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diff --git a/77070-h/77070-h.htm b/77070-h/77070-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..718225d --- /dev/null +++ b/77070-h/77070-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2866 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> + +<head> + +<link rel="icon" href="images/img-cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + +<meta charset="utf-8"> + +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mid of the Maintop, by Arthur Lee Knight +</title> + +<style> +body { color: black; + background: white; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +p {text-indent: 1.5em } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.t1 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 200%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t3 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: center } + +p.t3b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t4 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + text-align: center } + +p.t4b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t5 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 60%; + text-align: center } + +h1 { text-align: center } +h2 { text-align: center } +h3 { text-align: center } +h4 { text-align: center } +h5 { text-align: center } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; } + +p.thought {text-indent: 0% ; + letter-spacing: 2em ; + text-align: center } + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.footnote {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +.smcap { font-variant: small-caps } + +p.transnote {text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.quote {text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.capcenter { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + font-weight: normal; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-indent: 0%; + text-align: center } + +img.imgcenter { margin-left: auto; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: auto; } + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77070 ***</div> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-cover"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-cover.jpg" alt="Cover art"> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-front"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-front.jpg" alt="Captain Brooke and Commander Hutton."> +<br> +Captain Brooke and Commander Hutton. +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-title"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-title.jpg" alt="Title page"> +</p> + +<h1> +<br><br> + The Mid of the<br> + Maintop<br> +</h1> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + By<br> + Arthur Lee Knight,<br> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> + Author of<br> + "The Young Rajah," etc.<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + With Pen-and-ink Illustrations<br> + by<br> + Hilda K. Robinson.<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t4"> + London:<br> + Ernest Nister<br> +</p> + +<p class="t4"> + New York:<br> + E. P. Dutton & Co.<br> +</p> + +<p class="t4"> + Printed in Bavaria.<br> + 651.<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-004"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-004.jpg" alt="Headpiece"> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap01"></a></p> + +<p class="t2"> +THE MID OF THE MAINTOP. +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER I. +</h3> + +<p> +The "Forte" was a fifty-gun frigate +employed upon the East Coast of Africa +in the suppression of the slave trade. About +a week previous to the commencement of +our story the ship had been to Zanzibar +Harbour, where the rest of the squadron +was assembled, and Captain Brooke and +his second-in-command, Commander Hutton, +had reported themselves on board the +flagship, which was a modern man-of-war, and +had received instructions from the admiral +to sail along the coast, keeping a sharp +look-out for slave-dhows, at that time very +numerous. On the captain's return the +"Forte" at once sailed, and at the time +our story opens she was about fifty miles +to the eastward of Ras Hafoon, a bold bluff +promontory formed by huge sun-scorched +rocks, and utterly destitute of vegetation +of any kind. +</p> + +<p> +The captain looked anxiously at the +barometer in his cabin. It had begun to +fall ominously. +</p> + +<p> +There was a hurried knock at the door. +</p> + +<p> +"Come in," shouted Captain Brooke, +as he snatched his cap from a peg. +</p> + +<p> +The lieutenant of the watch entered. +</p> + +<p> +"There's a dense fog driving up, sir," +he said, "and I think we're in for a bit of +a blow as well." +</p> + +<p> +"Take a reef in the topsails," responded +the captain promptly, "and turn the +hands up." +</p> + +<p> +A few seconds later the order was +echoing along the "Forte's" crowded decks, +and the bluejackets were streaming up the +hatchways, laughing and joking as they +went. +</p> + +<p> +The captain unrolled a chart, glanced +for a moment at it, and then followed the +lieutenant on deck. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-007"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-007.jpg" alt="(The Captain)"> +</p> + +<p> +A squall had burst upon the ship. The +topmen were swarming up the rigging: +every man was at his post. +</p> + +<p> +Jack Villiers was one of the smartest +midshipmen on board the "Forte," and +was a general favourite with everyone. As +he was a smart athletic youngster, he had +been placed in command of the maintopmen +when they were aloft, and was always in +the thick of any adventure, which very +much endeared him to the bluejackets' +hearts. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as the reef was taken in on +this occasion, Jack sent his men down from +aloft and then prepared to follow himself. +The "Forte" was heeling over to the strong +breeze, and tearing through the water at the +rate of eight knots an hour. The scud and +spray were flying over the hammock-nettings, +but a dense fog had begun to +envelop the ship, and blew in clouds of +vapour through her network of rigging and +amongst her white sails. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-009"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-009.jpg" alt="<i>Jack ran down the ratlines as fast as he could.</i>"> +<br> +<i>Jack ran down the ratlines as fast as he could.</i> +</p> + +<p> +Jack ran down the ratlines of the +rigging as fast as he could now that his +duty aloft was done. Unfortunately, at this +moment the heavy wet main-sheet was +dragged upwards by the straining of the +sail, and struck against Jack's feet with +such violence as to make him lose his hold +of the rigging. +</p> + +<p> +In an instant he was flung upwards +and then hurled overboard into the midst +of the foaming waves. +</p> + +<p> +Lifebuoys were thrown overboard, the +ship was hove-to, and a boat was sent +away; but by this time Jack had been lost +to sight in the driving mist. When last +seen he was swimming rather feebly as if +dazed by his fall from aloft. +</p> + +<p> +The coxswain of the cutter searched +in vain for the missing boy. No trace of +him could be found. The wind howled in +fitful gusts, and the fog grew thicker and +thicker. It was impossible to see more +than a few feet from the boat, but the +coxswain shouted again and again in his +loudest tones in the hope of being heard +by Jack. Very gloomy did the seamen +look when no answer came to these +repeated cries. +</p> + +<p> +The storm was now very violent, and +the cutter was in danger. The "Forte" +was of course out of sight, but she now +began firing signal-guns. +</p> + +<p> +"The skipper might save his powder," +said the coxswain anxiously, "for we can't +fetch the old hooker in this lumpy sea. +Lay in your oars, lads, step the mast, and +set a close-reefed sail. I reckon it's our +only chance to escape being swamped." +</p> + +<p> +"And the poor young gentleman," said +one of the men, with a sigh; "I'm afraid +we'll never see him this side of eternity +again." +</p> + +<p> +"It'll break his mother's heart," remarked +the coxswain huskily; "but we've our +duty to do, mates, and if the Lord calls +him we mustn't complain, He being our +Commander-in-Chief, so to speak." +</p> + +<p> +The boat under her rag of a sail flew +before the wind. The "Forte" continued +to fire guns at intervals, but it was +impossible to pay attention to them, and soon +the sound died away altogether. +</p> + +<p> +For hours the cutter held on her way, +the coxswain not daring to alter course for +fear the boat should be swamped. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly the fog lifted and began to +roll away over the ocean. At the same +moment the gale began to abate in violence +and the sea to go down. In eastern climes +a sudden storm quickly expends its force. +</p> + +<p> +The cutter's crew gave a shout of joy. +Away over the crests of the still agitated +sea they perceived the misty outlines of +their ocean home, H.M.S. "Forte." She +was apparently standing down in their +direction. +</p> + +<p> +"Here's a piece of good luck," +exclaimed the coxswain; "that's the old +hooker, as sure as guns are guns, and, what's +more, the wind has veered to the westward, +and we can run down and jine company +with her in the shake of a pig's whisker." +</p> + +<p> +It was the work of a few moments to +alter course and shake a reef out of the +foresail. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-013"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-013.jpg" alt="(Cutter and crew)"> +</p> + +<p> +As the last remnants of the fog +disappeared over the eastern horizon, the +"Forte" loomed more and more distinctly +into view. She had topgallant-sails set +and single-reefed topsails. The shades of +evening were now beginning to fall, and +the lurid sun was shaping his course +towards the bleak and barren heights +that guard the shores of the Great Dark +Continent. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as the "Forte" perceived +her boat she hove-to. As the cutter ran +alongside, the coxswain and his mates +noticed that the hammock-nettings and +ports were full of men anxious to learn +the fate of their favourite midshipman. +</p> + +<p> +One glance into the boat was sufficient. +</p> + +<p> +The captain and his principal officers +stood at the entry-port with pale, set +faces. On hearing the coxswain's report, +they turned sadly away, and an unbroken +silence reigned throughout the frigate for +a few moments. +</p> + +<p> +"Hoist the cutter up," ordered Captain +Brooke, in a voice broken with emotion, +"and then put the ship on her course +again." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap02"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER II. +</h3> + +<p> +It was three bells in the first watch +when the coxswain of the cutter—whose +name was Lobb—went on deck. Some +supper and a short sleep in his hammock +had wonderfully refreshed him. The gale +had entirely blown itself out, and the sky +was clear and strewn with brilliant stars, +amongst which the Southern Cross and +the Centauri glittered like gorgeous jewels +set in lapis lazuli of an indigo tint. The +breeze still held from the westward, and +was strong enough to make the frigate +heel over till her shining copper, dripping +with salt spray, was visible on the weather +side. +</p> + +<p> +Lobb went to the lee entry-port and +gazed out over the phosphorescent sea. +His heart was heavy as he thought of +poor Jack Villiers's sad fate, and mechanically +he took off his cap and sought for +the pipe that lay snugly therein. +</p> + +<p> +"A bit of baccy is the thing to soothe +a chap what's got a fit of the blues," he +muttered to himself, as he charged his pipe +with tobacco. "I'm jiggered if it wasn't +the blackest day in my life when I failed +to pick up that youngster—the brightest +young fellow in the ship he was, and that +there ain't no denying." +</p> + +<p> +His meditations were interrupted by +the middy of the first watch, a bright, +fair-haired boy, who, eagerly running up to +him, exclaimed: "Oh, Lobb, I wanted to +see you so much about——" And he +hesitated. +</p> + +<p> +"Ah, it's Mr. Thring," said the coxswain, +pausing in the act of lighting his +pipe. "I'm main sorry for you, sir, I can +assure you, for I know right well what +chums you and Mr. Villiers were, and it +must strike to your very heart, as one +may say." +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-017"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-017.jpg" alt="(Thring and the coxswain)"> +</p> + +<p> +Thring's eyes filled with tears, and he +felt thankful that it was too dark for the +seaman to observe his emotion. He was +quite a youngster, having joined the "Forte" +straight from the "Britannia" training-ship +only a year before our story opens. +</p> + +<p> +"Tell me all that happened, Lobb," +he said at length, in a strained voice. "The +captain only gave me a few particulars." +</p> + +<p> +The seaman lit his pipe, and between +the puffs told what little there was to tell. +It was little indeed, but Thring listened to +the recital with breathless interest, soothed +by the thought that this rough but soft-hearted +sailor was fully in sympathy +with him. +</p> + +<p> +"The sea looks so beautiful now," he +said, when Lobb had finished his short +story. "No one would believe that it could +have——I say, Lobb"—gripping the +seaman's arm—"is it possible that my +chum could have escaped in any way?" +</p> + +<p> +"Nobody could have lived long in that +sea," answered the coxswain sadly; "but +don't you take on too much, sir, about this +unfortunit business. What I says to the +crew of the cutter I says to you, and mind +you, lay it to heart like a brave youngster: +'We've our duty to do, mates,' says I, 'and +if the Lord calls him we mustn't complain, +He being our Commander-in-Chief, so to +speak.'" +</p> + +<p> +There was a long silence. +</p> + +<p> +"I wish we could come across some +slavers," said the middy at length; "I feel +as if active service is the only thing that +would drive poor Jack's dreadful fate from +my mind." +</p> + +<p> +"We ain't had much luck in that way, +sir, have we? But I reckon the wheel of +fortin will turn by-and-by, and we'll get a +haul of prize-money. To-morrow it's like +enough we'll be in the latitude of Cape +Joo-joo, and the chances are we'll fall foul +of some of these swabs what earns their +living by trading in human flesh." +</p> + +<p> +"If we do, I only hope the fellows +will fight," cried Thring, with flashing eyes. +</p> + +<p> +"I hope so too," said the coxswain, +as he knocked the ashes out of his pipe. +"I'm always ready for a scrimmage with +them Arab gentry, for they're the +blackest-hearted scoundrels that walk this earth, +there's no mistake about that." +</p> + +<p> +"Four bells, sir!" reported the marine +sentry, marching up and saluting the middy +of the watch. +</p> + +<p> +"Make it so," answered young Thring +briefly. "Good night, Lobb; I must go and +examine the bow-lights, and take the +corporal of the watch round the decks." +</p> + +<p> +"Right you are, sir. Goodnight, and +don't you let your young heart be frettin' +too much, for, if you'll excuse me taking +the liberty of speech, I can't abear to see +that bright face of yourn a-clouded over. +Don't forget the Commander-in-Chief when +you turns into your hammock at eight +bells." +</p> + +<p> +And carefully stowing his short clay +away in his cap, Lobb went thoughtfully +down the main hatchway in search of his +own hammock. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap03"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER III. +</h3> + +<p> +The following day the "Forte" chased +several suspicious-looking dhows, but +one or two, being smart sailers, managed +to make their escape by carrying a press +of canvas. The frigate, having lofty masts, +was visible to these Arabian mariners from +a very long distance, and, as the reader +may suppose, the vessels that are employed +in the slave trade always keep a sharp +look-out for British men-of-war, for well do +their captains know that, if captured, the +slaves found on board are immediately +released from their cruel captivity and the +dhows sunk or burnt. +</p> + +<p> +The vessels which could not elude the +"Forte" were promptly boarded by the +frigate's boats. All these craft turned out +to be lawful traders, with the exception of +one, which proved to have thirty-five slaves +on board. The jolly-boat, having taken +possession of her without striking a blow, +the wretched slaves, more like walking +skeletons than human beings, were +transferred to the "Forte," and the dhow was +sent to the bottom of the ocean by a few +well-directed shots from the frigate's +forecastle guns. The Arab captain and his +crew were then put ashore upon the arid, +desolate strand and left to find their way +as best they could to the nearest native +settlement. +</p> + +<p> +The wind having dropped very light, +the "Forte" was put under steam, and +proceeded slowly northwards, keeping the +land well in sight upon her port beam. +No vessels now remained in view, but a +large school of black fish were seen +spouting energetically to the north-east, +and the sea was alive with shoals of +flying-fish and an occasional bonito. +</p> + +<p> +"We're very short of sand for scrubbing +decks, sir," said the commander to +Captain Brooke during the first dog-watch; +"may I send a boat ashore to fetch some? +As you know, a river falls into the sea +just to the southward of Cape Joo-joo +yonder, and there's a deposit of some of +the finest sand in the world close to its +mouth." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, I see no objection," answered +the skipper. "It's a very quiet bit of +the coast, and the men couldn't well come +to any harm." +</p> + +<p> +The frigate's nose was accordingly +pointed in towards the land and her speed +increased; but the precaution was taken +of placing leadsmen in the chains. +</p> + +<p> +"I should like to send young Thring +in charge of the cutter, sir," observed +the commander to his chief. "The poor +little chap is very much cut up about +the loss of his middy chum, and it would +be a charity to let him go on the expedition." +</p> + +<p> +"Go he shall, then," said the captain +kindly; "he's a promising youngster and +likely to do the service credit. At the +same time, Hutton, don't forget that the +boy has had but little experience. I don't +think this part of the coast is inhabited, +but warn Mr. Thring that he is not on +any account to interfere with the natives +if they put in an appearance. Should +there be any attempt to oppose his landing, +he is at once to return to the ship +and report himself." +</p> + +<p> +"Pass the word for Mr. Thring, quartermaster," +sang out the commander. +</p> + +<p> +"Our charts of this coast are very +imperfect," said the skipper; "I think we +had better not venture any nearer in. Do +you remember that small bower anchor +we lost off Ras Pundoo?" +</p> + +<p> +"I do indeed, sir; we'd better stop +the engines and get the first cutter lowered. +Her coxswain, Lobb, is a thoroughly +reliable man, and will take good care +that young Thring does nothing rash. +When a middy takes the bit in his teeth +there's no controlling him!" +</p> + +<p> +Captain Brooke smiled. "The old +spirit isn't dead," he said; "there are +always chips of the old block coming to +the fore, who think a lot of the honour +due to the glorious white ensign. One of +my own youngsters is on board the +'Britannia' at this moment learning to be a +young sea-dog." +</p> + +<p> +The "Forte" now lay "as idle as a +painted ship upon a painted ocean," +rolling gently on the heaving land-swell. It +was almost a stark calm, but a catspaw +here and there played over the surface +of the sea and fretted its blue-green +surface into little furrows. Screaming +seabirds swooped around the ship, and just +under the quarter an enormous wily-looking +shark kept watch and ward, eyeing +greedily some refuse from the cook's +galley which was floating towards him. +</p> + +<p> +Young Thring was only too delighted +to go in charge of the cutter, and Lobb +was equally pleased—though the duty of +collecting sand was usually prosaic enough. +</p> + +<p> +There is a saying, however, which +again and again has proved itself a true +one: "It is always the unexpected which +happens." +</p> + +<p> +What Lobb called "the wheel of fortin" +revolves rather quickly sometimes. +</p> + +<p> +The light breaths of air that were +stirring were moving in the direction of +the land, so the cutter hoisted her lugsail +and slowly glided towards the African +shore. +</p> + +<p> +"Is there no surf on this part of the +coast?" questioned Thring, as he buckled +on his dirk around his waist. "I don't see +it, or hear it." +</p> + +<p> +"There's less here than anywhere," +answered the coxswain; "leastways, in fine +weather like it is at present. When there's +a gale blowing there's some scud and spray +flying about, I can tell you." +</p> + +<p> +"The little bay we're making for seems +to be protected on the south side by a +high, jutting point," said the middy, who +was now observing the coast through his +telescope. +</p> + +<p> +"Right you are, sir, and that makes +it a safe place to land when the south-west +monsoon is blowing. That is where the +little river Joo-joo runs into the sea." +</p> + +<p> +"You know this part of the coast well, +Lobb, evidently." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I do, sir. 'Taint the fust time +I've landed here for sand, not by a long +chalk. On one occasion, when I was in +the old 'Ariadne,' we went up the river +Joo-joo in the pinnace to get a supply of +fresh water." +</p> + +<p> +"And you fell in with some natives +I expect, didn't you?" +</p> + +<p> +"Never a soul did we see, sir. There +was a lot of mischievous-looking baboons +a-cruising about and some flamingoes, but +nothing else living did we see. No seaside +lodgings to let, nor nothing of that sort." +And Lobb laughed at his own joke, his +mind reverting for a moment to his own +Mary Anne, who let genteel apartments +overlooking the sea at the little Dorsetshire +town of Swanage. +</p> + +<p> +The words had hardly escaped his lips +when the coxswain suddenly gripped the +middy by the arm, and pointed in an excited +manner in the direction of a jutting +point. +</p> + +<p> +"Do you see that mast of an Arab +vessel, sir?" he almost shouted, "just over +them rocks yonder." +</p> + +<p> +"See it? I should think I did! Now +what in the name of fortune is she skulking +behind that point for?" +</p> + +<p> +"Why, for all we know, she may be +a slave-ship," said the coxswain, with much +suppressed excitement in his tones. "Out +oars, lads, and we'll soon see what larks +that chap is up to." +</p> + +<p> +The middy, in a state of great excitement, +turned his telescope upon the +stranger. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-029"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-029.jpg" alt="<i>Over the dhow's bulwarks appeared a row of fierce bearded faces.</i>"> +<br> +<i>Over the dhow's bulwarks appeared a row of fierce<br> +bearded faces.</i> +</p> + +<p> +"She's a dhow right enough," he said +briefly; "but the commander warned me +not to interfere with the natives." +</p> + +<p> +"That's right enough, sir, that is," +returned the coxswain; "but this is another +pair of shoes altogether. A dhow is a +dhow, and ain't nothing to do with +shore-going loafers." +</p> + +<p> +As it was now a stark calm, recourse +was had to the oars, and the cutter slipped +along through the water, which was so +clear that the fish were visible swimming +about in all directions. +</p> + +<p> +"If yonder craft <i>should</i> prove to be +a slaver, we ain't got no weapons aboard +to fight the swabs with," observed one of +the cutter's crew. +</p> + +<p> +"The stretchers will serve our turn, I +reckon, chum," said the coxswain grimly, +"and there's a shovel or two. We must +be careful what we do, though, for this +hooker may prove to be a lawful trader, +and in that case we can't touch her." +</p> + +<p> +The cutter, urged on by her willing +crew, soon doubled the point, and found +herself in the mouth of the river. The +dhow lay quietly at anchor, and it appeared +as if her crew had not as yet caught sight +of the man-of-war's boat. She looked a +small vessel, and boasted of only one +very raking mast and a lofty tapering yard. +Over her clumsy stern floated a blood-red +flag attached to a bamboo flagstaff. +</p> + +<p> +"Give way, men; we'll soon be alongside +her," cried the middy, in sharp, decisive +tones. "To my mind she has the +look of a regular slaver." +</p> + +<p> +Shouts of alarm now rang out from +on board the stranger, and her Arab crew +were seen hurriedly rushing hither and +thither like a horde of disturbed ants. +</p> + +<p> +"There's a big crew aboard; that's +suspicious," murmured the coxswain to +himself. "How I wish we had poor +Mr. Villiers here! 'Tis just the job he liked +to have a hand in, the plucky youngster"—and +something very like a tear stood in +the seaman's eye as his thoughts reverted +for a moment to the sad events of the +preceding day. +</p> + +<p> +The crew of the dhow were now +seen mustering in the waist of their vessel. +</p> + +<p> +As the cutter drew near, the coxswain, +who knew a few words of Arabic, +rose in the stern-sheets and shouted out +that he was going to board for the +purpose of examining the dhow's papers. +</p> + +<p> +The only answer to this was two or +three jets of flame which gushed out from +over the vessel's taffrail. Some slugs +whizzed over the British seamen's heads +and splashed harmlessly into the water +beyond them. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm jiggered if the sharks ain't slaver-men +then," exclaimed the coxswain indignantly. +"Stand by to lay in your oars, +lads, and follow Mr. Thring and me +aboard with shovels and stretchers in your +fists." +</p> + +<p> +The cutter dashed alongside the dhow. +Over the latter's bulwarks appeared a +row of fierce bearded faces, and the +sunlight glanced brightly on spears and +scimitars. It was an exciting moment. +</p> + +<p> +"Bowmen, hang on there forrard!" +shouted the middy, as he drew his little +dirk from its sheath—a weapon never +intended for active service. +</p> + +<p> +"Grab some of them chaps' weapons +as soon as you can, lads," roared the +coxswain, as he clambered up the dhow's +clumsy side; "and then we'll play 'old +Harry' with the swabs." +</p> + +<p> +With a dash and determination which +nothing could withstand the cutter's crew +followed their youthful leader on board, +dealing telling blows with their shovels +and stretchers as they did so, but +unfortunately one or two seamen were wounded +by the spears of the foe before they gained +the deck of the slaver. +</p> + +<p> +Now came a fierce hand-to-hand tussle. +The Arabs had uttered triumphant shouts +of joy when they perceived that the +British seamen were without weapons, for +they deemed it an easy matter to +overcome them. So they thrust with spear +and cut with scimitar, fiercely urging each +other to drive the enemy back into their +boat again. But they soon found they had +tough customers to deal with—men who +were accustomed to fighting against +tremendous odds. The coxswain, an immensely +powerful man in the prime of life, soon +wrested a scimitar from one of his opponents, +and, rushing into the thick of the +fray, cut down everyone who opposed him. +</p> + +<p> +Young Thring had not been so fortunate. +Having gained in safety the dhow's +bulwarks, he thrust with his dirk at an +Arab who was opposing his further advance, +and by great good luck wounded him in +the sword-arm, causing the man to drop his +spear over the taffrail, whence it fell into +the cutter. The middy was about to spring +on board when he received a violent blow +on the chest from a clubbed musket and +fell backwards into the boat, in the +stern-sheets of which he lay senseless for a few +moments. The bowmen were unable to +assist him, owing to their important duties +forward. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-035"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-035.jpg" alt="(Villiers and slaver-men)"> +</p> + +<p> +Quickly regaining consciousness, however, +the youngster, who had never lost +his grip of the dirk, threw that almost +useless weapon aside, and, seizing the +formidable spear which the Arab had +dropped into the boat, he once more +clambered up the dhow's tall side. +</p> + +<p> +As he did so a hideous chorus of +shrieks and screams, which rose high above +the sounds of strife, rent the air; and a +number of terrified slaves burst open the +flimsy bamboo deck and, rushing up in a +body, began throwing themselves overboard +as if in fear of their lives. Many of these +poor creatures, unable to swim, sank at +once beneath the surface. The scene of +confusion on board the dhow was now +indescribable. In the midst of it Lobb, +scimitar in hand, ran up to the middy. +</p> + +<p> +"I've killed the captain of these slaver-men," +he said excitedly, "and the rest of +the beggars was so took aback at the loss +of their chieftain that they caved in and +laid down their arms. The ship is yours, +sir, but we must do our best to prevent +these slaves escaping. Mad as March hares, +the lot of 'em seems to be, and that's the +truth!" +</p> + +<p> +By dint of almost superhuman efforts, +the middy and his men succeeded in pacifying +the terrified Africans who still remained +on board. A good many had reached the +shore, and were clambering up the rocks +in a wet and dripping state. +</p> + +<p> +The Arabs had been disarmed and the +wounded men were being attended to when +young Thring and his followers were thunderstruck +by hearing a loud and piercing cry +from amongst the cliff-like rocks on shore: +"Help! help!" +</p> + +<p> +"The voice of an Englishman!" exclaimed +Lobb, in the greatest astonishment; +"well, that beats everything as——" +</p> + +<p> +He was interrupted by an agonising +shout from Thring, who staggered back as +if he had been shot: "It's Villiers! it's +Jack Villiers!" +</p> + +<p> +There could be no doubt about it. +Extraordinary as it may appear, there +undoubtedly was the mid of the maintop—supposed +to be fathoms deep in an ocean +grave—with his arms bound behind him, +being hurried away inland by a small party +of armed Arabs who had just a few moments +before emerged from a cave amongst the +rocks immediately above the spot where +the dhow lay at anchor. As Thring gazed +in a petrified manner at the flying group, +he saw to his horror that one of the Arabs +had felled his chum to the ground with a +blow from the butt-end of a pistol. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap04"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER IV. +</h3> + +<p> +Some of my young readers may possibly +have guessed that they would hear of +Jack Villiers again. "There's a sweet little +cherub that sits up aloft and looks after +the life of poor Jack," isn't there? Of course +there is, but still, one may tempt Providence +too far, and I cannot help feeling extremely +nervous when I think of the very awkward +fix my hero is undoubtedly in, for his Arab +captors were very much inclined to assassinate +him at this crisis in his fate, as they +attributed their misfortune in losing the +dhow entirely to his enforced presence +amongst them; whereas we know that it +was nothing of the sort, the discovery of +their vessel having been the result of a +pure accident. +</p> + +<p> +When Jack Villiers fell overboard from +the "Forte's" main rigging he was partially +stunned by the violence with which he +struck the water; but, being a strong, +athletic boy, and a splendid swimmer, he soon +recovered himself, and struck out desperately, +in hopes of reaching one of the many +life-buoys that he knew must have been flung +overboard into the wake of the ship. The +sea, however, had become very boisterous, +and the great waves dashed over him again +and again, drenching him with their stinging +salt brine; and the fog had become so +dense that he could not see more than two +or three feet in front of him. It was a +terrible position for a boy to be in, but +Jack was of that sterling stuff that heroes +are made of, and was determined to make +a brave struggle for life. +</p> + +<p> +"If it wasn't for this horrid fog," he +muttered to himself as he dashed the salt +spray from his eyes, "I should be as right +as a trivet, for I could certainly keep myself +afloat till the boat picked me up." +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-041"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-041.jpg" alt="(Jack Villiers and life-buoy)"> +</p> + +<p> +Jack, of course, had no idea in which +direction he was swimming. As a matter +of fact, he was moving away from the +"Forte" instead of towards her. The water +in the Indian Ocean is so wonderfully +buoyant that the middy was not much +incommoded by his clothes, which were of +very thin texture. The temperature, too, +was warm enough to prevent any feeling +of numbness. +</p> + +<p> +Jack's heart began to sink a little when +he fully recognised how difficult it would +be for the crew of the boat to find him. +He had had sufficient experience at sea to +know that when a man falls overboard in +half a gale of wind he is washed away an +immense distance from the ship in an +incredibly short space of time. He was +aware also that the cutter could not be +lowered until the way of the ship was +nearly stopped, and this involved much +necessary delay. +</p> + +<p> +Jack listened intently for the friendly +sound of oars grinding in the rowlocks, or +for the shouts of his searching shipmates, +but amid the roar of the elements not a +sound could he distinguish. Once or twice +he shouted at the top of his voice, but this +he quickly found exhausted him too much, +and it was absolutely necessary that he +should husband his strength as far as +possible in order to keep afloat at all in such +a tempestuous sea. +</p> + +<p> +Presently, to his great joy, our hero +was struck violently on the shoulder by a +circular cork lifebuoy, which was one of +those thrown overboard from the "Forte's" +poop. With great presence of mind Jack +seized the buoy in a strong grip, and it +was lucky he did so promptly, as in another +moment it would have been washed far +beyond him by a rolling wave. +</p> + +<p> +This buoy undoubtedly saved the mid +of the maintop's life, for, as we know, +the cutter never came within hail of him, +in spite of all the efforts of her devoted +crew. +</p> + +<p> +Jack never knew how long he drifted +about at the mercy of the waves, clinging +with desperation to the lifebuoy; but at +length, as he was beginning to feel that +his strength was fast ebbing away, and that +the end must be very near, the fog began +to almost imperceptibly melt away, and the +middy saw to his delight that there was a +sailing-vessel within half a mile of him, +staggering along in his direction under a +reefed sail, a pile of foamy water at her +bows. +</p> + +<p> +Our hero's heart sank a little, for he +quickly perceived that the stranger was a +dhow. Of the "Forte" there was no sign, +but the horizon was by no means clear +as yet. +</p> + +<p> +"After all, she may be a lawful trader," +muttered Jack, "and if I can only manage +to attract her attention, her captain will +no doubt land me at Aden or some British +port." +</p> + +<p> +By great good fortune, the dhow held +straight on her course, and this brought her +within a fathom or two of the spot where +our hero was so bravely fighting the waves. +So exhausted and weak had Jack now +become, however, that when he tried to +shout in order to attract the attention of +the crew of the stranger he found himself +unable to utter a sound. Nor did he dare +to quit his hold of the lifebuoy even to +wave one arm. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-045"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-045.jpg" alt="<i>Squatting close beside his prisoner was Ahmed Bungoo.</i>"> +<br> +<i>Squatting close beside his prisoner was Ahmed Bungoo.</i> +</p> + +<p> +The captain of the dhow, who happened +to be steering his vessel, had the eyes of +a lynx, and it did not escape his glance +that upon his port bow was a European +castaway, clinging to a buoy and buffeted +about by a still tempestuous sea. The Arab +skipper hated Englishmen like poison, and +it would have been quite in keeping with +his character to have held contemptuously +on his course and left a drowning human +creature to perish, but on this occasion he +was induced to change his mind by the +fact that he thought he perceived the flash +of brass buttons upon the middy's jacket, +as it rose and fell upon the tumbling +waves. +</p> + +<p> +The love of gain had a firm hold upon +the sordid mind of this Arab chief. Perchance +this was a naval officer, for whose +release from captivity the British Government +might be induced to pay a heavy ransom! +It was too good an opportunity to +be lost! The wily Arab promptly hove-to +his clumsy craft, and sent away a boat +to rescue the castaway. +</p> + +<p> +The long and terrible strain had been +too much even for a boy of unusual physical +strength. No sooner was Jack bundled +unceremoniously on board the dhow than +he fainted dead away. +</p> + +<p> +On recovering consciousness, our hero +found himself lying upon the rough bamboo +deck of a rude cabin built under the poop +of the Arab vessel, and dimly illuminated +by the open doorway, there being no other +means of admitting air or light. A cushion +stuffed with native cotton and covered with +Turkey red supported Jack's head, and, to +his astonishment, the middy found that his +own dripping clothes had been stripped +from him and their place taken by an +Arabic jacket and pair of loose trousers +secured by a cummerbund; his feet being +slipped into a pair of yellow shoes. +</p> + +<p> +Squatting upon his haunches close +beside his prisoner, and with his subtle +dark eyes fixed intently upon the middy's +blanched face, was Ahmed Bungoo, skipper +of the dhow, and one of the most noted +slave-dealers of Zanzibar. +</p> + +<p> +The Arab gave a grunt of satisfaction +when he saw that the midshipman had +opened his eyes, for he had feared for some +almost intolerable moments that the prisoner +would slip through his fingers. +</p> + +<p> +For a few seconds Jack felt strangely +bewildered, then memory asserted her sway +in a flash, and he distinctly remembered +the train of incidents which had led up to +his almost miraculous rescue from a watery +grave. He tried to sit up, but fell back +helpless with a groan. +</p> + +<p> +Ahmed frowned, and played with the +hilt of a gaily-ornamented knife which was +stuck into his girdle. He was about to +speak when he saw that his captive had +fallen into a profound sleep—the sleep of +exhausted nature. +</p> + +<p> +Our mid of the maintop slept tranquilly +for many long hours, and when he eventually +awoke felt quite recovered and as +ravenous as a shark. He found himself +still in the same position upon the deck of +the cabin, but the lynx-eyed skipper had +disappeared. In his place a gaunt-looking, +grizzle-headed Arab stood on guard at the +entrance of the cabin—which was innocent +of a door—armed with a very long-barrelled +musket and a curved scimitar. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-049"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-049.jpg" alt="(Arab guard)"> +</p> + +<p> +Anxious to thank his preservers, and +curious also to ascertain the nature of the +vessel which had picked him up, our hero +rose to his feet and moved towards the +sentry, intending to pass him and go in +search of the captain. The Arab, however, +perceiving his intention, immediately barred +the entrance with his long musket, at the +same time uttering some sharp order in +Arabic, which of course Jack did not +understand. The middy at once gathered, +however, from the man's threatening manner +that he must consider himself a prisoner, +and, thinking it wiser for the present to +obey orders, he re-seated himself upon the +deck, and, pointing to his mouth, said in a +loud voice: "Me want some grub very bad, +Johnny." +</p> + +<p> +The sentry shouted to someone who +was invisible to Jack, and presently a +short, repulsive-looking native with a very +black skin appeared upon the scene, +bearing in his huge hands a chatty of +boiled rice and a wooden spoon. This +dish he set before the midshipman, and +signed to him to eat. +</p> + +<p> +Jack lost no time, and began to +attack the rice with avidity, the two +natives eyeing him closely and with the +utmost gravity during the proceedings. +The rice, being flavoured with a little +curry-stuff and some pieces of chopped +brinjal, was by no means unpalatable, +and the middy left not one grain in the +bowl "for manners." Indeed, he felt very +much better for the meal. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-051"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-051.jpg" alt="(Jack eating)"> +</p> + +<p> +The short black attendant stalked out +with the empty bowl, and almost at the +same moment in stalked the Arab captain +with an unmistakeable scowl upon his face. +</p> + +<p> +"If that chap isn't a slave-dealer, +may I go back to the nursery and +pinafores," muttered the mid of the maintop +to himself; "and I'm in a jolly tight +place if this is a slave-dhow, unless one +of our cruisers should happen to fall foul +of her." +</p> + +<p> +Feeling sure that this individual was +the captain, and anxious to conciliate +him—Jack was a born diplomat—our hero +made the chief a neat little speech in +English, expressing his thanks for past +favours, and making a request that he +might be landed at the nearest port. +</p> + +<p> +The captain shook his head vehemently, +as if to intimate that the English tongue +was utterly unknown to him. Then, turning +to the sentry, he said in Arabic: "By +the beard of the Prophet, a handsome +youth! What thinkest thou that Christian +dog, the English admiral, will pay for him, +eh, Khyraz?" +</p> + +<p> +The sentry twirled his moustache +thoughtfully. Then he said, with a hoarse, +guttural laugh: "Perhaps the admiral will +pay you in cannon-balls instead of gold, O +Ahmed, my chief; it's a way the dogs +have!" +</p> + +<p> +The captain scowled at this pleasantry. +Then he observed tranquilly: "I think it +will be sufficient gold to buy a hundred +slaves with in the Zanzibar market. We +shall do well on our next voyage if we +have the good fortune to escape the men-of-war." +</p> + +<p> +Jack's heart rather sank when he found +that the captain did not understand any +English. How could he convey to him +his wish to be landed at the nearest port? +</p> + +<p> +As our hero was turning over these +thoughts in his mind, a member of the +Arab crew came below, and reported that +the yard had been sprung in the gale and +needed repairs. +</p> + +<p> +Ahmed, after giving some rapid orders +to the sentry, hurried away, and Jack was +left to his own meditations, which were by +no means pleasant ones. +</p> + +<p> +So badly was the dhow's yard injured +that Ahmed decided to put into the +Joo-joo river, where he could carry out the +necessary repairs whilst his vessel lay +securely at anchor. The dhow drew very +little water, and safely entered the estuary +only a few hours before the "Forte" +appeared upon the scene. +</p> + +<p> +The cutter's crew under young Thring's +command had been mistaken in imagining +that they were taking Ahmed and his men +by surprise. There is a saying: "You do +not catch a weasel asleep," and the slaver-captain +very closely resembled that animal, +and was always on the alert and ready for +emergencies. Thoroughly alarmed as he +was by the apparition of the man-of-war in +the offing, and of her boat approaching the +shore, he yet trusted to his usual good +luck—having never been captured by a +cruiser—and hoped that his presence in the +river would pass unobserved, shrouded from +view as he deemed himself to be by the +jutting point of rocks. +</p> + +<p> +The instant, however, the wily Ahmed +recognised that the cutter's nose was turned +in his direction, he calmly and quietly +prepared for action, and as a precaution +sent Jack Villiers ashore in charge of three +fully-armed men, on whose faith and courage +he knew he could implicitly rely. +</p> + +<p> +In dogged, obstinate bravery this slaver-captain +was certainly not deficient. He +was prepared to fight to the last drop of +his blood in defence of his vessel and human +cargo. With regard to his prisoner, Jack +Villiers, the chief was very much averse +to treating with naval officers for his release, +much preferring that negotiations for that +purpose should, if possible, be carried on +with a Consular Agent at some port. Herein +he showed his wisdom—the wisdom of the +serpent. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap05"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER V. +</h3> + +<p> +Thring could scarcely believe his eyes +when they fell upon his chum Jack +being hurried away up the cliffs by three +swarthy, fleet-footed Arabs. That piercing +cry of "Help! help!" had gone to his heart, +for he did not fail to instantly recognise the +well-loved tones of that friend whom he +had mourned as dead. If it had not been +for the fact that the Arabs, in the hurry +and confusion, had omitted to gag their +captive, even Thring might have been +deceived, for his friend was still arrayed in +his Oriental costume. +</p> + +<p> +"Bless my heart if you ain't right, and +that's Mr. Villiers hisself!" sang out Lobb, +on hearing the young middy's exclamation. +"How in the name of wonder did——" And, +without finishing his sentence, the coxswain +snatched up an Arab musket which he knew +to be loaded. +</p> + +<p> +"The swabs have knocked him over, +and may be a-murderin' of 'im!" he cried, +in horrified tones. +</p> + +<p> +But Thring made a dash at the long +barrel. "Don't fire at them, Lobb; you +might hit poor Jack." +</p> + +<p> +The seaman lowered the gun. "I could +pick off any one of the warmints if I had +a mind to," he said; "leastways, if this was +a Martini-Henry I had in my fist; but by +ill fortin it ain't." +</p> + +<p> +Thring stamped on the deck in despair, +as he watched with agonised glances his +helpless chum being borne away into the +interior, accompanied by about a score of +escaped slaves. +</p> + +<p> +His duty was plain, however. He recognised +that at once. An immediate return +to the "Forte" to report matters was +imperative, and there were some wounded +men—both sailors and Arabs—to attend to. +Ahmed, as we know, had lost his life, and +the same fate had overtaken one of his +principal followers. Several of the cutter's +crew were suffering from wounds, but +fortunately none of them were serious. +</p> + +<p> +It was necessary to leave a small guard +on board the dhow, and Thring was about +to step into the cutter with his reduced +crew when it was reported to him that the +"Forte's" pinnace was approaching. +Captain Brooke, having observed the dhow's +mast, and that the cutter had gone—as he +thought—to reconnoitre, very promptly sent +away one of his largest boats, containing a +score of armed men, under command of the +gunnery lieutenant. +</p> + +<p> +"This is a very serious matter," +exclaimed that officer when he had heard the +middy's story. "Thank God your friend is +alive, and I trust we may yet see him +aboard safe and sound. There is not a +moment to lose, however, and we must +return instantly to the ship and report matters +to the captain. I'll put half a dozen +additional men aboard the slaver, and then we'll +sheer off." +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-059"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-059.jpg" alt="(Thring and Captain Brooke)"> +</p> + +<p> +Captain Brooke looked very grave when +he heard the extraordinary news brought +by the two officers. The glad intelligence +that Jack Villiers was alive spread like +wildfire throughout the ship, and everyone, +fore and aft, was burning to join in an +expedition to effect his release. +</p> + +<p> +The captain hoped that the Arabs would +come off and treat for the release of the +prisoner, and to this end—through the ship's +interpreter—several parleys were held with +the Arab captives, who, evidently in terror +of their lives, protested stoutly that no +Englishman had been on board the dhow at all, +and that Thring and his boat's crew must +have been mistaken in thinking they had +seen such a person. In despair at their +obstinacy, Captain Brooke ordered the +prisoners to be released and put on shore, with +a parting and most emphatic reminder that +if a hair of the missing midshipman's head +was hurt they would all eventually be +recaptured and hanged at the yard-arm. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-061"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-061.jpg" alt="<i>Several parleys were held with the Arab captives.</i>"> +<br> +<i>Several parleys were held with the Arab captives.</i> +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile energetic preparations were +going on for fitting out an expedition. +Every available boat was manned and armed, +and the little naval brigade, consisting of +a hundred bluejackets and twenty marines, +was placed under the command of the +gunnery lieutenant, Mr. Howard. All the +necessary arrangements, however, took some +time, especially as the steam-launch had to +be hoisted out and fitted for active service. +Captain Brooke did not regret the delay, +as he still hoped that his warnings to the +released Arab prisoners would have effect, +and that Jack would be held to ransom +without loss of time. In this, however, he +was doomed to disappointment, for no messenger +bearing the olive-branch of peace +arrived upon the scene. +</p> + +<p> +The sun was now descending swiftly +into his cloudy bed in the radiant west, +and, as there is scarcely any twilight in the +tropic zone, the officers of the "Forte" +recognised that it would be impossible for +the expedition to start before the following +morning. It was known, of course, that +only three armed Arabs had formed Jack +Villiers's escort; but, for all that was known +to the contrary, these men might easily +induce some of the warlike Somalis to join +them and assist in forming ambushes or +other devices of guerilla warfare. +</p> + +<p> +There were two prime difficulties which +presented themselves to Captain Brooke's +mind. The first and most important was +that the Arabs, incensed at being pursued, +might put Jack to death out of pure spite; +and the second was that it was impossible +to tell in which direction the fugitives had +gone, as nothing had been seen of them +since the cutter's crew had observed them +clambering up the acclivities of Ras Joo-joo +like so many startled deer pursued by a +leopard. +</p> + +<p> +Dawn broke in a clear cloudless sky. +The "Forte," now anchored in the bay, +appeared to be lying in a tranquil lake, +unruffled by the lightest catspaw. The bleak +and barren-looking shores appeared to be +deserted. Not a human being was visible +on strand or cliff, although the signalmen +repeatedly swept them with their powerful +telescopes. +</p> + +<p> +It was necessary to take action, and +that promptly. +</p> + +<p> +The naval brigade was mustered, and +then drafted into the boats. Every man +was armed with a rifle and cutlass, the +petty-officers being supplied with revolvers +as well. Thring, as a friend of the +kidnapped midshipman, was allowed to +accompany the force, much to his own +satisfaction. +</p> + +<p> +The steam-launch took the little flotilla +in tow, and, with her engines going full +speed ahead, steered for the mouth of the +Joo-joo river, where it was proposed to +disembark the force. No field-guns were +taken, owing to the nature of the country, +but the launch had a seven-pounder mounted +in her bows in case it should be necessary +to disperse any body of natives that might +assemble to dispute the landing—a not very +probable contingency. +</p> + +<p> +As the estuary of the river was opened +out, two small canoes were observed upon +its waters, the occupants of which were +apparently engaged in fishing. +</p> + +<p> +Young Thring was in the launch with +the gunnery lieutenant, actively at work with +his telescope. +</p> + +<p> +"There's your dhow safe enough at +anchor," observed Mr. Howard; "but I +wonder what those fellows are up to in the +canoes." +</p> + +<p> +"Perhaps they're spies, sir," said the +middy. +</p> + +<p> +"We must make prisoners of them in +any case. It is just possible that we may +be able to wring some information out +of the fellows if they are inhabitants of +the country." +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-065"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-065.jpg" alt="(Native in canoe)"> +</p> + +<p> +The boats having been cast off, the +gig was ordered to immediately seize the +two canoes, the natives in which were now +paddling away up-stream in evident alarm. +They were quickly captured, however, and +brought on board the launch, where they +stood before the lieutenant trembling in +every limb. +</p> + +<p> +Through the interpreter, who understood +all the dialects of the coast, Mr. Howard +cross-examined the men, who proved +to be members of the Somali tribe, and +genuine fishermen. On the promise of a +large reward if their information should +prove correct, these fellows spun a long +yarn, some items of which proved to be of +great importance. +</p> + +<p> +It appeared that they had seen Jack +Villiers carried away up-country, and out +of curiosity had followed in the track of +the fugitives—a white prisoner being a very +uncommon sight on their coast. They soon +perceived that the Arabs were not +unacquainted with the country, for they made +straight for a large, rudely-fortified village +situated on the left bank of the river, and +some ten miles from its mouth. This +settlement was ruled over by a petty chief of +warlike tastes, who often made cruel and +utterly unprovoked raids upon his neighbours. +</p> + +<p> +The fishermen went on to relate that +they saw the Arabs and the escaped slaves +enter this village, and that they felt sure +the chief had received them amicably. +They themselves had not dared to approach +any nearer, but had slunk off to their +own home, a mere hovel on the banks +of the stream; nor had they seen or heard +anything more of the prisoner or his +captors. +</p> + +<p> +This news—if trustworthy—was of +enormous importance, for it located the +whereabouts of the fugitives. The lieutenant +gave it as his opinion that the chief +in question had probably been a friend +and ally of Ahmed's in former days, and +that the news of that slave-dealer's death +would probably exasperate him very much +against all Englishmen, and decide him +to assist the Arabs with all his armed +forces. +</p> + +<p> +The fishermen, on being asked if they +would consent to act as guides, willingly +agreed to do so; and, as the river was +too shallow to allow of the boats +proceeding up-stream, the naval contingent +was landed at a convenient spot on the +left bank, and quickly formed up for an +advance. The country here was fortunately +open and fairly level; and, though +there was no road, the ground was firm +under the men's feet, and not obstructed +by scrub or jungle. The only signs of +vegetation were a few mangrove-bushes +that lined the banks of the muddy, sluggish +stream, and an occasional clump of lofty +bamboos. +</p> + +<p> +The officers were of opinion that the +fishermen were speaking the truth, but every +precaution was taken to guard against +treachery by throwing out scouts and an +advanced line of skirmishers. +</p> + +<p> +The excitement of action enabled +Thring to keep up his spirits to a certain +extent, but he had a terrible foreboding +that the treacherous Arabs would not +scruple to murder his chum should it +suit their purpose to do so. Certainly +there were some grounds for his fears. +The little middy felt as if he had lived +a lifetime in the last few days, so great +had been the tension. +</p> + +<p> +As far as possible the brigade followed +the course of the river, which was not +a sinuous one, its turbid current flowing +evenly between oozy mudbanks, whereon +an occasional crocodile was seen basking +in the hot rays of the tropic sun. These +repellent reptiles slid off almost noiselessly +into the water on viewing the approach +of human beings. +</p> + +<p> +Every moment—early as it was—the +heat grew more intense, and a veritable +plague of flies attacked the men on the +march; but the gallant fellows made light +of all these annoyances, and joked and +laughed like a lot of light-hearted schoolboys +out for a picnic. The idea that the +kidnapped middy might be cruelly murdered +did not occur to them. As Lobb confided +to one of his cronies: "In course +there'll be a bit of a scrimmage, mate, +and then we'll have the young gentleman +back amongst us as right as a trivet, d'ye +see?" +</p> + +<p> +After an arduous forced march of +three hours or so, the village was reported +to be in sight, and every heart beat high +with expectation. A considerable détour +had been made in the last three miles, +so as, if possible, to enable the force to +make an attack upon the village in the +rear, and also for the purpose of avoiding +some patches of forest near the river. +Several natives had been seen making their +way rapidly in the direction of the +settlement, and there could be no doubt that +they would give the alarm to those within +the rude but strong palisades that formed +the warlike chief's principal line of defence. +</p> + +<p> +A halt was called under the shade +of some trees, and the officers conferred +together for a few moments. +</p> + +<p> +A loud jabbering, mingled with shouts +of both defiance and alarm, now rang +out from the village. Children screamed, +dogs barked, cocks crew, and goats bleated, +and it was evident enough that any idea +of taking the place by surprise must be +abandoned. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-071"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-071.jpg" alt="(Wounded sailor)"> +</p> + +<p> +Rapidly the naval brigade formed into +line and, with the officers leading, charged +forward at the double. The men had orders +not to cheer or to fire a shot until they +were close to the palisades, which latter +enclosed the village on every side except +that which opened upon the river. Extending +beyond these stockades were stretches +of cultivated ground, containing crops of +maize, sweet potatoes, melons, and tomatoes. +There was absolutely no cover for the +attacking force, a few guava-trees and +clumps of cacti being the only break in +the uniformity of the ground—an +unfortunate circumstance. +</p> + +<p> +As the bluejackets and marines swept +forward to the attack, it became evident +that the defenders had loopholes for +firearms in their palisades, for a brisk fire +was opened at different points upon the +advancing brigade, and several men fell +out of the ranks wounded; for, though +most of the bullets flew high, a few found +their billets accurately enough. The +ambulance corps at once conveyed these poor +fellows to the rear, where the surgeons +were in attendance to dress their hurts. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-073"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-073.jpg" alt="<i>The chief levelled the piece and fired, and Mr. Howard fell.</i>"> +<br> +<i>The chief levelled the piece and fired, and Mr. Howard fell.</i> +</p> + +<p> +It was clear that there would be a +desperate attempt on the part of the garrison +to roll back the charging line of stormers, +for in addition to the sharpshooters—who +were but few in number—a large posse +of warriors could be observed assembling +just within the stockades, evidently mounted +on platforms erected for the purpose. The +rays of the sun flashed brightly on the +spears, swords, and hatchets which these +fellows bore, and lit up their savage +countenances and wild fluttering turbans with +weird effect. +</p> + +<p> +Close to a strongly-barricaded gateway +on the northern side of the line of +defences two or three banners were lazily +flaunting in the gentle breeze, and near +this spot stood the chief, Sooltan Shah, +himself, surrounded by his chief advisers +and the three Arabs who had acted as +Jack Villiers's escort. +</p> + +<p> +Sooltan Shah was a powerfully-built +man of middle age, and his clean-shaven +tattooed face bore a mingled expression of +cruelty and pride strongly stamped upon it. +A large scar reaching from his right eye to +the corner of the mouth, and a slight cast +in one eye, lent the whole face a ferocious +and sinister look which disagreeably +impressed everyone who gazed upon it. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-075"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-075.jpg" alt="(Sooltan Shah)"> +</p> + +<p> +As I mentioned before, this individual +had been on very friendly terms with +the dead slaver-captain, and his wrath had +been greatly aroused by the news that the +little residue of Arabs had brought him. +</p> + +<p> +"The dogs are brave," he said to his +counsellors, as he admiringly watched the +charge of the naval brigade; "but they'll +never swarm over my palisades. If they +do, my trusty warriors will wet their spears +in the blood of my foemen, and their bodies +shall be cast to the vultures." +</p> + +<p> +As he finished speaking, the thin white +line halted and poured in a volley at close +range. Then it swept forward again, a +ringing British cheer from over a hundred +throats rushing out like a blast from amid +the rolling battle smoke. +</p> + +<p> +Two bullets rang by close to Sooltan +Shah's gaudy and voluminous turban, and +one of the Arabs standing close beside him +sprang three feet into the air and fell dead +at the chief's feet—shot through the heart. +Sooltan's face was convulsed with +passion. Seizing a musket, the butt of which +was inlaid with ivory, from one of his attendants, +he levelled it at the gunnery lieutenant +and fired. The slug struck the ground +a couple of feet in front of the officer. +</p> + +<p> +"Give me another musket," roared the +chief; "my second shot is always a deadly +one." +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-077"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-077.jpg" alt="(Jack in prison hut)"> +</p> + +<p> +Again he levelled the piece and fired. +Mr. Howard fell, his drawn sword flying +from his grasp. +</p> + +<p> +"One chieftain has bitten the dust, ha! ha!" +exclaimed Sooltan, with savage glee. +"Now is Ahmed's death avenged, and we +shall see these white men fleeing before us +like a herd of gemsbok before a hungry +lion." +</p> + +<p> +"Some of the dogs are beneath the +gateway. Shoot them down!" cried one +of the Arabs excitedly. +</p> + +<p> +Scarcely had the words escaped his +lips than a terrific explosion rent the air, +and chocks of timber, stones, and dust were +hurled upwards with great force. Sooltan +and those standing around him were thrown +violently to the ground, and a shower of +debris fell around them. A strong odour +of gunpowder filled the air, and volumes +of grey smoke slowly drifted away on the +wind. +</p> + +<p> +A detachment of seamen-gunners had +blown up the barricaded gateway, and thus +created a wide gap, through which a party +of stormers swept in to the attack with +ringing cheers. +</p> + +<p> +Sooltan Shah had only been partially +stunned. The desperate courage of the man +asserted itself in spite of the rude awakening +he had received. Seizing a weighty +spear, he rapidly thundered out some orders +to those around him, and then, with hasty +steps and a lowering brow, rushed down at +the head of his men to endeavour to stem +the onward rush of the "Forte's" men. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile other mines had been sprung, +and at several points the active sailors were +seen swarming over the stockades like a +troop of wild cats. Some of these, however, +were shot down and others wounded by the +long spears of the natives. +</p> + +<p> +Young Thring, brave, cool, and collected +amidst all the turmoil of this hand-to-hand +fight, was one of the first to enter the +village, and, with the aid of a body of veteran +seamen, drove the line of defenders—still +fighting desperately—backwards into the +narrow lanes that divided the rows of beehive +huts one from the other. The middy had +asked the interpreter to keep close to him, +that he might be enabled to question some +of the prisoners as to the whereabouts of +Jack Villiers, whom he hoped to rescue +alive out of the hands of his ruthless +captors—if, indeed, the poor fellow had not +already perished by the hands of an assassin. +</p> + +<p> +As the middy and his men pushed on, +the resistance of the villagers grew feebler +and feebler, and at length ceased altogether. +In answer to the queries of the interpreter, +one of the prisoners asserted that he knew +well the hut in which Jack Villiers had +been confined, and would guide the victors +to it. With a terrible anxiety gnawing at +his heart, Thring marched on rapidly with +his men, and quickly arrived before the +hut which had been used as a prison. +</p> + +<p> +It was deserted and empty, and there +were unmistakeable bloodstains upon the +earthen floor. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap06"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER VI. +</h3> + +<p> +When our mid of the maintop was +hurried ashore from the dhow in the +Joo-joo river, he had no idea that a +man-of-war was in the offing, and that one of +her boats was about to board the slaver. +</p> + +<p> +The sounds of the conflict were heard +somewhat indistinctly in the cave in which +the three Arabs and the middy had taken +refuge, but Jack felt with a sudden exaltation +of spirits that it was probable that a +British boat had arrived upon the scene, +and that his immediate release might be +reasonably expected. +</p> + +<p> +Sadly were his hopes dashed to the +ground when, with his arms bound behind +him, he was hurried out of the cave and +up the cliffs by his guards. One glance +at the dhow beneath him showed our hero +that there were British bluejackets on board, +although in the confusion of the moment +he did not recognise Thring or any of the +cutter's crew. +</p> + +<p> +One wild cry burst from the unhappy +boy's lips. The next moment he was struck +to the ground by his relentless captors, +gagged with a piece of cotton cloth, and +then forcibly borne away up-country in a +state of semi-consciousness, from which he +did not fully recover till he found himself +cast—released from his gag, but bound and +helpless—into a small beehive hut in +Sooltan Shah's stockaded village. +</p> + +<p> +A whirl of conflicting thoughts passed +through the poor boy's mind, and for the +first time since his rescue from the waves +did it occur to him that his captors might +take it into their heads to end his existence +and their own responsibility at the same +time. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-083"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-083.jpg" alt="<i>Some armed natives entered the hut.</i>"> +<br> +<i>Some armed natives entered the hut.</i> +</p> + +<p> +The possibility of this ending to his +adventure struck a chill to the midshipman's +brave young heart, but his family motto +happened to be "<i>Nil desperandum</i>," and +he had never yet, in his short career, failed +to act up to it. Indeed, a braver or more +resourceful boy than Jack Villiers it would +be difficult to find, even in that nursery of +heroes, Her Majesty's Royal Navy. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore the middy soon plucked up +his spirits and began to turn over some +problems in his mind—problems of escape +from durance vile. +</p> + +<p> +"I'd give anything to know," muttered +Jack to himself, "whether those bluejackets +on board the dhow recognised me as an +Englishman or not. In this rig they might +easily have taken me for an Oriental, for +some of these Arabs are as fair as a European. +I wonder what cruiser they belonged to? +Could they have been some of my own +shipmates? What luck if they were! Even +then, however, the skipper might think it +too risky to send an expedition up-country. +He would probably try and treat with the +beggars instead, and meanwhile I may have +a knife stuck into me." +</p> + +<p> +The middy was almost in complete +darkness, for there was no window to the +hut, and when his guards had thrown him +down upon the earthen floor they had gone +outside to mount guard, shutting the palm-leaf +door behind them and carefully securing +it. A few straggling rays of light came in +through chinks here and there, but they +could not disperse the depressing gloom of +the interior. +</p> + +<p> +Jack's head ached: the effects of the +blow the Arabs had dealt him, coupled +with the long march under the almost +intolerable rays of a vertical sun; and for +a time his thoughts did not take a very +definite shape. +</p> + +<p> +About an hour after his arrival in the +village, some armed natives, in no way +resembling the Arabs, entered the hut, +bearing a small bunch of bananas and an +earthenware pitcher containing goats' milk. +These they placed on the floor beside the +prisoner, removed the lashing from his +arms, and then without a word glided +outside and resumed their vigilant watch +and ward. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm glad they haven't forgotten the +grub," said Jack to himself; "for when +one is down in the mouth one wants to +be figged up a bit." +</p> + +<p> +After munching a few bananas and +taking a good long pull at the pitcher +our hero felt more himself, and was +thankful to get his arms free for a short +time, for the numerous turns of rope had +made them very stiff and uncomfortable. +</p> + +<p> +The guards re-entered, replaced the +lashing with almost brutal force, and then +withdrew again. +</p> + +<p> +"No, I've not forgotten the dodge +those fellows at Guildford Fair taught +me," muttered Jack, who had been lost +in profound thought for some minutes, +"and I really believe I could get my +arms free if I wanted to. Then if I +only had a knife or some sort of tool +it might be possible to hack one's way +through these flimsy walls, which are only +made of dried palm-leaves or something +of that sort." +</p> + +<p> +The day wore on, and at length night +fell—a still, balmy night, with a sky +scintillating with a million flashing stars. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-087"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-087.jpg" alt="(Jack with scallop shell)"> +</p> + +<p> +A scanty supper of boiled rice and +salt fish was served to the prisoner, and +then the guards left him stretched upon +the ground for the night, securely bound—or +so they thought, having never had the +opportunity of attending Guildford Fair and +being initiated into its mysteries! +</p> + +<p> +The exhibits at the Surrey county-town +usually included a "strongman" who +could shake himself free from any entanglement +of rope, however cunningly knotted +around him. In exchange for a sovereign, +and a promise never to reveal the secret +to anyone else, our hero had been shown +the trick. There was no fraud or jugglery +about the matter. When you know +the way it is as simple as ABC, +but then every schoolboy has not a +sovereign to spare for this sort of thing, +has he? +</p> + +<p> +No sooner did Jack find himself left +alone for the night than he proceeded +without loss of time to put his plan of +escape into execution. +</p> + +<p> +I am not going to tell you how the +rope lashings were cast off, for the simple +reason that I do not know, for Jack is a +boy of honour, and I have never been able +to get him to divulge the secret, <i>even to +me</i>—his own father. +</p> + +<p> +Suffice it to say, however, that in ten +minutes' time our hero had succeeded in +getting his arms free; and his first act was +to stealthily grope about in every corner +of the dark hut in the hope of finding some +object that might be of use to him in the +endeavour to bore through the leafy walls +of his prison-house. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-089"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-089.jpg" alt="(Jack Villiers waving turban)"> +</p> + +<p> +The only thing the middy found, +however, was a shell shaped like a scallop. +There was absolutely nothing else lying +about. +</p> + +<p> +"This won't do," said Jack to himself; +"one can't cut with this blunt thing, and +even if one could, the noise would be sure +to arouse those beggars of sentries outside. +I didn't think of that before." +</p> + +<p> +Our hero felt bitterly disappointed. +Then a sudden thought flashed through his +mind, and he crept to the back of the hut +and began softly but quickly digging a hole +in the earthen floor, close up to the wall, +with his newly-found treasure, the shell. +The soil proved light and sandy, and with +such ceaseless energy did the prisoner work +that in an hour's time he had excavated a +hole sufficiently large to allow of his body +passing through. +</p> + +<p> +The next moment Jack was lying flat +on the ground <i>outside</i> the hut, listening +intently. He could hear the sentries +jabbering near the doorway, but apparently +he was free to steal away from the back +without being perceived, unless there +happened to be any of the inhabitants +of the village abroad. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-091"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-091.jpg" alt="(Natives)"> +</p> + +<p> +Congratulating himself on his good +fortune, our hero moved stealthily forward +and gained a small grove of guava-trees, +where for a few moments he paused. +Then, making a sudden resolve, he ran +swiftly away and disappeared over the +brow of a hill in the direction of the +river. +</p> + +<p> +Not ten minutes after this the guards +entered the hut and instantly saw that +their prey had escaped. Fearful of the +fate that awaited them when Sooltan Shah +learnt the news of the flight of the captive, +the warriors, six in number, hurriedly +set off in pursuit of the fugitive, having +agreed among themselves that no alarm +should be given unless the chase proved +a futile one. +</p> + +<p class="thought"> +* * * * * +</p> + +<p> +In spite of the complete victory they +had achieved, ending in the death of +Sooltan and the surrender of his warriors, +the seamen and marines returned to the +mouth of the Joo-joo river with heavy +hearts. The corpse of Jack Villiers had +not been discovered, in spite of the most +strenuous search, but every member of +the force believed him to have been most +foully murdered. More especially was +young Thring downcast and broken-spirited, +for the bonds of friendship had been very +strong between the two boys. +</p> + +<p> +There was one subject for congratulation, +and that was that the gunnery +lieutenant, who had been struck down +by the African chief's bullet, was likely +to recover from the wound in the thigh +which he had received. +</p> + +<p> +The "Forte's" boats had been left at +anchor in the river under command of +the boatswain, with orders to await events. +When the naval brigade hove in sight, +the flotilla moved in to facilitate the +operation of embarking the men, many of +whom were more or less badly wounded. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-093"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-093.jpg" alt="(Jack with canoe)"> +</p> + +<p> +Is it possible to understand young +Thring's astonishment and joy when, to +his utter amazement, he saw, standing +beside the boatswain in the stern-sheets +of the launch, and energetically waving a +turban over his head, his dearly-loved +chum and messmate, Jack Villiers? +</p> + +<p> +What a resounding cheer went up +from the whole throng of seamen and +marines, who, breaking loose from all the +bonds of discipline, rushed down to the +river's brink, frantically throwing their +caps up in the air, and generally behaving +like a lot of schoolboys to whom an +extra week's holidays had just been +granted! +</p> + +<p> +In another moment Thring was wringing +his friend's hand as if he was particularly +anxious to dislocate the fingers, +and both boys began to chatter like +excited magpies. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, yes, and after you got clear +of the village, and you found you were +being hunted down by the sentries, what +happened then?" demanded Thring, with +breathless interest. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, I knew jolly well I hadn't +a chance with the beggars at running," +said the mid of the maintop modestly, +"and so after a bit, when I found they +were catching me up hand-over-fist, and +I was jolly well losing my wind, I just +swarmed up a dense tree that overhung +the banks of the river, and stowed myself +away amongst the thickest branches—just +like Charles II. in the Boscobel oak! +I'm certain the beggars knew I was up +a tree, but, owing to the darkness and +the thickness of this patch of jungle, they +never found me. For a long time after +daylight I could hear the shouts and cries +of natives, and did not dare to descend. +Then a long silence ensued, but I still +lay low, thinking it might be a trap set +for me; but I believe now that the news +of your advance upon their village had +reached them, compelling them to go back +and assist in its defence. After waiting +a long time, I concluded that the coast +was clear, and went down the tree like +a shot. Following the river, I discovered +by great good luck a canoe made fast +amongst some thick reeds. There were +paddles on board, and I hopped in like a +house on fire and sculled down the river +as if all the hippopotami and alligators in +Africa were after me! I needn't spin you +the rest of the yarn, for here I am safe +and sound and as fit as a fiddle!" +</p> + +<p> +"But how about them there bloodstains +on the floor of the hut you were imprisoned +in, sir?" queried a sceptical old quartermaster +standing by; "and I didn't see no +hole dug under the wall abaft, not so much +as a bread-room rat could creep through." +</p> + +<p> +Thring explained briefly to his chum +what had been seen during the occupation +of the village. Jack laughed heartily. +</p> + +<p> +"It's evident that native prisoner was +laughing in his sleeve at you," he said, +"and took you to a house where they had +been killing some fowls. You always <i>were</i> +rather green, Thring, old chap, weren't +you? I say, what an adventure this'll be +to tell the mater, won't it?" +</p> + +<p><br><br><br><br></p> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77070 ***</div> +</body> + +</html> + + |