Part 18 (2/2)

”Yes: it's horrible,” cried Murray. ”Halt! Now, all together, shout with me, '_Seafowl_ ahoy!'”

The men shouted, and then again, three times, but elicited no reply, and the roar and crackle of the blazing forest seemed to increase.

”Here, which of you can make out where the river lies?” cried Murray.

”Not me, sir,” grumbled one of the men out of the stifling smoke, ”or I'd soon be into it!”

”Here, once more. I don't think we have tried this way,” cried Murray, almost in despair. ”Look, Tom May, this does look a little lighter, doesn't it?--No,” continued the lad huskily, and without waiting for the able-seaman's reply. ”Here, try this way, for the flames seem to be mounting higher there. Keep up your pluck, my lads, and follow me. Are you all there?”

”Ay, ay, sir!” cried the sailor. ”We're all here, arn't we, messmates?”

”Ay, ay!” came in a deep growl.

”Then follow me close,” said Murray. ”Everything depends upon your keeping together.”

”Oh, we'll keep together, sir,” said May. ”Won't we, messmates?”

”Ay, ay!” said another of the men. ”But I don't quite like this here job.”

”No, no, my lads; it's horrible for you,” said Murray, as he tramped on, fighting with his despair.

”'Tarn't wuss for us, sir, than it is for you,” said Tom.

”Poor fellows!” thought the mids.h.i.+pman, and he ground his teeth with rage and pain. ”But I ought to have led them better.” Then aloud, as an idea struck him, ”You, Tom, fire a shot upward, and then as he reloads, the next man fire, as I give orders. The others listen for the reply. Some of our fellows must hear the shots.--Halt!”

The men stood together in the deep gloom, for the smoke rose from around them in every direction.

Then, heard distinctly above the roar and crackle of the flames, came the clear sharp-sounding report of the seaman's musket.

”Number two make ready!” cried Murray, and then, ”What's that?” For something pa.s.sed them with a faint hiss, and as it seemed to the lad, stuck in the smoking earth.

”Spear, I think, sir,” growled Tom May.

”Impossible! Piece of bamboo or palm fallen from above. Now then, Number Two--Fire!”

There was the sharp report, followed directly by another whis.h.i.+ng sound and a thud in the earth.

”Spear it is,” growled May.

”Ay, ay,” said another of the party; ”and I've got it too!”

”Hus.h.!.+ Silence there!” whispered Murray excitedly. ”Not wounded, my lad?”

”Nay, sir,” came in a subdued voice, ”but it would have stuck in my s.h.i.+rt, on'y it was gone to tinder and wouldn't hold nowt. Here it is, though, sir--n.i.g.g.e.r's spear, and they can see us, though we can't see them.”

”From which way did it come?”

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