fired from the small brass swivel guns on board, the little balls
rattling through the steep roof of the men's quarters; while before a
gun could be brought to bear, the oars rapidly plashed the water, and
the two prahus were swept back round a wooded point up stream, well out
of sight.
This was sufficient for the officers in command, who issued such orders
as placed all the men in a state of the most intense excitement, for it
was evident that there was to be an expedition up the river to punish
the audacious chief, who was probably in profound ignorance of the
strength of the power he had braved.
CHAPTER NINE.
A NIGHT ATTACK, AND A MISFORTUNE.
It seems a curious thing to a man of peace that a man of war should be
in a state of high delight at the prospect of an engagement wherein he
may lose his life; but the fact is, that when two or three hundred men
are bound to attack some enemy, each single individual knows full well
that somebody will be wounded, perhaps killed, but believes that it will
not be himself.
So it was then that on board the "Startler" there was no little
excitement. The grindstone was in full use to sharpen cutlasses, and in
addition there was a great demand made on the armourer for files to give
to the lethal weapons a keener edge, one which was tried over and over
again, as various messmates consulted together as to the probability of
taking off a Malay's head at a blow.
"What you've got to do, my lads," said old Dick, "is to keep 'em off.
You as has rifles and bagnets always show 'em the pynte; and you as
fights with your cutlashes, keep 'em well away off your sword arm; then
you'll be all right."
Capital advice if it could be acted upon, and a way of avoiding all kris
wounds, but useless against the Malays' other dangerous weapon, the
limbing or lance.
All the preparations were made over-night, so that long before daybreak
the expedition could be well on the way, the object being to surprise
the stockade and its defenders, and burn the bamboo fortification and
the prahus.
The force was to consist of fifty soldiers, twenty-five marines, and
fifty blue-jackets, who were to embark in the steamer's boats, two of
which were provided with small breech-loading pieces running on slides,
and under the charge of the sailors.
Water, provisions, plenty of spare ammunition, all were handed down, and
two hours after midnight, the boats that were to convey the soldiers
ranged up al
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