhite material about the left arm.
"One moment, sahibs, while I step away from you," he said. "It will dowell," he went on, as he returned. "I can see the strips at a few yards,and that should be amply sufficient. Now, Owen Sahib, I will help withthe load."
They set off for the shore, our hero in advance, and Jack followingclosely on the steps of the native. And presently they were trudgingacross the sand, here loose and soft, into which they sank almost totheir ankles. Owen had so far kept his face directed to the sea, to thespot where he imagined the ship's boat to lie. But now that the sandwas reached he turned abruptly to the right and struck off along thebay. It was a strange manoeuvre, and at once brought low-voicedexclamations from his companions.
"Are you not leading us far to one side?" whispered Jack, hasteningforward and laying a warning hand on his friend's sleeve. "We shouldhave marched straight on, to get to the boat."
"And now the sahib will need to turn about and search carefully. I hadmarked the exact spot in my mind's eye, but the turn has put me out ofmy reckoning."
"And I went this way on purpose," answered Owen, dropping his end of thestick for the moment "Look here, I've been thinking about this littlebusiness, and I don't like the idea of our leaving being signalled tothe ships by the rascals who have come ashore; for I take it that theyhave just about landed by now. I wondered whether it wouldn't be wise toleave the ship's boat lying where they dragged her and make along up thecoast. Then they'll find her, and will imagine that we have funked itand are still here."
"But how on earth can that help us?" gasped Jack, his tones lowered to awhisper. "What are we to do along the coast? We want to reach the ship,and the boat seems to be the only way of getting there."
"Hardly," replied Owen calmly. "There's another boat. What's to preventour making along and letting these gentlemen pass us? They have comeashore as we did. Their skiff will be lying on the sands. Why shouldn'twe borrow it? It would come in very handy, and then, when we got out tothe native craft we should just be returning friends, you know, notescaping Englishmen landed from the Indiaman. It strikes me as being agood idea."
"Good! By George! it's splendid! The very thing for us."
Jack tossed his cap in the air and would have shouted had not Mulhagiven vent to a warning word.
"Let us be careful, sahib," he said, betraying little astonishment atthe news of their altered plans. "Remember that these men may now benear at hand. Let all be silent save Owen Sahib, who only shall giveorders. What next, sahib? The plan reads well. To lay a trap for a trapis but fair dealing."
"Then forward," said Owen, "and listen. In a little while we will creepaside into the forest."
Some ten minutes later they crept quietly into the fringe of the forest,which here grew close down to the water, and threw themselves on theirfaces. And presently some stealthy figures crept past, on their way tothe boat, never suspecting that the men for whom they searched werewatching them. Then the trio rose to their feet, and striking out on tothe sandy beach again cut straight along it, their eyes searching thedull white line, where the surf broke upon the sand, for signs of theskiff by means of which the enemy had landed.
Jones of the 64th: A Tale of the Battles of Assaye and Laswaree Page 7