Part 12 (1/2)

”It's worth trying, at any rate,” the captain said; ”but I fear it would not burn long enough. I think that, instead of a bottle, we might jam a piece of iron tube--six or eight feet long--into the head of the cask, and cut a bung to fit it. In that way we could get a good length of fuse.”

This plan was carried out. A large cask was filled with powder; and an iron tube, three inches in diameter and six feet long, fitted into it, and made water tight. A long strip of paper, after being dipped in water in which gunpowder had been dissolved; was then dried, rolled tight, and lowered down the tube, until it touched the powder. A bung was cut to fit the top of the tube; a piece of wash-leather being placed over it, to ensure its being perfectly water tight. The top of the fuse was then cut level with the pipe.

Several bits of iron were lashed to the lower end of the cask, to make it sink upright; and the cask was steadily lowered into a boat lying alongside the s.h.i.+p, in readiness for use.

The sailors entered into the preparations with the glee of schoolboys; but the machine was not ready until long after the s.h.i.+p had been towed out again through the channel, and moored broadside to it, just outside.

Chapter 8: The Torpedo.

It was about two o'clock in the morning when the watch awoke the crew, with the news that they could hear the distant sound of oars coming along the sh.o.r.e. All took their places, in silence. After a time the rowing ceased, and all was quiet again. Half an hour pa.s.sed, and then there was a slight sound close alongside and, in the channel, they could dimly make out a small boat--which was rapidly rowed away into the darkness again, several musket shots being fired after it.

”They have sent on ahead, to find if we were lying in the same berth,” the captain said. ”I expect they will be puzzled when they hear that we are outside, and that the entrance is guarded. I should not be surprised if they did not attack before morning. They had such a lesson, yesterday, that I don't think they will try to force the channel in our teeth again; but will play the waiting game, sure that they will secure us, sooner or later.”

So it turned out. The hours pa.s.sed slowly on, but no sound was heard. Then, in the dim morning light, a pirate fleet of eight prahus was seen, lying at a distance of half a mile within the reef.

As the day broke, the breeze sprang up, the sails were hoisted, and the captain prepared to slip his cables. A similar preparation could, through the gla.s.ses, be observed on board the Malay fleet.

”That will do very well,” the captain said. ”Those fellows will be along in about eight or ten minutes after we have started; and the fuse, according to the experiments we made as to its rate of burning, will last about seven.

”Now, quick, lads, into the boat.

”Tom, you take charge of the sinking.”

In another minute the boat was rowed to the channel, and the cask lowered over the side. It was held there, for a minute, while the mate struck a light and applied it to the touch paper. Then he pressed the bung firmly into the top of the tube, the las.h.i.+ngs of the cask were cut, and the boat rowed back to the s.h.i.+p. The anchors were already on board, and the brig was getting way on her as the boat rowed alongside. The men jumped on board, and the boat was suffered to tow behind, while all hands set the whole of the sails.

The vessel was soon running briskly before the land breeze.

The pirate fleet was instantly in motion. Every eye in the s.h.i.+p was directed towards them.

”They will be there in less than ten minutes from the moment I lowered the cask,” the mate said, looking at his watch.

”Not much,” the captain said, ”they are rowing fast, now; but the trees keep off the wind, and their sails do not help them. They were a minute or two behind us in starting.”

It was just eight minutes, from the time when the cask had been lowered, that the first of the Malay boats rowed out through the channel.

”I hope nothing has gone wrong,” the mate growled.

”I am not afraid of that; though we may be wrong, a minute or two, as to the length of the fuse.”

Another boat followed the first. The third was in mid channel when, suddenly, she seemed to rise bodily in the air, and then to fall into pieces. A mighty column of water, a hundred feet high, rose into the air; mingled with fragments of wood, and human bodies. A deep, low report was heard; and the brig shook, as if she had come into collision with some floating body.

Although they were nearly a mile away, the yell of astonishment, and fright, of the Malays reached the s.h.i.+p. The prahus still inside the reef were seen to turn round, and row away along the coast at the top of their speed; while those which had pa.s.sed the channel, after rowing wildly for some distance, lay on their oars--the crews apparently stupefied at what had taken place. The craft which had been injured the day before still lay seaward, on watch; but now turned her head, and rowed towards the sh.o.r.e to join her consorts.

The Sea Belle left the coast. The Malays attempted no pursuit but, so long as they could be seen, remained inactive near the scene of the sudden and--to them--inexplicable catastrophe which had befallen their consort.

Once fairly freed from all fear of pursuit, the captain invited the two lads into his cabin; and there heard from them an account of all the adventures through which they had pa.s.sed. When they had finished, he questioned them as to their plans.

Hans said that he intended to take the first s.h.i.+p bound for Holland.

”And you?” he asked Will.