With the Dyaks of Borneo

through

verwhelmed them. But there were those lurking in the jungle prepared to arrest the progress of the pirates, and thanks to the resolute air which Tyler had displayed, and to the knowledge which the Dyaks now possessed, that he, with John Marshall alone to help him, had faced the crew of the prahu and safely escaped, they were full of confidence in their young chi

the tracks of the fugitives gave a gasping cry, and fell upon

us by your antics. Come, drag the fellow to his feet," he went on, seeing that the Malay lay still with hi

and turning him upon his back. "See here, someone has fired at hi

shed again, and in the meanwhile the death of one of our number shall not deter us. Push on, and keep your eyes open wide for these snakes of natives. A shot into the

were dismayed at the swishing bullets and at the patter of twigs and leaves which resulted. But they had suffered no harm, and that thanks to the fact that each one had kept his eyes fixed upon the enemy, and at the first sign of the movement had lain flat upon the ground. But in spite of their lucky

seen, and can punish them. Think of the women and children taken

ome of the Dyaks and hopes to beat us back with their aid. But he will soon learn that

ot have obtained the help of more than a few of the natives. But he quickly changed his mind, for ere he had traversed a dozen paces one of the s

e and pain, "Not poisoned, as I said, my men, for that I happen to know. It is nothing-

tt sprang boldly into the underwood, a drawn revolver in each hand. But his

killed!" called out one of their number, retreating towards the swamp. "See! a comrade has already

man came to a sudden halt and stood trembling before the weapon which his leader held levelled at his breast. "You are not all so chicken-hearted as this girl! Will you be driven back, and for the third time

at once fell in behind him, and, rifle in hand, plunged into the jungle. Separating, so that a considerable interval lay between each m

re we run the chance of having the Malays upon us and of engaging in a hand-to-hand struggle. That is just what I do not want, for then the Dyaks will be beaten, and at the sight of their old enemies will turn and fly. We will retire some t

him make de sound of de parrot. Plenty same bird in de forest, an

h. Tyler also turned about, and went off swiftly in the wake of Li Sung, taking good care to keep his head low. When he had traversed some two h

ives. Give each one directions also to be ready to retire again at any moment, only they are not to forget that on the next occasion they are

strength to the full to keep up with him. A gentle call as they went soon brought them to the lurking-place wh

o his satisfaction. "Let me know the i

ay man come swift velly soon. Him tink no little man wait for de pirates, but allee gone. 'Velly fi

foot, broke upon the ear and brought Tyler full length to the earth once more, w

nd dey not creeping. Dey walking wid head velly high, and dem say dat de white man whom dey hate

leafy screen, first one, and then some thirty of the Malays came into view, while behind them their comrades could be heard calling. As for the Dutchman, he was not long in

y, and has fled with these savages. But we will soon catch them up, for they are but poorly fed, and will be hampered wit

enemy were within easy shot of the blow-pipes, the former shouted so that all could hear, and at the same time fired his rifle into the middle of the Malays. A second discharge followed, and ere Hanns Schlott and his

s, and probing every bush with their bullets, the watchers constantly moved their position, and always directed their arrows from a different quar

to be hunted. I tell you that I will sail at once to my friends, and when I return it will be with hundreds. Yes, hundreds shall come who will be willing and eager to do my bidding. Then I will follow across the land, even as far as Sarawak, where your countryman has set up his rule. And more than that, I will cut off your journey on the way, for there are rivers to be crossed, my friend

has them. It is more than likely that he is merely trying to frighten me, and that until I search for him myself and come upon him I shall not see him again. He has been badly be

young leader with wrinkled brow. "Listen, massa, and Li Sung him tellee you little ting

manded Tyler, turning

ail from Singapore for Borneo with plenty dollar in him pocket, and get capt

y to the news which the Chinaman was giving him. "He is dea

l him shout for mercy. But me tellee you all. Dis pirate makee me slave, and set me to pull de o

hich the pirates captured, and which we stole from them again, told me that the Malays and Dyaks of t

y put to sea wid fifty or more ships and many hundred men. Den dey cruise along about Borneo, sometimes going as far even as de China Sea, and ebery day dey pounce upon de merchant-ships. Sometimes him a native filled with birds'-nests or gum. And den it am a ship wid white

to realize who were the peaceful natives and who the piratical ones. But at length Tyler had come to know that Borneo was peopled with many races, and that the Malays inhabited many of the coast towns. For years they had beaten down their Dyak neighbours, and though as a general rule the latter would have preferred to live quiet lives and till the soil, they had been compelled to join the Malays simply because of the fact that existence was impossible in a

obtain a head or heads, and it mattered little how he came by the trophies. Often he waylaid his enemy in the forest and slew him without a word of warning, returning in triumph as thou

and misery, except perhaps in the neighbourhood of Sarawak, where James Brooke had settled. Elsewhere all was given over to violence and piracy, the Dyaks of the land fighting one another and taking heads, while the Malays and the Dyaks of the coast, known

e matter out, until the Chinaman touched

h a doleful shake of his head. "Better put as much of de land between us as we can,

t scouts after the pirates to see that they really embark. Once they have watched them depart they can rejoin

e it to dem, and Li Sung him tellee you d

friends. And now, as they trudged through the jungle, Tyler had ample opportunity of observing his strange companions. He saw that they were fine, athletic-looking men, with muscular figures and powerful limbs. All were almost naked, and the only clothing of which they boasted was a loin-cloth and a handkerchief of gaudy colouring which enc

me up with the main portion of the tribe, and found them encamp

e John Marshall. "We have a big journey before us, and many dangers to face. Already I have told you of Hanns Schlott's threat, and of the Sar

They jest makes all the difference, and when you tell me that they're goin' to waylay us, why, it makes me think that we'll have to retire on the rive

e Dyaks to meet Hanns Schlott alone," said Tyler q

'd never have proposed the move. But I d

sound of an approaching pirate made them tremble and think of flight. After the first brush, however, they began to have confidence in themselves, and now they are bursting with their own importance.

ree companies of fifty, one of which I will look after, while you and Li Sung lead the others. The remainder will guard the women and children.

t. Yer see, if it had been possible to pack the whole lot on to the schooner we could have sailed right into Sarawak, and could have

w her to pieces, or take her himself. No, a journey by land is the only thing for us, though should the opportunity arrive of seizing boats belongi

the forest, and all precautions taken against surprise, they wrapped themselves in some rough cloth which the natives had provided and fell into a deep sleep. Ea

hem free of the care of the women and children. Of course if we were hard pressed we should place the latter in the centre, so as to give them more safety, but we shall hope that it will never come to that. Again, on the march one company can go in advance, and to it will be given the task o

at the manner in which he led the men who held the pirates back, and we say that while he is with us we are ready to fight, whatever the numbers opposed to us and whatever th

pret the words, while a few who had formed part of the rear-guard on the previous da

nly, and will never dream, my friends, that we should be bold enough to throw ourselves upon them. Why, then, should we not take them by surprise, and ere th

while the young chief rose to his feet and, mastering his e

attered into the jungle. Brothers, the time has come to change all this. But yesterday I should have been afraid to mention such a thing; indeed, the thought would never have crossed my brain. But the fighting in the forest, the ease with which we drove this hated Dutchman and his men back, and the fact that we have as a leader a man who is brave, who faced the mias without fear, and who has even escaped from the pirates, having beaten them with the help of o

es in the matter, or of their determination to turn the tables on their enemies, it was at once dispelled, for with the usual impulsiveness of th

ways been in scattered groups. Now you have shown us that by keeping together, by coming upon the enemy unawares, and by retiring before they can assemble to harm us, we can meet them with success. We will follow you blindly, and since it is

pany," said Tyler, as soon as the words had been conveyed to him by the Chinaman. "You can tell them,

h individual off to one of the three companies. All who were left were sent to take charge of the wo

en, while those who are abroad hunting will at once return so as to be at hand in case they are required. On no account is a warrior to betray his presence to an enemy. He

e considerable time before more open ground was reached, for the island of Borneo is a thickly wooded one. At length, however, they emerged upon a stony plain,

ding over the command of his own company to the native chief. "The river is too d

used to de forest, and de river, and dey show you how to cross ve

th what dexterity they caused it to fall in the right direction. Scarcely was it fallen, and its boughs safely lodged upon the farther bank, than one of the Dyaks sprang upon the trunk, and without the help of a guide-rail or of a stick, ran across it. Others followed swiftly and commenced to hack the branches away, and when it came to Tyler's turn to essay the c

on plenty quick, and de tribe will follow without a halt. If we meet another river we shall do de same, and I can tellee de massa dat de Borneans are never stopped by such a thing. Bamboos help dem everywhere, and if dey require to do anyding they turn

ct course towards the distant town of Sarawak. Not for one moment would their young leader allow the line to be depart

arther to the left, into the heart of the island, we shall be giving ourselves a longer tramp and to no pu

us?" exclaimed John in amazement. "It's

we should be constantly harassed. By doing as I suggest we shall come upon these Malays and their comrades when they least expect us, and with a little fortune on our side shall defeat them. Then, if we have laid our plans well, we may be able to embark the whole tribe and set sa

ting them off from the centre of Borneo, while here and there an isolated mountain reared its peak into the sky. Overhead a hot sun poured down upon them, blistering Tyler's face and tanning his skin; but it troubled him far less than it would have done had they been marching across plains, for the leaves above sheltered them greatly, w

night. But now we ought to have some practice in working together for the attack, and I propose that we devote an hour or more each evening to the purpose. Let it be understood that at about two hours before sunset the company in advance is to turn round and act as an enemy. The remainder will march with one company in rear as before, and with h

o as to drive them away. No harm can possibly result, while the practice cannot fail to do good, and steady the men for our approaching fight with th

to a halt some two hours before the sun would set, and went silently to the posts which had been assigned to them. Very soon scouts came running in to say that men who were bareheaded were creeping through the jungle, and ere long the two bodies were engaged, blunted arrows being used so as to make the practice more real. For three evenings in succession was the same movement carried out, and when at length the scouts who had been sent far in advance returned with the news that the Sarebus river was in sight, and that they had seen one of the many p

ard it with cries of pleasure instead of with those of fear and dismay, for they were