idnight on the 18th of
February. Their plan of attack had been carefully laid, and on arrival
off the town they divided into two parties: the smaller of these
turning up the Sungei Bedil, a small stream running close by the
Government House, for the purpose of attacking it, and the larger
proceeding down river to attack the fort situated on the opposite
bank. Sir James Brooke had already been warned by some Malays that an
attack was to be made by the gold-workers on Kuching, but knowing how
prone natives are to exaggeration, had given the report no credence.

Roused from his sleep at midnight, however, by the yells of the
Chinamen, he quickly guessed the state of affairs, and calling to his
European servant--the only other inmate of the house--to follow him,
dashed through his bath-room on to the lawn at the back of the house,
intending, if possible, to cut his way through the rebels, and so
escape. The latter were, however, luckily, all assembled at the front
entrance, and the coast clear. Making his way, therefore, with all
speed to the Sungei Bedil, the Raja, who was a good swimmer, dived
into the stream and under the Chinese boats (which were luckily void
of their occupants) in safety, only to fall exhausted on the opposite
bank, for he was suffering from a severe attack of fever at the time.

In the meanwhile death and destruction of property were busy. Mr.
Nicholetts, a young officer of nineteen, who had but just joined the
Sarawak service, was killed; also an Englishman on a visit to Kuching;
while Mr. and Mrs. Crookshank[3] were cut down, and the latter left
for dead. Two children of Mr. Crymble, the police constable, were
hacked to pieces before their mother's eyes, while she lay hidden in
a bathing jar, from which she was eventually safely rescued; but Mr
Steele,[4] and Penty the Raja's European valet, succeeded in escaping
to the jungle, and were both saved.

The larger party were in the meanwhile attacking the fort, which was
then but a small wooden stockade. A desperate resistance was made by
Mr. Crymble, who was in charge, assisted by only four Malays, but
seeing after a while that he was overwhelmed by numbers, he escaped,
leaving the position in the hands of the enemy.

The Raja had by this time been discovered by native friends, who at
once conveyed him to the house of the _Datu Bandar_, or principal
Malay chief in Kuching. Here he stayed the night; and, next day,
accompanied by a small number of of