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Trapped by Malays: A Tale of Bayonet and Kris, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 30. A Jungle Night |
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_ CHAPTER THIRTY. A JUNGLE NIGHT It was just as the shades of night were coming on that the great elephant stepped out of the tunnel into comparative light. The wall of verdure opened out on either side, and a natural clearing lay before the travellers, while, still bearing what looked like the pale stain of sunshine, there flowing from right to left was the river. There was a regular track marked out by the various animals that frequented it; and the mud-holes formed by the elephants grew deeper and more given to spurt out water as the great animals passed on till the edge of the river was reached, when they plunged in on to what now seemed to be firm, gravelly soil, with the clear stream pressing against their sides, till the smaller elephant was pretty well breast-deep. Here Rajah stood, setting the example and drinking deeply, while those he bore began to suffer the pangs of Tantalus as they saw the clear stream gliding by. "I can't stand this much longer, sir," said Peter. "Think there's any crocs up here?" "It is impossible to say, Pete." "Yes, sir; but I am ready to risk it. But what I want to know first is: are we going back, or is this 'ere a sort of ford, and the path goes on the other side?" He had hardly spoken before Rajah uttered a snort and went splashing on towards the opposite shore, with the water growing shallower and shallower till the two beasts were walking on firm, gravelly ground, the water flying up at every step, and they soon stood out on dry ground, with the dimly seen track going on before them. Here, at a word from the mahout, both animals stopped short, and Rajah kneeled, when the mahout descended nimbly and began trotting back to the water's edge. "Not going to cut and run, is he, sir?" began Pete. "No; it's all right. I can't quite see, but ain't that a cocoa-nut he's stooping to dip?--Yes; that's right. Good old chap! He's bringing us a drink." This proved to be the case, and the little fellow brought the refilled half-cocoa-nut-shell he had taken from somewhere in his baju, and it was handed up to the two lads four times, before the little fellow went back to the river, filled it for himself, and finally returned to his place and climbed up once more. Directly after, the elephant rose and continued along the track to where, in the darkness, it was evident the marshy land began, and beyond it seemed the jungle once again. Peter was ready enough to begin his favourite advice soon after, and bid his companion chance it, as on this side of the river the open land grew more moist, and in the darkness the elephant's huge feet sank in deeper and deeper, till at every step they plunged in quite four feet, and it needed a sturdy effort to withdraw them. Then all at once the Rajah uttered a grunt, half-turned as if to retrace his steps, and then stood fast, while his companion, making use of the prints he had left, half-turned likewise as if to meet him; and then both stood fast, pressing their heads together with a grunt. "What does this mean?" said Archie with a look of wonder. "I d'know, sir. Looks to me as if they are going to sleep." It was soon proved that the lad was right, for the animals, after uttering a low sigh or two, remained perfectly still, with the mahout dimly seen in his place and his head lowered down upon his chest. "Well, sir," said Pete, "this is all plain enough, and it looks as if we may as well go to sleep too." "Sleep!" said Archie. "With the risk of falling off this pad?" "Oh, we sha'n't do that, sir. We must take it in turns." "Will they stand like this till morning?" said Archie. "Suppose so, sir. They can't fall over sideways, because their legs are stuck fast in these holes. Here, you have first go, sir, and I'll keep watch. Think this is a tigery sort of place?" "They are fond of the river-side, Pete," said Archie sadly; "but I was thinking about crocodiles." "Haven't heard anything of them, sir; but, anyhow, we are safe up here, and we have got to chance it." "Oh," exclaimed Archie impatiently, "how sick I am of hearing you say that!" "Yes, sir; you're a bit sleepy now. Just you slip one arm under this pad rope, and lie right over on your side, and you will go off. You may trust me, sir. I won't go to sleep." Utterly wearied out, the subaltern began to make some opposition, but he obeyed his companion's order, and five minutes after Nature had asserted herself and he was fast asleep. How that night passed he could never afterwards recall, but he had some dreamy notion that he woke up and took Peter's duties of watchman, telling him to slip his arm under the pad rope and lie over upon his side so as to get his turn of rest. But it all proved to be imaginary, for the poor fellow, weak and still suffering from the effects of his wound, did not start up until the great elephant had begun to drag his legs out of the deep holes, when he trudged on towards where the track ran once more between two walls of densely matted palm growth; and he stared in wonder at his companion, hardly able to collect his thoughts so as to put the question that was troubling him and say: "Have I been asleep all night, Pete?" "Yes, sir; like a top. Feel better now?" "No!" cried the lad passionately, for the confusion was passing off. "I trusted you." "Yes, sir. All right. I have been listening to one of them great cats singing and purring right back on the other side of the river, and I never slept a wink." "Oh!" ejaculated Archie; but Peter chose to misunderstand him. "Oh it is, sir," he cried ecstatically. "Take another look before we are shut in amongst the trees. It's lovely! It's the beautifullest morning I ever did see." _ |
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