Sandokan: The King of the Sea (The Sandokan Series Book 5)

by Emilio Salgari

  “They’ll be safer aboard my ship.”

  “The governor doesn’t want to take the risk. Should you be attacked, there’d be no guarantee of victory, and the prisoners are too valuable to lose. The rajah agrees. By keeping them hostage, they hope to keep Sandokan in check. Otherwise that old pirate could start an insurrection among the land Dyaks as he did during James Brooke’s reign.”

  Sir Moreland fell silent as he pondered the lieutenant’s words.

  “I also desire that Darma and Tremal-Naik remain in our hands,” he said finally, a strange tone in his voice.

  He rubbed his brow nervously and sighed.

  “Fate,” he mumbled.

  Yanez studied him closely.

  What the devil? he thought. Could the captain have fallen for Darma? By God, he’s a handsome young man, full of vim and vigour, seems loyal as well. Let’s test the waters...

  “Well, Captain,” he said, “what’s your decision?”

  “The governor may be right,” Sir Moreland replied, after another brief silence. “The prisoners might be at risk aboard my ship; you can never predict the outcome of a battle, especially when you’re dealing with the Tigers of Mompracem. I have complete faith in my ship and her crew, she’s equipped with the latest cannons and artillery; but we do not know what this steamship is like nor do we know the strength of her weaponry. She may be more than a match for us. Do you think they know where my Sambas is anchored?”

  “Is that the name of your ship?”

  “Yes,” replied the captain.

  “The governor suspects so. Sandokan may be planning to attack her at any moment.”

  “Then I’ll entrust the two prisoners to you; can you assure me they’ll be safe?”

  “I’ll keep to the coast and sail close to the reefs. The water isn’t very deep there; their steamship would never get near us. I’ll answer for them, Captain.”

  “You should set off immediately to take advantage of the darkness.”

  “I was just going to propose the very thing, Sir Moreland,” said Yanez, barely able to hide his joy.

  “How many men do you have?”

  “Ten here and two in the roadstead.”

  “If you set off now, you’ll be in Kohong before dawn.”

  “And you, Captain?”

  “Once my ship is recoaled, I’ll set sail and attempt to find the Tiger of Malaysia. I have a strong desire to measure myself against him.”

  “I didn’t realize this was personal, sir.”

  “I have no tolerance for pirates,” replied the captain. “Now follow me.”

  He opened the door and re-entered the dining room where Tremal-Naik and Darma patiently awaited them.

  “Prepare to leave,” he said, his eyes dwelling upon the young woman.

  “Where are you taking us, Captain?” asked Tremal-Naik.

  “I’ve received orders to have you taken to Kohong.”

  “Is the fort under threat?”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t answer that question.”

  Yanez nodded in approval.

  Sir Moreland signalled for the two prisoners to make their preparations, then uncorked a bottle, filled two glasses and offered one to the Portuguese.

  “You assure me you won’t let yourself be captured?” asked the officer, draining his glass.

  “I’ll head for the coast at the first sign of danger, Captain,” replied Yanez.

  “Are your men brave?”

  “The best in my garrison. When will I have the honour of seeing you again, sir?”

  “We’ll set sail at dawn and head for the citadel. We should be there in a few hours, provided we don’t come across the Tiger’s ship. Regardless, I’m certain we can defeat them.”

  Yanez smiled ironically.

  “I hope so, Captain,” he said. “It’s time to put an end to those cutthroats.”

  Tremal-Naik and Darma re-entered the dining room as he finished that sentence. The hunter had donned a large turban and the young woman had wrapped a long white silk mantilla about her shoulders.

  “I’ll accompany you to the beach,” said the Captain.

  Yanez frowned.

  “Let’s hope he doesn’t summon an escort,” he murmured, annoyed by that proposal. “Bah... We’ll get rid of them as soon as we’re in sight of the water.”

  They descended into the courtyard where the ten pirates were awaiting them, leaning against their carbines. At the sight of the captain, they stood at attention and presented arms with military precision.

  “A fine group of men,” said Sir Moreland, studying them closely. “Let’s go.”

  Four pirates formed the vanguard, followed by Yanez and Tremal-Naik, then Darma and the captain, the remaining six brought up the rear. The first group carried the lantern and three torches to light the way, the sky being blanketed by a thick veil of clouds.

  A deep silence reigned over the plains below the hill, broken only by the sound of the squad’s advancing footsteps. The tide had begun to ebb and the waves no longer crashed against the shore.

  Yanez did not speak, but exchanged glances with Tremal-Naik from time to time as they advanced. Behind them, the captain whispered a few words to the young woman that the Portuguese could not catch.

  The pirates followed in silence, their fingers resting on the triggers of their carbines, ready to attack the captain at Yanez’ command.

  When they reached the base of the hill, the small squad turned down a path that cut through a plantation. The path being narrow, Yanez quickened his pace to put some distance between himself and the captain.

  “Be ready for anything,” he whispered to Tremal-Naik, once Sir Moreland was out of earshot.

  “Where’s Sandokan?” whispered the Bengali.

  “Waiting for us at sea.”

  “You’ve taken a great risk, Yanez.”

  “There was no other way. We could not have opened hostilities with you and your daughter being held hostage.”

  “What are your plans for the captain? I ask he be set free, he’s treated us more like guests than prisoners.”

  “No harm will come to him. I had planned to leave him behind. What do you know of him?”

  “He’s an Englishman; he was an officer in the Indian navy and is now in the rajah’s service.”

  “I’d say he was more of an Anglo-Indian, judging by his skin.”

  “I suspect as much as well; whatever the case, he treated us very courteously, like a true gentleman.”

  “Quiet now, we’ve reached the shore.”

  He advanced toward the four pirates in the vanguard, came up beside Sambigliong, and whispered a few words to him.

  “Yes, sir,” replied the Marianna’ s former quartermaster, “I’ll take care of it.”

  A few minutes later they reached the spot where they had left the launch. The old steamer was only three or four cable lengths from them, a plume of smoke rising from her engine. Mister Howard had not wasted any time.

  “Ready the launch,” commanded Yanez.

  As four men went off to execute the order, the others had gathered around Tremal-Naik, Darma and Sir Moreland.

  Sambigliong had taken position behind the captain.

  Once the launch had been put in the water, Yanez made his way toward Sir Moreland, who was standing near Darma, and extended his hand, saying:

  “You can put your faith in me, Sir Moreland. I won’t let anything happen to your prisoners.”

  As he gripped the young man’s hand Sambigliong grabbed the captain by the waist and hurled him to the ground.

  Sir Moreland let out a cry of rage:

  “Wretch!”

  The pirates were quick to pounce. Within seconds they had disarmed the captain of his sabre and pistols and bound his arms behind his back.

  His legs still free, the captain quickly shot back to his feet and attempted to hurl himself at Yanez who had watched the attack in silence, a half smile upon his lips.

  “What’s the m
eaning of this?” he shouted, pale with rage.

  Yanez took off his helmet, saluted ironically and replied:

  “The Tiger of Malaysia sends you his greetings.”

  “The Tiger...? Who are you?”

  “Yanez de Gomera, Sir Moreland.”

  The young captain started and fell silent, surprised by those words.

  “Yanez,” he said after a moment. “The Tiger of Malaysia’s blood brother!”

  “I have that honour,” replied the Portuguese.

  The captain turned and cast his eyes upon Darma. The young woman had remained silent throughout that attack, rooted to the ground, as if turned to stone, just five paces from the captain. Her face, however, showed signs of anguish.

  “Kill me then, if you dare,” he said, turning to Yanez.

  “They call us pirates, but we’re often more generous than our enemies,” replied the Portuguese. “If I had fallen into the rajah’s hands, he would have had me shot; I, sir, will spare your life.”

  “As I would have asked him to do,” said Tremal-Naik.

  “A request I would have obliged most willingly,” added Yanez.

  “What are you going to do to me, then?” asked the captain, barely able to contain his anger.

  “Allow you to return to Fort McRae, sir.”

  “You may come to repent your generosity; come tomorrow I’ll set off after your ship.”

  “You’ll be met by a worthy adversary,” replied Yanez. “If you’d like to wait for the steamboat’s crew, they’ll be brought ashore in a few minutes.”

  “Those wretches surrendered?”

  “We took them by surprise, they had no choice. Well, Captain, good night; I wish you the best of luck.”

  “We’ll meet again, sooner than you think.”

  “We’ll be waiting, Sir Moreland. Everyone aboard, it’s time to go!”

  Tremal-Naik took Darma by the hand, who in all this time had not uttered a word, gently led her toward the launch and sat her down at the stern. Yanez and the others were quick to follow, leaving the captain alone on the beach, angrily pacing back and forth as he struggled against his bindings.

  The launch quickly rowed away and headed toward the old steamer; a lantern shone from her bow, partially illuminating the smoke that rose from her stack.

  Darma, after having pressed the Portuguese’s hand and thanked him with a smile, leaned an elbow on the stern bulwark and cast her eyes upon the shore. The captain had stopped pacing, his eyes fixed on the young woman as the launch rowed off.

  “Well, Tremal-Naik, what do you think of our little ruse?” laughed Yanez.

  “You’re all demons,” the Bengali replied. “I never doubted you’d rescue us, but I didn’t think it would be this soon. How did you learn they’d taken us to Fort McRae?”

  “We sent a few men to Labuan to gather information. I’ll tell you the full story later. A lot has happened since you were captured. Sandokan and his men were attacked and forced off Mompracem. In retaliation, he’s declared war on England and the Rajah of Sarawak. And we’ve just purchased one of the most powerful ships in the world to aid us in our endeavour.”

  “A bold enterprise indeed.”

  “And I’ve got some more surprising news.”

  “Oh?”

  “The sherip confessed he had been sent here by Suyodhana’s son.”

  “Who?!?”

  “I’ll fill you in on all the details once we’re aboard the King of the Sea. Did you ever hear rumours that Suyodhana had a son?”

  “Never! Kali’s High Priest is not allowed to marry. So he’s the one responsible for this war against us?”

  “So it appears, and he has the support of the British and the Rajah of Sarawak.”

  “How could the British have allied themselves against us with the son of a Thug, after all we did to free India from those bloodthirsty dogs.”

  “It’s a mystery that has us baffled as well.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “That’s another mystery, Tremal-Naik. Let’s hope we find him soon and send him off to join his father. Mister Howard!”

  The launch had drawn up beside the old steamer and the American had promptly appeared on deck.

  “All go well, Señor Yanez?”

  “It couldn’t have gone any better. Is the ship ready to set sail?”

  “The engine’s been fired up for over an hour.”

  “And the prisoners?”

  “As quiet as mice.”

  “Up we go men.”

  He gave Darma a hand then quickly climbed aboard, followed by Tremal-Naik, Sambigliong and his men.

  “Best we set off immediately,” said Yanez.

  He had the prisoners untied one by one, slipped a fistful of pounds into the sergeant’s pocket, then had them climb down into the launch and said:

  “You’ll find Captain Moreland waiting for you on the beach. Send him my greetings and thank him for the use of this fine ship. Mister Howard, ahead full steam.”

  The engine whistled three times in mock salute, then the anchor was raised and the old boat quickly set off towards the mouth of the bay.

  Yanez, having entrusted the wheel to Sambigliong, had gone to the bow along with Tremal-Naik and carefully scanned the dark waters, trying to spot Sandokan’s ship, which he knew to be nearby. But as she was sailing with her lanterns extinguished, it would not be easy to spot her.

  “We’ll probably find him a few miles from here, provided something unexpected hasn’t happened during my absence,” Yanez told Tremal-Naik. “We learned from a prahu that a squadron of British cruisers has left Victoria and is coming to hunt us down.”

  “Could they have found Sandokan already?”

  “We would have heard the cannons, besides Sandokan would never let himself be taken by surprise, especially with the ship he now possesses. Look, cinders in the air down there. It’s the King of the Sea! Mister Howard, increase pressure!”

  The old steamer advanced over the dark water with ever-increasing speed, a bright wake shimmering behind her. Minutes later the crew came within sight of a large dark mass that had moved to block their path.

  “Ready the bow cannon!” shouted a menacing voice.

  “Belay that order!” Yanez commanded. “Sandokan, lower the ladder. The Tigers of Mompracem have returned!”

  The old steamer reduced her speed and drew up beneath the mighty ship’s starboard side, halting below the ladder, which had been promptly lowered to meet her.

  Chapter 3

  A Terrible Battle

  SANDOKAN WAS WAITING for Yanez and his men at the top of the ladder, standing alongside a beautiful young woman with light bronze skin, fine elegant features, dark black eyes and long black hair braided with silk ribbons that matched her Indian sari.

  Several olive-skinned men, dressed in white naval uniforms, had drawn towards the bulwarks with large lanterns to aid the party in their climb.

  Yanez was the first on deck.

  “Well?” the Tiger of Malaysia asked anxiously.

  “Here they are,” replied Yanez.

  Sandokan let out a cry and rushed toward Tremal-Naik, as Darma threw her arms around the young Indian woman, exclaiming:

  “Surama! It’s so good to see you again!”

  “Let’s go below, my good friends,” said Sandokan, after having embraced the Bengali and kissed Darma on the cheek. “We have much to discuss.”

  “One minute, Sandokan,” said Yanez. “Have them set a course for the second mouth of the Rejang. There’s a ship up there that could be a threat to our plans.”

  “A ship? One of the Rajah’s?”

  “Yes, and she’s probably preparing to hunt us down as we speak.”

  “Ah!” said Sandokan almost without concern. “We’ll rid ourselves of that nuisance soon enough.”

  He summoned Sambigliong and Mister Howard, issued several orders, then set off for the captain’s quarters with Tremal-Naik, Darma and Surama who was walking hand in hand
with Yanez, her white sahib.

  Once Sandokan had been briefed on the expedition and Tremal-Naik had been informed of all that had transpired after his capture, the discussion turned to the war against England and Sarawak.

  “The British squadron or the rajah’s fleet will set off after us immediately, but there’s not a ship among them that poses much of a threat. Suyodhana’s son, however, is another matter. He’s obviously powerful; he made quick work of destroying your plantations. What I’d give to know what his plans are. Where is he hiding? How many men does he have? How many ships? When will he attack? We don’t know anything about him, and it could cost us dearly. I confess, though I fear no man, Suyodhana’s son has me worried.”

  “You haven’t been able to learn anything more about him?” asked Tremal-Naik who appeared no less worried than the formidable pirate.

  “We stopped every friendly ship we spotted sailing from Sarawak, but no one could give us any more information.”

  “Yet he must be somewhere.”

  “He’ll show himself sooner or later,” said Yanez. “If he plans to wage war on us and avenge his father’s death, he’ll have to face us eventually.”

  “What are we going to do in the meantime, Sandokan?” asked Tremal-Naik.

  “Open hostilities by sinking that ship at the mouth of the Rejang. We’ve declared war; now let’s show them we’re serious.”

  “Sink her?” asked Darma with a tone of voice that made Yanez start.

  “I’ll destroy her, Darma,” Sandokan replied coldly.

  The Portuguese, who had been watching her closely throughout the conversation, heard her gasp softly. However, though her face had gone pale at the sound of the Tiger’s grisly plan, the young woman had not uttered a word in protest.

  All had gotten up to go back on deck. Surama had taken Darma by the hand and said:

  “Time to rest. We’ll leave the men to their work. Come, I’ve had everything prepared for you; I knew Yanez would bring you back safely.”

  Tremal-Naik’s daughter smiled and followed her out of the cabin.

  By the time Sandokan, Tremal-Naik and Yanez arrived on deck, the crew had gone to their battle stations, Sambigliong having spread the word among the Tigers of Mompracem that the cruiser would soon attack a large enemy ship.