Part 19 (1/2)

”Way we're going, sir,” said the man, in a m.u.f.fled voice; and as he spoke once more came the whish of a well-thrown spear, making another of the men wince, and proving plainly from which direction the missile had come.

The imminence of the fresh danger made the little party forget their sufferings, and with the quickness of highly disciplined men, they were apt to obey the orders whispered sharply by the mids.h.i.+pman. They fell into line, made ready, and at the command given by their officer, six muskets flashed out, sending their bullets whizzing breast high through the smoke, out of which, as if crossing them, came as many spears, this time the deadly missiles being followed by a burst of savage yells.

”Load!” whispered Murray, as the yells were followed by a silence so strange and nerve-startling that the young officer felt his heart thump heavily against his breast.

Then, as the whistling of the air arose caused by the driving down of the cartridges, he bethought himself and uttered a hurried question--

”Any one hurt?”

”Yes, sir,” came in Tom May's familiar voice; and the mids.h.i.+pman, new to the heart-stirring horrors of a real engagement, waited anxiously for the man's next words.

”None of us, sir,” came after what seemed to be a long pause, ”but some o' them got it bad and made 'em yell and run i'stead o' keeping on the slink.”

”Hah!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Murray, as he pressed his hand to his painfully throbbing breast. ”I thought you meant--”

”Our lads, sir? Oh no; we're all right: the enemy, sir. That volley started 'em. I heard 'em rush off quite plain. Like us to give 'em another?”

Murray was silent as he stood straining his eyes and ears, to pierce the smoke and hear the _whish_ of another spear.

”No,” he said, at last, in a low tone full of relief, ”waste of powder;”

and then he started, and gave vent to a cry of joy. ”Hear that, my lads?” For from some distance away to their left came a shout which meant in this peril-fraught position, help and the companions.h.i.+p of friends.

”Ay, ay, sir,” cried Tom May.

”Shout, lads--shout!” cried Murray excitedly; and as a hearty _Ahoy_!

rang out the lad winced, for he felt that he had given an order which would show the enemy once more where they were, and he once more strained his senses in the full expectation of the coming of another spear.

But he gave vent to his pent-up breath with a feeling of intense relief, as instead of the _whish_ of a spear came another hearty ”ahoy!” from certainly nearer at hand, followed by the tramp of feet and the crackling sound of charred wood.

”Where are you?” came directly after, in a well-known voice.

”Here, sir!” cried Murray. ”Forward, my lads!” And the men followed him at the double.

”This way,” cried the same voice. ”That you, Mr Murray?”

”Yes, sir,” replied the mids.h.i.+pman, halting his men in the smoke, feeling more than seeing that they were close up to their friends.

”All your men there?”

”Yes, sir. None hurt,” replied the lad.

”That's good! Spears have begun to fly, for the enemy are creeping up through the smoke. You started the huts burning, of course?” he continued, after a pause.

”Yes, sir; burning everywhere.”

”Exactly, Mr Murray. I think the work has been thoroughly done, and I am glad you found us, for I am getting to be at fault as to how to reach the sh.o.r.e. There, I can hear nothing of our friends, so you had better lead on. I suppose they have made for the boats.”

”Lead on, sir?” faltered Murray.

”Yes, sir,” cried the chief officer petulantly; ”and don't repeat my words in that absurd way. Haven't we had enough of this stifling smoke?”