s down a bit, we will send
a party on shore to keep up a dropping fire against the forest, and so
induce them to believe that we mean to attack them there."

CHAPTER VIII.

During the rest of the day preparations were actively carried on for the
night's work. The fifty marines and a hundred bluejackets were to take
part in the landing expedition; the ammunition to be carried was ranged
along the deck, and the men told off for the various work there was
to be done, some being allotted to carry stretchers and surgical
requirements for the wounded. The first lieutenant was to command the
party, having with him the third lieutenant, the master's mate, and
the two senior midshipmen; besides, of course, the marine officers. Dr.
Horsley was also to accompany them. Some cartridges were made up with
powder and musket bullets for two of the brass guns captured, in order
that, if the Malays succeeded in landing, they might meet with a hot
reception. It was decided that no carriages should be taken for them,
but that they should be simply laid on the sandbags.

The party on shore had kept up a fire all day at the forest. The yells
of defiance which at times rose showed that the Malays were in great
force all round its edge. Towards evening all on shore returned to
the ship. As soon as it became absolutely dark, the anchor chain was
unshackled, and a buoy being attached to the end, it was noiselessly
lowered into the water. Then the screw began to revolve, and the vessel
gradually backed down the river. All lights had been extinguished, and
no sound from the forest showed that the movement had been observed.
A mile lower down the ship was turned, the screw began to revolve more
rapidly, and at half speed she ran down to the junction of the two
branches of the river, and steamed up the other arm until within half a
mile or so of the village at the mouth of the creek. Then a light anchor
was let go, the boats were lowered, and the landing party took their
places in them; the oars were all muffled, and keeping close to the
right bank of the river, they rowed up until past the village, and then
crossing, entered the mouth of the creek, and rowed up it until they
reached the spot where the landing had been effected on the previous
night.

Half a dozen men provided with well greased saws first landed under Dick
Balderson's command, and cleared a passage six feet wide to the path;
then the landing began in earnest. The guns were