The seamen jumped up, and the
pirates, not expecting so warm a reception, wavered and fell back,
leaving several dead and wounded close to the fort.

Jack and Terence began to hope that they would retreat altogether, but,
encouraged by their chiefs, once more they were seen to come on. At the
same time several more boats reached the shore. Jack and Terence could
not conceal from themselves that they were in a dangerous position.

With loud, horrible shrieks, the Malays rushed up to the fort. The
noise of the firing woke up little Harry, and, just as the pirates had a
second time reached the embankment, Jack found him standing close to
him, his clothes bespattered with blood, and his face looking pale as a
sheet of paper. For a moment Jack thought it was the ghost of his young
charge; but he had no time to think about it, for the next instant the
enemy were close to them. Again and again the English sailors fired and
kept the enemy back, but the pirates so far outnumbered them that there
seemed but little hope of their ultimate success. Again, by their
unflinching bravery, they drove the enemy back. The Malays, however,
kept up a hot fire at them when they got to a distance, and several of
the English were hit and unable longer to fight. Two poor fellows were
killed outright. The fog now cleared, and Jack saw that the prahus
themselves were drawing in with the land. With their own scanty numbers
diminishing, and those of the enemy increasing, Jack and Terence could
not help acknowledging that their case was desperate. Still, when the
enemy once more came on, they received them with as firm hearts and as
hearty a cheer as before. For a short time there was a cessation of
firing. Queerface, who had wisely got into a hole, looked out to see
what had happened. At that moment a bird was seen flying towards the
fort. To the surprise of all, it pitched close to Queerface, who seemed
delighted to see it. Adair turned round. "Why," he exclaimed, "there
is Polly. Where can she have come from?" It was a question no one
could answer. The boats had gone off to the prahus, and now returned
with more men. With terrific shrieks and cries of vengeance, the Malays
rushed towards the gallant little band of Englishmen, resolved to
destroy them.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

IN DESPERATE CONDITION.

The Malay pirates surrounded the fort, uttering the loudest shrieks and
cries, in the hope of terrifying the defenders,