At midnight, the King of the Sea, which had not lit her lanterns, tacked abruptly and headed west, towards Tanjung Datu and the Sonda Sea.
The need to recoal was growing ever more urgent and since all ports were closed to them, they had no choice but to prey on British ships.
Once assured the enemy cruisers were out of sight, Sandokan ordered his men to reduce speed to save fuel, not knowing when he would have the opportunity to renew his dwindling supply.
Two days after spotting Tanjung Datu, the King of the Sea had sailed northwest, hoping to surprise a few ships sailing from Singapore, Java or Sumatra, but not a single plume of smoke appeared on the horizon.
Undoubtedly, word that a pirate ship was prowling about those waters had spread throughout the islands of the Sonda and the British steamships had not dared put out to sea until they had gotten word of her destruction.
Though ever more preoccupied by their lack of fuel, neither Sandokan nor Yanez were the sort to give in to despair.
They could still travel three or four hundred miles at reduced speed to the shipping lanes of the South China Sea and attempt another attack.
However, for the moment it would not have been wise to travel too far from the coasts of Borneo. The British Far Eastern Fleet could have joined the hunt by then, and if so, the King of the Sea would need to replenish her coal before she could engage in battle.
“I’ve set a course for the Natuna Islands,” said Sandokan to Tremal-Naik who had asked about his plans. “We’ll plunder a few ships and head east; I don’t want to leave these waters just yet.”
“You’re waiting for something, aren’t you?”
“I am,” replied Sandokan, smiling mysteriously. “I intend to kill two birds with one stone.”
“It’s been four days since we left the Bay of Sarawak.”
“We have nothing but time. We’ll wait.”
“What about those cruisers following us?”
“I haven’t forgotten them,” replied Sandokan, “but I doubt they’ll find us anytime soon.”
For the next forty-eight hours the King of the Sea continued to sail towards the northwest, leaving the Bornean coasts behind, then, once in sight of the Natuna and Bunguran Islands, she tacked and headed east, the two commanders desiring to sail past Brunei, the capital of the Sultanate of Borneo, knowing it was frequented by British steamboats.
Their instincts were soon confirmed. Fifteen hours after passing the islands they spotted a large ship on the horizon. She was a steamer with twin smokestacks, advancing towards Brunei, perhaps intending to stop there before journeying into the South China Sea.
The red flag flying from her stern quickly confirmed Yanez and Sandokan’s hopes.
At the sight of the cruiser and her colours, the north-eastern bound steamer had at first held her course, but after a few minutes she tacked abruptly and headed off towards the east, perhaps to look for shelter in the nearest bay.
Before setting off from India, her commander must have been warned of a Malay pirate ship plundering the waters of the Sunda Sea. Once he had gotten a good look at her, he had immediately attempted to flee, knowing he stood no chance in battle.
Forcing her engines, she flew over the waters, smoke spewing from her twin funnels, but with a clever manoeuvre the King of the Sea was soon within range, firing a warning shot then a cannonball, to make her intentions clear.
Instead of halting, the steamer increased her speed. But when a second volley thundered from the cruiser’s chaser and smashed in her quarterdeck, the ship cut her engines and hoisted a white flag up her foremast.
“Her captain has guts,” said Yanez, as the launches were put in the water. “And she’s a fine ship; a pity we have to sink her.”
He descended into the steam launch and headed toward the enemy vessel followed by five launches manned by seventy men, a mix of Malays and Dyaks.
The steamship had come to a halt ten cable lengths from the King of the Sea, her many passengers anxiously awaiting the enemy boarding in terrified silence. Her officers had gathered round her captain, all eyes on the approaching launch.
Yanez was the first to climb aboard. He walked past the crowd and stopped beneath the bridge to address the captain of the steamer, who had not moved to meet him.
“You’re not being very courteous, sir,” he said, “towards a man who could have destroyed your ship.”
“Sink her if you like,” the captain replied coldly. “I know when I’m beaten. You’d be murdering over five hundred innocent civilians, men, women, and children; none of them British citizens.”
“Do you have enough launches to transport them all?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not far from the coast of Borneo and the sea appears favourable. Give the order to abandon ship and we’ll let you go on your way, your vessel belongs to me now.”
“The passengers and my crew are free to do as they please, but I’ll remain aboard, whatever your plans,” replied the Englishman. “I won’t surrender to the pirates of Mompracem.”
“Ah! You know who we are? Excellent, I’d be more than happy to respect your wishes. You’ll go down with your ship.”
“So you do plan to sink her.”
“Once we’ve unloaded her coal, we’ll have no further need of her. Sir, you have two hours, not a minute more. Once the time has passed, my men will open fire.”
“I repeat, I won’t leave my ship,” the Englishman replied stubbornly. “I’ll go down with her.”
“Unless we tear you off the bridge by force,” replied Yanez, growing impatient.
His men had already started to help the steamboat’s crew put the launches in the water. The Portuguese was about to walk towards them when a plump, clean-shaven little man, whose eyes were hidden behind a pair of smoke-coloured glasses, suddenly appeared before him.
“Captain,” said the stranger, quickly removing his hat and drawing back his long dark cloak. “Are you one of those famous pirates of Malaysia?”
“One of the leaders,” replied Yanez, giving the chubby little man a curious look.
“Then take me with you, sir; once we had reached port I was going to hire a ship to take me to Mompracem.”
“That island belongs to the British now; they chased us off months ago. We’re at war; I’m not in command of a passenger ship.”
“Yes, sir, I know, and I’ve come to join you. I know all about your marvellous exploits.”
“You want to join us!” exclaimed Yanez, a smile spreading across his lips.
“Yes, sir!”
“And who are you exactly?”
“The Lord of War, or, if you prefer, Dr. Patrick O’Brien of Philadelphia. You want to destroy the British? Well, I’ve brought you just the thing. I’ve come to offer you my latest invention, an invincible weapon, a weapon that’ll make the whole world tremble!”
Chapter 15
The Tide Begins to Turn
YANEZ HAD LISTENED patiently, studying the man who promised to shake the world with great curiosity, wondering if a great inventor or a crazed lunatic stood before him.
The stranger, noting that the Portuguese was hesitant and undoubtedly guessing his thoughts, said:
“You think I’m mad, don’t you, sir? Or perhaps that this is some kind of joke? Well, sir, I assure you, I’ve made a discovery that’s nothing short of revolutionary.”
“Continue,” Yanez said coolly, beginning to enjoy the conversation.
“As I said, sir, I’m a scientist, my field is electricity. Recently I’ve been experimenting with wireless transmission in my laboratory in Chicago. Not only does it work, I’ve lit up a bank of light bulbs from a distance of over four thousand metres.”
“I’m sure your experiments are quite interesting, Dr. O’Brien, but I fail to see how they are relevant to our situation.”
“What would you say, sir, if I told you my invention could ignite barrels of gunpowder from a great distance?”
“Ah!” said Yanez
, drawing a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it. “An admirable discovery. I’d even go so far as to say amazing.”
“Even though you think it’s highly improbable,” said the scientist.
“As I have not performed the experiment myself, I would not dismiss your claim out of hand.”
“Will you take me with you? If you decline, I’ll disembark in Brunei and offer my invention to the British.”
“Very well, you may join us, provided you accept our terms. Once aboard the King of the Sea, you’ll be kept under guard until such time as we have the opportunity to test this marvellous discovery of yours.”
“Agreed.”
“All of your equipment will be surrendered over to us and kept under my personal care until needed.”
“Also agreed.”
“One final thing, attempt to betray us, and I’ll hang you without a second thought. Have I made myself clear, Mr. Lord of War?”
“Perfectly,” the American replied.
“And?”
“I accept, sir.”
“Very well then, doctor. You may join us. Have someone bring your bags aboard.”
While that strange conversation was taking place, the passengers had abandoned the steamer and gathered in the launches which had been stocked with enough provisions to reach the Bornean coast.
Not one had pulled away yet, the officers still pleading their captain to come with them. The brave seafarer had sat down on a rocking chair he had ordered brought to the bridge and had begun to smoke his pipe with a serenity that amazed the Tigers of Mompracem. Whenever Yanez threatened to drag him off the ship by force, he merely shrugged.
Admiring that display of courage, the Portuguese quickly relayed the news to Sandokan.
“Ah! He doesn’t want to leave his ship?” replied the Tiger of Malaysia who was within shouting distance. “Then leave him be.”
He ordered the launches to set off immediately, threatening to sink them if they disobeyed.
“So we’re just going to blow him up with his ship?” asked Yanez.
“Let’s worry about emptying her coal chutes for now. I doubt there’ll be much left; this ship was almost at the end of her journey. I’ll send over a hundred men to assist you; we’ve got to move as quickly as possible. We’re too close to Brunei; we could be attacked at any moment.”
As Sandokan had anticipated, the steamer’s chutes were almost empty, her captain having planned to recoal in Brunei before setting off for the South China Sea.
Only a few tons remained, not nearly enough to meet the King of the Sea’s needs, a great part of her stores having been consumed during her last retreat. Nevertheless, it took more than four hours to transfer that small supply of fuel and the rest of the steamer’s provisions aboard the cruiser.
The British commander had watched the looting in silence, never once rising from his chair or uttering a word in protest. He just calmly smoked his pipe, sipping a glass of whiskey that Yanez had offered him.
When the launches had rowed off with the last load of coal, the Portuguese walked up to the Englishman, cordially saluted and said:
“We’ve finished, sir.”
“Then my life will soon come to an end,” the captain replied.
“My jole is at your disposal; she has a good sail and is well stocked with provisions. The wind’s favourable; you’d probably reach the launches before they make the coast.”
“I thank you for your offer, but my place is here. I’ve been in command of this fine ship for the last six years, sailed her in these waters through storms and squalls, and she always brought me home. I love her too much to leave her now. If you’re going to sink her, I’ll go down with her.”
“Well then, since you’re determined to die, perhaps you’d like to choose your manner of death? Should I blow the ship up with a ton of powder, or should I tear a hole in her side with a blast from our cannons? I’d be inclined to go with the second option; you’d sink more slowly and have a chance to reconsider before you were swallowed by the waves.”
“It makes no difference to me, sir; do as you wish.”
“Goodbye, sir, you are a brave man.”
“Goodbye, Captain, and good luck,” the British officer replied, a trace of irony in his voice. “Ah! I would ask a favour.”
“By all means.”
“If you have the opportunity, please contact the owners of this vessel in Bombay and inform them that Captain John Kopp died aboard his ship, doing his duty to the last, like a true Englishman.”
“I will, you have my word. You have ten minutes more; once the time has passed, we’ll open fire.”
“I’ll have finished my pipe by then.”
They tipped their hats and parted. Yanez descended into the whaleboat awaiting him at the end of the ladder, while the Englishman always calm and impassive, hoisted the British flag then returned to his chair.
“He still won’t leave?” asked Sandokan, once Yanez was back aboard the cruiser.
“He’s a stubborn old man,” the Portuguese replied, “worthy of our respect. He wants to go down with his ship. Are you going to let him?”
“We haven’t left yet,” smiled Sandokan.
He approached the stern where the old American gunner was leaning against the turret and whispered a few words into his ear.
A short while later, the cruiser tacked and slowly began to advance towards the steamer. The Englishman was still smoking his pipe, waiting for the cannon blast that would tear a hole in the side of his ship.
Sandokan had gone to the bow, his eyes fixed on the old man, a smile upon his lips.
When the King of the Sea was within thirty paces of the steamship’s stern, Sandokan signalled his men to reduce speed, then picked up a megaphone and shouted in English:
“Sir, the next time you see the owners of this ship, tell them the Tigers of Mompracem spared their vessel because she was captained by a man of uncommon bravery. Safe journey!”
The pirate’s flag dipped in salute then the cruiser set off towards the north.
Knowing that their enemies could descend upon them at any moment, Sandokan had decided not to remain in those waters so close to Labuan, and had set a course for the northern coast of Borneo, intending to prey upon the ships sailing up from Australia.
The British would never have imagined that they could have travelled so far from the Bay of Sarawak. They would surprise a good number of Australian ships before their owners grew frightened and suspended all departures.
To hide their advance, they kept away from the shipping lanes and after six days found themselves within forty miles of the northern tip of Borneo. But what havoc they had caused in so short a time! Two steamships and three sailing ships had fallen into the hands of the implacable Tigers of Mompracem and suffered the same fate as those captured off the rajah’s shores.
Once the passengers and crews had been forced to abandon ship and their launches had set off for the safety of the neighbouring islands, the vessels were sunk with their cargos almost intact.
Soon after, when several prahus brought word that the Chinese Imperial Fleet, alarmed by so much destruction, was preparing to hunt them down, the King of the Sea immediately ceased her attacks and headed back towards the south.
The coal chutes now replenished, Sandokan and Yanez decided to prey upon the magnificent steamships that plied the waters between India and southern China.
An urge to destroy everything had taken hold of Sandokan and appeared to have reawakened the bloodthirsty pirate of old. Realizing that he would soon be surrounded by his enemies, he was determined to amaze the world with his daring as he devastated British trade routes.
“Our days are numbered,” he had said to Yanez and Tremal-Naik. “Within a month there won’t be any more British ships to plunder. We’ll cause as much damage as we can while we still have coal, then once our chutes are empty, we’ll let fate unfold as it may.”
“We’ll find other ships,” replied Yanez. “Ev
ery trading nation on Earth has ships in these waters. We can always buy supplies from them, at gunpoint if need be.”
“And then?”
“Have you forgotten me?” said a voice behind them. “My amazing invention will destroy anyone who tries to attack you.”
It was Dr. O’Brien of Philadelphia, the Lord of War, all but forgotten in the last few days.
“Ah! Yes, there’s you as well,” smiled Yanez. “In moments of danger, you’ll fend off their rain of bullets.”
“No, sir,” the little man replied energetically. “My invention will blow up the powder magazine of any ship that tries to attack you.[7] It won’t fail, I promise you.”
“I’d take him at his word, gentlemen,” Mister Howard added, coming up beside them. “Dr. O’Brien has explained his invention to me; I know it sounds farfetched, but I’m certain it’ll work.”
“His claims will be put to the test soon enough,” said Sandokan, doubtfully. “If we continue south, we’re bound to run into an enemy ship sooner or later. Keep your wonderful machine ready, Dr. O’Brien.”
For two more days the King of the Sea headed south, covering a vast stretch of water without spotting a single steamship.
All vessels must have been ordered to remain ashore. Damage to British trade had been so severe that the Admiralty, realizing it had no ship that could match the cruiser’s engines, had decided to change tactics, and attempt to isolate their enemy. Cut off from all ports and without vessels to plunder for fuel, the King of the Sea would soon lose her invincibility. Once her last ton of coal had disappeared into her boilers, she would be destroyed by the allied squadron.
“They’ve trapped us aboard our own ship,” Sandokan murmured one day as their plans became clear to him. “How long before they strike?”
The King of the Sea had sailed over five hundred miles and was almost within sight of the coast of Malacca. Though the crew had spotted several ships, they had been German, Italian, French or Dutch; not a single British vessel had appeared upon those waters.
With their supply of coal dropping rapidly, each new sighting brought new danger, for any one of those ships could have gone to alert the rajah’s squadron.
Sandokan: The King of the Sea (The Sandokan Series Book 5) Page 27