Among Malay Pirates

lage the next morning, but

prahus if we can. At present we don't know whether they have gone up or down the river, and it would be absolutely useless for us to wait until we get some clew to their wh

re full of them. There are the townspeople and those who came to help them; and though many of those who tried to swim a

two or three of the Malays may come down to the village before morning, either to fetch valuables they may have left behind, or to see whether we are still here. They

I send with

n the younger midshipmen. The men better take three days' cooked provisions on shore and ten

e a whisper; and during the daytime no one must leave his hut on any account whatever. After nightfall you and Mr. Balderson will move from hut to hut, to see that a vigilant watch is kept. You must, of course, take watch and watch, night and day.

will be fired in return. When you hear it, every man must throw himself down, for the guns will be a

ully picked. I have consulted the warrant officers, and they have selected the most taciturn men in the ship. There is to be no smoking; of course the men can chew as much as they like; but the

n the forest, a hundred yards behind. The night passed off quietly, as did the next day. The men slept and watched by turns. On the afternoon of the second day, a na

e himself close to the door, and if he enters, throw himself upon him and hold his arms tightly till the other

ly bound; then the men were called from the other huts, and the whole party ran down to the water's edge, where Harry hailed the ship. A boat put off at once, and they were taken on board. The prisoner was led to the captain's cabin, and there examined through the medi

ing the other end of the rope. "Raise him two or three feet above the dec

got his breath, that he would answer any question. On being taken to the cabin, he said that the prahus had gone down the river, and had ascended the other arm. They had only gone a few mile

or it was desirable to capture the prahu before she was aware that the Serpent had left her position in the other river. For a mile the boats rowed up the creek, which narrowed until they were obliged to go in single file. It widened suddenly, and as the launch dashed through, a shower of balls tore up the water round her; while at the same moment a great tree fell acros

t for us. There are three prahus ahead

ahu which, as was evident by patches of plank freshly fastene

her, and boarded her on the opposite side. A furious contest took place on her deck, the Malays being so confused by being assailed at three points simultaneously that the midshipmen's party were enabled to gain a footing with but very slight resistance. The shouts of the Malays near them brought many runn

impetus brought it against the side of the launch, which was crushed like an eggshell between it and the captured prahu, the two midshipmen springing on board just in time. It was the Malays' turn to board now, that of the British to prevent them; the m

er pirate, from whom a cry of dismay arose a

ed to the men to take to the boats, and the two cutters were speedily manned. One, however, was in a sinking condition; but Lieutenant Hopkins with the other started in pursuit of the prahu, whose crew had already got their oars out, and in spite of the efforts of the sailors, soon left them behind. Pursuit was evidently hopeless, and reluctantly the lieutenant ordered the men to row back. On returning to the scene of combat, they saw sunk near the bank th

killed, ten of the midshipmen's party were missing, and of th

ashed over him. He looked round the deck. Of those who had sprung on board with him, none were v

tisfaction broke from some Malays standing near.

and brought to him. I don't know what his expectations are," he muttered to himself; "but if he expects to be reinstated as rajah, and perhaps compensated for the l

ter. They had evidently received orders to do all they could to revive the two young officers, and one at once brought half a gourd full. Harry had already assured himself that his

" he said sharpl

for Dick started slightly, opened his eyes a

in the hands of these Malays. Try and pull yourself together, but don't move; they

er with my should

u on your side, and then cut the sleeve off the jacket.

oming back to consciousness, for he looked roun

hink I went down before you did. However,

t at the shoulder, ripped open the seam to t

. I fancy it has gone clean through the shoulder bone, and there is no dou

to a pad, saturated it with w

erily, "from having watched the doctor at work o

process with half a dozen other strips; then he placed Dick's hand upon his chest, tied some of the other strips together, and bound them tightly round the arm and body, so that no movement of the

far as it goes. How was it these

hostages, so that he can open negotiations with the skipper. If he gets what he wants, he hands us

he lads heard a loud outburst of anger, and a voice which they recognized as that of the rajah storming and raging for some time; then the hubbub ceased. An hour later the rajah himself came on board with two or three attendants, and a man whom they recognized as speaking a c

e must build up his palace again, pay him for the warships that he has destroyed, and provide him with a gua

, it is for the captain to answer; but I do not think that he will grant the terms, though possibly he may

could never find me, and not a man who landed and tried to come through the country would return alive. I have given your captain the chance. If, at the end of t

his sarong and jacket, was evidently himself a chief, said quietly; "but as to e

hey were able to discuss their position. They at once agreed that escape was impossible, and would be even were they well and strong and could manage to obtain possession of a sampan,

to wait for the captain's

ce with the chiefs who have assisted Sehi against us, on condition of their hunting him down and sending him alive or dead to the ships. But the rascal knows that he could hide himself in these swamps for a month, and he will