At last, though, he crawled behind some trees, with only an open s.p.a.ce between him and the fort. He was waiting his opportunity; and the moment a sharp, scattered burst of firing was over, he rose and ran for his life.

CHAPTER FORTY THREE.

TOM LONG HEADS A SALLY-PARTY.

As Adam Gray ran through the darkness, a yell arose from behind him, telling him that his act had been seen, and, as if to prevent him, half-a-dozen spears came whizzing through the air, one of them so close that it grazed his arm; while, to make matters worse, the firing recommenced from the fort.

By dint of shouting strongly he made himself known, and the firing ceased, giving him time to run up to the breast-work, and then along it to the gateway, now doubly shut; but after a little parley he was admitted, and found himself in the presence of Captain Smithers and Ensign Long.

"Ah, Gray!" exclaimed the former, "I had given you up. Were those your shots that gave the alarm?"

Gray said they were, and in a few concise words told what he had seen.

"Yes," said Captain Smithers, "we are in for it; but our friends have a tougher job than they imagined."

During the next half-hour, while they were keeping the enemy at bay, they became aware of the fact that an engagement was going on between the steamer and some enemy unseen by them, though they immediately set it down as being with boats. The return signal had been seen, and there was no little comfort in the knowledge that the occupants of the steamer were at hand to co-operate with and help them, though they little thought of how soon the vessel would be rendered almost helpless.

With the daylight, which was most gladly welcomed, came the news that the corvette was ash.o.r.e; and on Captain Smithers turning round to speak to Ensign Long, he found that young gentleman slapping his legs, bending down with laughter, and altogether behaving in an exceedingly indecorous manner for an officer and a gentleman.

"Why, Long!" exclaimed Captain Smithers, "what does this mean?"

Tom Long flushed up as red as a turkey-c.o.c.k, and looked at his superior officer in the most shame-faced way.

"I--I--I--" he began.

"Why, I believe you were delighted to hear that the steamer was aground."

"Well, no, sir; not that the steamer is aground," said Tom. "I--I--was not sorry, though, that Roberts had made a mess of it. He is so bounceable, sir."

"I'm ashamed of you, Long!" said Captain Smithers severely. "This is no time for silly, boyish spite. Take ten men, and make your way down to within hailing distance of the vessel, and ask what they mean to do-- hold the corvette, or come and take their chance with us? At once, sir, and act like a man."

Tom Long saluted, and getting Sergeant Lund and nine men, made his way out of the little sally-port, and led them along at the double, beneath the shelter of the fire from the fort, till they were opposite the dense grove of trees which lay between them and the steamer.

It was an awkward and a dangerous task, for not only was the piece of forest growth swarming with enemies, but from time to time a shot or two from the marines on board the vessel came whistling through the trees.

But Tom Long was smarting from his rebuke. He wanted to act like a man, and at heart he knew he had been behaving like a boy of a very petty disposition, so, with Captain Smithers' words yet ringing in his ears, he formed up his men, gave the word, and in skirmishing order they dashed through the trees, sending the Malays, after they had thrown a few spears, helter-skelter to right and left, save a few who were driven out in sight of the men on board the steamer, when a few shots sent them off into cover.

"Phew!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Sergeant Lund, taking off his cap to wipe his wet forehead, and gazing admiringly at the ensign. "That's warm work, sir."

And then he glanced at the men, who were delighted with what they called the ensign's pluck.

"Warm? yes, sergeant. Quick! some of you fire at those n.i.g.g.e.rs; they are coming back."

A little volley at half-a-dozen Malays, who were showing menacingly on their left, sent them to the right-about, and then the men cheered, their cheer being answered from the steamer, which was only about thirty or forty yards from the sh.o.r.e.

"Ensign Long, ahoy!" cried Bob Roberts, leaping on to the bulwarks.

"What cheer?"

"If you mean how are we getting on, and are we all safe, why don't you say so?" cried the ensign sharply.

"All right, sir. I'll write you a memorandum and a report," said Bob Roberts. "Now then, how are you?"

"Captain Smithers wants to know whether you are coming ash.o.r.e or going to stay on board."

"Stay on board, Mr Long," said the lieutenant, who had come up. "Are you all well?"

"Yes, sir, all well."

"None wounded?"

"No, sir, not one as yet."

"Tell Captain Smithers that my duty is to stay here with the steamer; but if he is hard pressed I will either send him a party of sailors and marines, or else we will cover his retreat with his gun, if he will come and take refuge on board."

"Captain Smithers cannot leave his entrenched position, sir," said Tom Long stiffly; "but we can find room for you and your crew, if they like to come."

Tom Long said this so importantly that Bob Roberts began to laugh; and no doubt some sharp bandying about of words would have followed, had not Lieutenant Johnson said rather sternly,--

"Tell Captain Smithers, Mr Long, that a rocket sent up by night, or three calls of the bugle given sharply without any perceptible interval, will bring help from us; but ask him if any steps can be taken to help the expedition."

"Captain Smithers is of opinion, sir, that the expeditionary party is strong enough to take care of itself, and that it is our duty to--Oh!"

Tom Long blushed for it afterwards; but a well-thrown spear came so close to his ear that he could not avoid an involuntary cry. The next minute his little party were under cover of some trees, and slowly driving back a body of Malays, who, however, would have out-flanked them, but for a brisk fire kept up on them from the steamer, when they disappeared once more into the jungle, with which this part of the island was overgrown. When after a few more words with the occupants of the steamer, during which Lieutenant Johnson impressed upon the ensign that the best thing to be done was to act entirely on the defensive, the little sally-party started to return, the lieutenant promising to do all he could to cover their retreat.

The distance was not great, but full of peril; for the minute the Malays comprehended that Tom Long's party were going back, they began to swarm out of their lurking-places, and it now became evident that hundreds of fighting men must have landed on the island.

"Well, sir," said Sergeant Lund, wiping his face, as, after getting about half-way back, the little party found themselves hedged up in a little gully by Malay spears, whose holders kept themselves hidden behind the trees,--"well, sir, this is hot, and no mistake."

"Yes," said Tom Long, excitedly; "but be careful, my lads, don't waste a shot; you must be getting short."

"They've only about six rounds each, sir, now," said the sergeant; "but they've got the bayonets."

"Yes," said Tom, as he stood sword in one hand, revolver in the other; "but we mustn't let them get at us with their spears. I can't leave a man behind, sergeant."

"Then we'd better stop as we are for a few minutes, and get breath, sir, and then see which is the best way to go."

The sergeant hurried to a couple of the men who were exposing themselves a little too freely, and then returned to Tom Long, who was standing in the middle of two sides of a triangle composed of four men a side, and another forming the apex.

"I'd make a dash for it, sergeant," said the ensign, "only I should be sure to lose some of the boys; while if we stop here we shall get speared. It's a puzzle, isn't it? I say, I don't feel half so--so--"

"Scared, sir?"

"Well, yes; I didn't like to say frightened, sergeant," replied Tom, smiling, "because it sounds so queer."

"Ah, sir, you might say anything now before the lads, they wouldn't mind; and after the plucky way you led us on, they'd follow you anywhere. But hadn't we better let the enemy have a few shot, sir?

They're closing in fast."

Tom Long was about to give the order for which his men were anxiously waiting, when he became aware of something going on in a clump of palms about forty yards away.