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Mother Carey's Chicken: Her Voyage to the Unknown Isle, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 17. How Men Fight For Life |
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_ CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. HOW MEN FIGHT FOR LIFE Mark started up in terror as he saw his father's face, pale, haggard, and smeared with blood; but as soon as he encountered his son's eye he smiled pleasantly. "Have I been asleep, father?" "Capitally, my boy," said the captain kindly. "A good four hours, I should say." "And you've been watching?" "No--only resting and thinking, my boy. I'm better now. Go out and see how things are." Mark stepped softly into the saloon, which was now full of light from the stern windows, and a dull sense of horror and misery came over him as he noted the desolate aspect of the place, with the screwed-up doors, the barricade, the look of the men asleep, and above all the pallid aspect of Mr Morgan, who seemed to have grown old since the previous day, so seriously had his wound affected him. This was all seen at a glance; and he was going toward the door when he stopped short, startled, for there stood the major with a double gun at his shoulder taking so straight an aim at him that Mark seemed to see nothing of the gun but the muzzle, looking like a pair of spectacles without glasses, and through which frames he was trying to peer. Not a pleasant prospect for him if he could have looked, for it would have been right down the barrels at the wads of a couple of cartridges; but as he stared the piece was lowered and the major said in a low voice: "I could have brought you down like a bird. Why, you looked just like a Malay. Mark, what have you been doing, sir? rubbing your powdery hands all over your face?" "I suppose so, major. What time is it?" "Time the ship was cleared, my lad, but I suppose we must wait. Let me see," he continued, referring to his watch. "I didn't like to look before; it makes a man impatient for his breakfast, I'm seven o'clock. That's three bells, isn't it?" "I think so," said Mark. "Think, and you the son of a captain in the merchant service! Why, I should have thought you would have been born a sailor." "Have you heard the Malays, sir?" "Heard them! Yes, my lad, going about the ship with their bare feet on the planks; but they haven't tried the door. There, rouse up the men while I wake Gregory." He touched the first-mate, who sprang up, revolver in hand, wide-awake, and ready for instant action. He glanced sharply round, realised that all was right, and stuck the revolver in his belt. "How's the skipper?" he asked. "My father seems worn out and ill," said Mark sadly. "Make him lie down," muttered the mate; and he strode across to the captain's cabin, but came back shaking his head, and went to the cabin-window, where he leaned out and was trying to see whether the boat was all right when a faint noise overhead made him instinctively draw in his head. It was a narrow escape, for as the mate drew back there was a dark line seen to dart across the cabin-window and return. "Well, I'm not a spiteful man," said the mate, rubbing his ear, "but I should certainly like to give that fellow a pill that would lay him up for six months. Now, what pleasure would it have afforded him, Mark, my lad, if he had run that spear through my neck?" "It's his nature, sir," said the major shortly. "Those fellows value a life at about a rupee, and sometimes not at that." The men had risen, stretched, and were looking round in a discontented way; but they began to beam shortly after when a fair supply of biscuits and sardines from the captain's private supply was handed round, and followed by some bottled beer, the opening of which seemed to cause a commotion on deck, and an excited talking as if the Malays thought some kind of weapon was being fired. The breakfast worked wonders in the gaunt, untidy-looking throng, and when the captain said a few words to them asking their help, and that they would stand by him to the last, there was a hearty cheer, one which caused a rush of feet upon the deck, and then a hurried buzzing sound was heard as if the Malays were gathering for an attack. In view of this the men were placed well armed by the barricaded door, and the major stood ready at their side, while Small was stationed beneath the sky-light armed with a gun, and with orders to fire through the first hole driven down in the panels of the door Mr Gregory had placed for protection. "So far so good," said the captain cheerily, and the excitement seemed to remove the haggard look in his pale face. "But look here, gentlemen, we must leave a way open for retreat." "Of course," said the major, "never lose touch of that." "My plan is to defend the ship to the last, and then take to the boat-- that is, if the case has become hopeless. So, Gregory, sooner or later they will find out that the boat is here, and try to cut it adrift. You will go to the cabin-window which commands the boat's painter, and shoot down whoever tries to cut it." Gregory nodded, took a gun and some cartridges, and walked to one of the cabin-windows, then to another, and changed again. He had hardly reached the last and looked out when there was a shot, a yell, and a second shot. The captain rushed to his officer's side. "What is it?" he cried. "Only just in time," said the mate, coolly reloading. "One of the scoundrels had swum round, was in the boat, and cutting her away." "Did you--" The captain paused and looked inquiringly in the mate's eyes. "We're fighting for our lives and the lives of these ladies, Captain Strong," said Gregory. "Suppose we do our duty and ask no questions afterwards. The Malay did not cut the painter." Captain Strong nodded and returned to where the men stood by the barricaded door, to answer the major's inquiring look with a few words as to matters being all right, and then they waited, with the ladies pale and anxious, in one of the cabins, and Mark standing ready to supply ammunition when it should be required. They had not long to wait for an attack. The discovery that the man who had tried to get the boat had been shot was met with a loud burst of angry yells, and this was followed by a fresh attempt, as was shown to the defenders of the door by another shot from the mate. There was another burst of yelling, and at intervals three more shots were fired by Mr Gregory. "Why, he's getting all the fun, Strong!" said the major. "They might come this way; but the mischief is that we've left no holes to fire from. Never mind; if we had they would have been able to see in." Mark about this time walked to where Mr Gregory was leaning against the bulkhead with the muzzle of his gun bearing upon the spot a man must reach to cut the painter. "Want any more cartridges, Mr Gregory?" said Mark. For answer the mate bent down, glanced along the barrel of his gun and fired. Mark darted forward and caught sight of a hideously-distorted face and a pair of raised hands before they disappeared beneath the surface, and just at that moment he darted back, barely in time to avoid a spear which stuck quivering in the woodwork round the window. "Not a very safe place. Squire Mark," said the mate, reloading without taking his eyes from the boat, and firing again as a dark head literally flashed into sight, one of the Malays having dived and so arranged his plunge that he should form a curve in the water and rise close to the boat's stern. "I wish they would get tired of this," said Gregory, again reloading, and speaking through his teeth. "If they put no value on human life I do." The ill success of the venture to cut the boat adrift seemed to have maddened the Malays, for after a burst of angry talking there was a loud yell, a pattering of naked feet on the deck, and the next minute a furious attack was being made upon the cabin entrance, blows were delivered with axes, and it soon became evident that a way would be made through. "Ah! what are you going to do?" roared the major, as he saw a man about to fire. "Don't waste your shot, man. Stand back till you can see the whites of your enemy's eyes, and then let him have it." There was a thrill running through the men, and click, click, of lock after lock. "That's it," said the major, "cool as cucumbers. Bravo, lads! What soldiers I could make of all of you! Now, look here, I'll give the order to fire, but what you have to do is this: wait till these black murdering scoundrels make a hole in the defence, and then you fill it up with the mouth of your pieces, and look sharp, before they thrust through a spear." The men uttered a low growl, and the captain now stood by the major, while Morgan after a smile at Mark seated himself upon the cabin table to watch for an attack from the sky-light, toward which he held a loaded revolver. A sharp report from Mr Gregory's gun was followed by another yell, telling painfully enough that the Malays had been deceived in imagining that the whole of the little force would be defending the door, and that now was the time to cut the boat adrift. The yell from the water was followed by a fierce one on deck, and the chopping and splintering of wood. The door was stoutly built, but those behind were very slight, and it was not long before the panels began to show gaps of splinters and jagged holes through which spears were thrust so suddenly that the men fell back, and the blows were redoubled. "Ah! they are nasty weapons, my lads," said the major coolly. "Serve them this way." As he spoke he watched his opportunity, waiting till a spear was darted in for some distance, when, catching it in his left hand, he pressed it aside, readied forward, and discharged his revolver right through the hole by which the spear had come. The proof of the efficacy of this shot was shown by the major drawing in the spear and throwing it upon the deck, while his example was followed more or less by the men, who now sent shot after shot through the various holes made in the door. "Don't waste your fire, lads; don't waste your fire," cried the major; and his words were not without effect, as the slow delivery of shots, and the yells of pain and rage which followed many of the discharges, told. No more attempts were made to cut away the boat, and Mr Gregory's piece became silent; but it soon grew evident that a fresh attack was to be made upon them, for the crashing and shivering of glass was heard in the sky-lights, and directly after, heavy blows from an axe. This was soon followed by the appearance of an opening through which a spear-head gleamed as the weapon was darted down so adroitly that it passed through the fold of the boatswain's trousers, and pinned him to the table on one side of which he too leant. The answer to this was a shot from Morgan's revolver, and another from the gun the boatswain held, after which he proceeded leisurely to wriggle out the spear and draw it away. Then more blows were heard, and a fresh hole was made in the sky-light defence, but the spear thrust down more than met its match, and after a shot or two no more blows were delivered there. By this time the Malays had grown less daring, and though a man or two rushed forward now and then to dart a spear at them, there was a cessation of the work of destroying with axes, and the sailors were able to keep command of the holes, and send a well-directed shot through from time to time. But the encounter, badly as it had gone with the Malays, had had its effects among the defenders of the place. The major had an ugly gash in his left arm delivered by a knife-bladed spear. Billy Widgeon's ear was cut through, and he had a slight prick in his right arm, while one of the other men had a spear stab in the left leg. The withdrawal of the Malays from the attack enabled the injured to go into hospital as the major termed it, and each wound was carefully bandaged by the major's wife or by Mrs Strong. "They're about beaten, I should say," said the major, cheerily. "By the way, Strong, a little bleeding is very refreshing. I feel like a new man." "So do I," said the captain grimly. "Here, quick, look out!" cried Mark at that instant, for, wincing from seeing the dressing of his father's wound, he had unscrewed one of the little side-lights and was looking over the calm sunlit sea, when he caught sight of a prau gliding along from the _Petrel's_ bows, and it was evident that she was coming to attack simultaneously from the stern. "Hah! that's it, is it!" said the major. "Hitting back and front too! Confound that fellow! how badly he steers the boat!" As he said these words he clapped his gun to his shoulder and fired. The steersman fell, but it had no permanent effect, save to draw a little shower of spears at the window opening, one of which passed through and stuck quivering in the bulkhead. Then another man took the steerer's place, and the prau glided by evidently to take her station astern. "We shall lose the boat, major," said the captain bitterly. "Shall we!" replied the major. "Just take my place, sir, by the door. I'm going to use my little hunting rifle now alongside of Gregory; and if a man does reach that boat I'm going to know the reason why. I'm not much given to boasting, but I can shoot straight." He had already proved it to some purpose, and without a word the captain took his place by the barricade, while the major went into his own cabin and returned with a little double rifle and a pouch of ammunition. "I did not want to use this," he said; "but things are growing serious." The prau had by this time been rowed to its station, and from the stir on deck it was now evident that the brass swivel-gun was being loaded and preparations made to send a volley of missiles tearing through the stern windows. "That will be awkward, Gregory," said the major. "Do a lot of damage, sir," said the mate coolly. "They are so low down in the water that they can't send a shot along our floor. The charge will go right up and through the deck." "Well, at any rate I think I'll try and stop them." "By all means," said the mate, and he watched keenly as the major knelt down, resting his rifle on the sill and taking aim, but waiting. All at once there was a puff of smoke, a sharp crack, and at the same moment a deafening report from the prau, but the charge of missiles went hurtling and screaming up through the mizen rigging and away over the ship to sea. The major's shot was more successful, for a man fell. "He was a little too quick for me," said the major, reloading and waiting for another chance. "Nasty work this!" he added; "but I suppose it's necessary." "Necessary, sir!" cried Gregory angrily; "think of those poor women in the cabin." There was a sharp crack from the major's rifle, and another man fell. "That's the left barrel!" said the major, reloading. "Yes, my dear sir, I am thinking about those poor women in the cabin. Ah, would you!" He drew trigger again, and another man who had been about to fire the lelah sprang up and dropped the match. There was a yell, and a fresh man picked up the piece of burning match from the deck, shouted, and giving the fire a wave in the air, he was in the act of bringing it down upon the touch-hole, when the major, who had not stirred to reload, drew trigger once again, the rifle cracked, and the Malay dropped upon his face. There was a fierce yell at this, and in the midst of tremendous confusion on board, the prau continued her course, the sweeps being worked rapidly by the crew, who were evidently in frantic haste to get out of the deadly line of fire. "Ah!" said the major, coolly reloading, "now I could pick off the steersman, or that chap with the red handkerchief; but it would do no real good. We've scared them off, and that's good work." "Splendid, major. Why, that rifle is a little treasure." "Well, yes," said the major, patting it; "but it was meant for tiger and leopard, Gregory, not to kill men." "You may make yourself easy," said the first-mate quietly; "these are savage beasts more than men. It is life for life." "Ah! that's comforting, Gregory, and I take it as kindly of you, for I'm not fond of this sort of work, though I say I am. Well, let's see how they are getting on yonder." He went out of the cabin, leaving the first-mate to resume his watch over the boat, for during the time this episode of rifle practice was in progress another furious attack had been made upon the barricaded door. Spears had been thrust and darted through, blows struck through cracks and holes with krises and the deadly sword-like parang, and in spite of the fierce and slowly-sustained fire kept up, the defences were rapidly becoming more dilapidated, and several fresh wounds had been received. But the determination of the men had not failed for a moment, while just at the worst time a change was made for the better by the fresh force put into the defence by Small and Mr Morgan. The attack through the sky-lights had not been renewed, and, weary with sitting and watching through the films of blue smoke which filled the cabin their captain and the men so sorely pressed, these two suddenly dashed into the fray, each going to a hole and firing rapidly. This checked the Malays for the time, but they came on again, and when the major joined in with a couple of shots from his little rifle the fight was still furiously raging. Suddenly, however, just as the barriers were giving way, and every opening seemed to bristle with spears, there was a terrible shout, and the attack ceased. "Failure of the rear movement, cease firing ordered from the front," said the major quietly. "Now we shall have time to repair damages." "Ah, major," cried the captain, "if I could only be as cool as you!" and he wrung his hand. "My dear Strong, you are a regular lion," replied the major. "You were getting hard pressed there." "And you were as calm as if nothing were the matter." "Way to win, my dear sir: way to win; but I say, between ourselves, things were looking ugly just then." "I believe you saved us--you," said Morgan. "Humph!" replied the major. "It's my belief, sir, that if those scoundrels had not let themselves be damped by the failure of the plan, and had kept on, we should have been all prisoners by now. Or--" "I understand you," said the captain gravely. "Well, we must still hope." _ |
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