Middy and Ensign Part 30

More they could not have done; for to have remained still was to have been sunk, the prahus dashing down at a fearful rate, and evidently seeking a collision; so, angry and disappointed, the pursuit was kept up, every ear being attent for the first shot sent at the enemy's boats by the steamer; but they waited in vain, for when at last they came within challenging distance, it was to find that no prahus had been seen.

"Was a strict watch kept, sir?" asked Lieutenant Johnson, sharply.

"Yes, of course," said Captain Horton. "I have been on deck with my night-gla.s.s ever since you started, and as soon as we heard your guns the men stood ready, lanyard in hand, to fire at any vessel that tried to pa.s.s."

"Then they must have gone off through some side stream, and come out into the river lower down."

Captain Horton stamped his foot with rage, but nothing could be done until morning; for if the steamer had set off at once, it might have been only to pa.s.s the prahus in the darkness of some creek.

Morning then was impatiently awaited, and at the first streak of daylight a couple of boats at once set off, to find a side branch of the river about a mile above the steamer, and that it came out in the main stream once more, half a mile lower down.

They rowed through it to find the current swift and deep, though the place resembled a narrow ca.n.a.l. It was a short cut off through a bend of the river, and at last, vexed and discomfited, the steamer went rapidly back, to learn that the prahus had pa.s.sed the island at daybreak, and had fired a few defiant shots from their lelahs as they rapidly went by.

"Never mind, Tom Long," said Bob, as the former shivered in his great-coat, for the early morning was damp and cold, "only take time, and we shall put salt on their tails yet."

"No, sir," said old d.i.c.k, shaking his head seriously, "it strikes me as you never won't catch them as manages them two swift boats. They're too clever for us, they are. But only think of two big bits of Her Majesty's army and navy like us being set at nought by this here savage prince."

"Wait a bit, d.i.c.k, and you'll see," said Bob. "It strikes me that I'm the man for settling Mr Rajah Gantang; and if it does come to me to do so, why let him look out."

"Ay, ay, sir; and his men too. I owe 'em one for that boat affair. The cowards! when a fellow was asleep!"

"Ah," said Tom Long, discontentedly, "it's all very well to talk, but I want my breakfast;" and he made haste off to his quarters as soon as the steamer's boats had set the military part of the expeditionary party ash.o.r.e.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

HOW ABDULLAH SHOWED THE SMOOTH SIDE OF HIS WAYS.

It was decided after this to wait patiently for an opportunity to capture Rajah Gantang, or to destroy his prahus; and meanwhile life at the residency went on very pleasantly. The men at the fort had settled down into an easy-going existence, and under the doctor's guidance a careful examination was made of the little island, to clear it of everything in the shape of noxious reptile and insect, as far as was possible.

The example of the Malays was followed by the construction of a large bathing-place for the men, which being carefully stockaded round with stout bamboos, allowed the free flow of the river-water, without the addition of any four-footed creatures, in the shape of crocodiles, which were far too common to be pleasant, especially where lower down the river the salt water mingled with the fresh. In fact, it was dangerous there for a hand to be dragged in the water beside a boat, the hideous creatures being ready to make a dash at it, darting through the stream, as they did with great velocity, by a stroke of their powerful tails.

The great desire on the part of the men was to go ash.o.r.e, but, in the majority of cases, this was sternly refused. Here and there, though, an officer had a shooting-trip, but it was thought better to wait until the confidence of the natives had been more thoroughly won, and the disaffected party of Rajah Gantang dismissed.

The sultan seemed to have quite forgotten his rejection by the ladies, and was most liberal in his presentations of fruit and fresh provisions.

Every morning a boat came off with a load, the fore part being generally crammed with freshly-cut flowers; and later on in the day the resident's boat would be sent ash.o.r.e to return the compliment. Tom Long generally had the honour of being the escort, and marching a fatigue party up to the sultan's residence, with something likely to gratify his highness.

There used to be hearty laughter amongst the officers at the quaintness of the presents, and sometimes Tom Long would have been glad to evade his duty had he dared; for, he confided to Bob Roberts--

"It is so confoundedly ridiculous, you know. I don't mind taking him up a little case of a dozen champagne pints, but what do you think I had to take yesterday?"

"I don't know," said Bob, laughing; "a pound of candles, perhaps."

"No, not yesterday," cried Tom Long; "but I did have to take him a packet of composite candles, one day. Only fancy, you know, an officer in Her Majesty's service marching with a fatigue party, up to a palm-thatched barn, to take a coffee-coloured savage a packet of candles for a present!"

"Mustn't look a gift horse in the mouth," said Bob, philosophically.

"Present's a present, whether it's a pound of candles or a gold chain."

"Bah! It's disgusting," said Tom Long. "It's enough to make a man want to part with his commission."

"What'll you take for it, Tom Long? I think I should like a change. Or come, I'll swap with you. I'll turn ensign, and you take a go at the sea?"

"Don't be absurd."

"Certainly not; but come, you didn't tell me what you took up yesterday."

"No," exclaimed Tom Long, flushing with annoyance; "but I will tell you, for it's a scandal and a disgrace to the service, and Mr Linton ought to be informed against. I actually, sir, had to march those men all along through that jungle with a box."

"Box of what?" said Bob; "dominoes?"

"No, sir," cried Tom Long. "A box containing two bottles of pickles."

"Ha, ha, ha, ha!" roared Bob. "What were they? Walnuts, or onions?"

"Neither," said Tom, with great dignity; "one was piccalilli, and the other mixed."

"Well, I dare say he was very glad of them," said Bob. "I consider a good bottle of pickles, out in this benighted place, one of the greatest luxuries one could have."

"Yes," said Tom Long, who had on a supercilious fit that day, "I suppose it would satisfy you."

"All right, my n.o.ble friend," thought Bob to himself; "I'll take you down for that some day."

They strolled out and about the fort together for a time, and then out to the upper end of the island; for though longing to go to the lower portion where the residency stood, both of them carefully avoided that part. But it so happened that soon after, when they directed their steps towards the landing-place, they found that the ladies were there, in company with the major's wife, talking to a couple of Malays in a sampan laden with fruit and flowers.

The ladies were making liberal purchases of the delicious fruit and sweet-scented flowers, when, to the astonishment of Bob Roberts, he saw that one of the Malays, was the man who had made so fierce an attack upon Tom Long over the durian affair.

Seeing this they both stepped forward, when the Malay recognised him, said a few hasty words to his companion, and they both leaped ash.o.r.e, the man of the kris salaaming profoundly, and remaining half prostrate before the young ensign.

"Dullah asks pardon of his excellency," said the other man in good English. "He thought him an enemy who had insulted him, and he drew his kris. He asks now that his excellency will forgive him."

"Yes, yes," said the offending Malay, without raising his head or his pleading hands; and then he repeated what seemed to be the whole of his stock of English, "Yes, yes."

"Dullah asks your excellencies to forgive him, and to let him bring fruit and flowers, and to make offerings to the English princes he has offended."

"Oh, I say, Tom Long," said Bob; "that's a little too strong, isn't it?

English princes!"

"What are we to do about the fellow?" said Tom Long; "tell the sentry to turn him off?"

"No; what's the good?" said Bob. "Here, leave it to me. I'll settle him."

He glanced merrily at Rachel Linton as he spoke, seeming quite at ease in her society now; while Tom Long appeared to be b.u.t.toned up in his stiffest uniform, though he was in undress white.

"Go on, then," said Tom Long in a whisper, "but don't say anything stupid; the ladies can hear every word."

"All right," said Bob. "Look here, old c.o.c.kolorum," he continued to the Malay who interpreted, "what has become of that Kling who was here before?"