Part 45 (1/2)
Men were crowding it like ants. Close to his feet lay an empty water-cask. It was a crude weapon, but effective when well pitched, and the sailor had never made a better shot for a goal in the midst of a hard-fought scrimmage than he made with that tub for the head of the uppermost pirate.
Another volley came from the sands. A bullet ploughed through his hair, and sent his sou'wester flying. Again the besiegers swarmed to the attack. One way or the other, they must succeed. A man and a woman--even such a man and such a woman--could not keep at bay an infuriated horde of fifty savages fighting at close quarters and under these grievous conditions.
Jenks knew what would happen. He would be shot in the head or breast whilst repelling the scaling party. And Iris! Dear heart! She was thinking of him.
”Keep back! They can never gain the ledge!” she shrieked.
And then, above the din of the fusillade, the yells of the a.s.sailants and the bawling of the wounded, there came through the air a screaming, tearing, ripping sound which drowned all others. It traveled with incredible speed, and before the sailor could believe his ears--for he well knew what it meant--a shrapnel sh.e.l.l burst in front of the ledge and drenched the valley with flying lead.
Jenks was just able to drag Iris flat against the rock ere the time fuse operated and the bullets flew. He could form no theory, hazard no conjecture. All he knew was that a 12-pounder sh.e.l.l had flown towards them through s.p.a.ce, scattering red ruin among the amazed scoundrels beneath. Instantly he rose again, lest perchance any of the Dyaks should have gained a foothold on the ledge.
The ladders were empty. He could hear a good deal of groaning, the footsteps of running men, and some distant shouting.
”Sahib!” yelled Mir Jan, drawn from his retreat by the commotion without.
”Yes,” shouted Jenks.
The native, in a voice cracked with excitement, told him something. The sailor asked a few rapid questions to make quite sure that Mir Jan was not mistaken.
Then he threw his arms round Iris, drew her close and whispered--
”My darling, we are saved! A wars.h.i.+p has anch.o.r.ed just beyond the south reef, and two boats filled with armed sailors are now pulling ash.o.r.e.”
And she answered proudly--
”The Dyaks could never have conquered us, Robert. We were manifestly under G.o.d's protection. Oh, my love, my love, I am so happy and thankful!”
CHAPTER XV
THE DIFFICULTY OF PLEASING EVERYBODY
The drifting smoke was still so dense that not even the floor of the valley could be discerned. Jenks dared not leave Iris at such a moment.
He feared to bring her down the ladder lest another sh.e.l.l might be fired. But something must be done to end their suspense.
He called to Mir Jan--
”Take off your turban and hold it above your head, if you think they can see you from the wars.h.i.+p.”
”It is all right, sahib,” came the cheering answer. ”One boat is close insh.o.r.e. I think, from the uniforms, they are English sahibs, such as I have seen at Garden Reach. The Dyaks have all gone.”
Nevertheless Jenks waited. There was nothing to gain by being too precipitate. A false step now might undo the achievements of many weeks.
Mir Jan was dancing about beneath in a state of wild excitement.
”They have seen the Dyaks running to their sampans, sahib,” he yelled, ”and the second boat is being pulled in that direction. Yet another has just left the s.h.i.+p.”
A translation made Iris excited, eager to go down and see these wonders.