Part 23 (1/2)

”All walk aft,” said d.i.c.k. ”Now, Johnnie, reverse the engines, and give her more steam. When I whistle let every man give a jump into the air.”

His orders were given in the lowest tones, and were carried out without confusion, for the British sailor hates fuss and flurry, and can be relied on to act well and discreetly in an emergency. All gathered aft, and as d.i.c.k whistled they jumped into the air, shaking the launch as they came to the deck again. But still she clung to her cradle of mud.

”Then some of us must get overboard. What is the depth?” asked d.i.c.k.

In the silence he could hear the two bluejackets grope for their poles, and plunge them into the water. Then one of them came to his side.

”About two feet of water, and three of mud,” he said. ”If we was to go over the side, we couldn't swim, and the mud would hold us. What about putting something at the end of the poles, sir? Something that wouldn't sink so easily. How'd a couple of kegs do?”

d.i.c.k thought for a moment. Then he went to the tiny cabin, and unmasking a lamp, peered closely at the stores. Thanks to the generosity of those in charge of the commissariat, a liberal supply of provisions of a mixed character had been handed over to the expedition, and amongst these stores were some kegs of biscuits. Our hero gave vent to a whistle.

”Bring the two poles down here,” he said, as a head was thrust into the cabin. ”And let all stand round, so as to hide the light should it show. Now, my lad, rip off the top of this keg.”

One of the sailors had his cutla.s.s out in a moment, and soon contrived to get the lids off two of the kegs, and the contents were poured into an empty provision box.

”Now, how are we to make them fast?” asked d.i.c.k. ”You ought to know better than I.”

He looked at the sailors and waited their reply, while they stared at the kegs, uncertain how to act, for it is no easy matter to attach an article of this kind to the end of a pole.

”With a bit of rope and a good fire I'd do it in half an hour,” said one of the men at length. ”Yer see, by rights, sir, we ought to have a step at the bottom of the keg, and lash the end of a pole down on to it. But yer can't do that 'cause a step needs hammerin', and that 'ud warn the enemy if he's hereabouts. But we've a fire, and a stoking bar, and that 'ud make a fine drill. With a hole through the centre of the lid and the bottom, we could push the pole through, and take a turn of the rope round above and below the keg. That would keep all in place and s.h.i.+p-shape.”

”Then we'll get to the engine,” said d.i.c.k, promptly. ”Bring the kegs and poles while I douse the light. Now, you men,” he went on, as he came out on the deck, ”stand round the engine well while we finish the job. Johnnie, get that bar heated.”

Some twenty minutes later the four holes had been drilled, and the poles pushed through, and secured with rope. Then the two sailors took their station on the bows, while the remainder went aft. The propeller was reversed at full speed, while the kegs were placed against the mud bank, and the men holding the poles pushed with all their strength. d.i.c.k gave a low whistle, the men jumped, and this time with as gentle a motion as when she grounded, the launch left the bank and floated in the open water. Two hours later the boat was brought to a rest some miles up the river, and was pulled beneath an overhanging tree, where she lay till morning dawned.

”We have a fine place from which to keep watch, and we'll see whether we cannot make a catch,” said d.i.c.k, as he and Jack Emmett sat down to breakfast. ”How do you like the work, Jack?”

”It's fine,” was the answer. ”This is what I have been waiting for.

And the best part of it all is that we are our own masters, and can therefore enjoy all the more fun. Supposing an army came along, as happened in your case?”

”We should lie hidden; if they found us we should fight. No more running away for me, particularly when I have a crew like this. Hullo!

what's the report?”

One of the sailors had ascended the branches of the tree, from which post he could keep a watch on the river, and at this moment he whistled.

Then they saw him come swarming down to drop from a height of fully fifteen feet on to the deck of the launch. He alighted as easily as a cat and came aft to his commander.

”Beg pardon, sir,” he said, as he saluted, ”but there's a boat full of n.i.g.g.e.rs a-coming down-stream, and they're armed.”

d.i.c.k was up in a moment, and taking care to move with the utmost caution he pushed the leaves aside and looked out. The report was accurate, for coming down-stream was a large native boat, with some ten men aboard, on whose shoulders muskets were slung. A glance showed him that some at least were Ashantis, while the others he was not sure about.

”They must be captured,” he said with decision. ”We will wait till they are quite close, and will rush out at them. If they fire, four of you give them a volley. That will be sufficient, for we want to make a capture.”

It was an exciting moment for the men of the expedition. Not that they had anything to fear from the men aboard the native boat. But they were now well above Elmina, and who could say whether the enemy were not all round them? In any case they must be near at hand, so that the attack might very well be followed by a general onslaught on the part of the Ashantis.

d.i.c.k busied himself with telling off the men to their stations, while he bade Jack Emmett take the tiller and steer the launch. Presently the native boat drew opposite their hiding-place, and at once the boughs were parted and the launch shot out into the river. There was a shout from the enemy, and half a dozen dropped their paddles and opened a hot fire, their slugs whistling over the launch.

”That proves that they are enemies,” said d.i.c.k, in tones of satisfaction. ”Give them a volley, my lads.”

It was high time to return the fire, for as he spoke another burst of flame had come from the boat, and three of the sailors were struck by the slugs. Not that that made much difference, for the hardy fellows did little more than grunt. There was a quick answering flash, and instantly four of the natives threw up their arms and toppled overboard.

”Put us at her hard!” shouted d.i.c.k, waving to Jack. ”Now swing her round and bring us alongside. Keep under cover if you can, my lads, and give them a volley over their heads.”