Part 97 (2/2)

Caesar whispered a few words to his big fellow and as Murray strained his eyes he tried to make out the movements of the black when he caught hold of the mids.h.i.+pman, swung him round over his shoulder, and followed closely behind his leader and Murray, who now began to advance cautiously, hand in hand, pausing to listen from time to time, Caesar progressing more by thought than touch and evidently conscious that at any moment he might stumble upon those who were waiting ready to pounce upon him.

There were moments when hope began to illumine the lad's path, for so silent did everything remain that it seemed as if the enemy must have changed his position; and in this hopeful mood he was about to whisper his belief to his companion when the path was brightened by a totally different illumination. For there was utter silence one moment, and the next, flash, flash, from musket after musket, and the enemy's position was marked out by points of light as he concentrated his fire upon the cottage hidden amongst the trees.

This went on for a time without reply, and it now seemed to the mids.h.i.+pman that it must be the little party of his friends who had gone off. Then crack, crack, the reply began, and plainly mingled with the reports came the strange whistling whirr of bullets about their ears, in company with the crackling of cut-down leaves and twigs which now began to patter upon the earth.

”Come,” whispered the black.

”Come where?” asked Murray excitedly.

”Back again,” was the reply. ”Ma.s.sa no want sailor shoot ma.s.sa?”

”No,” whispered the lad; ”but we were to shout to them that we are friends.”

”Yes, ma.s.sa,” said the man drily, ”but sailor man shout so loud um no hear ma.s.sa speak, and ma.s.sa get shoot dead long o' Caesar and big slabe.

No talk; other fellow hear um, and sailor man shoot one side, Ma.s.sa Huggin man shoot other side, and no get to cottage at all. Come back.”

The lad submitted without a word, though it seemed to him maddening to give up when they were so near that every flash was quite plain, and he fully expected to hear himself hailed.

They seemed to him then to have crept exactly into the centre of the firing, and every whizzing whistle sounded as if it must be coming straight for its billet that would end one of their careers; but the moments pa.s.sed on with the marvel growing more strange that they escaped being laid low; and then the excitement came suddenly to an end, when Caesar literally s.n.a.t.c.hed the lad to earth and the big slave subsided with a low sigh of relief which indicated that he had sunk down too with his silent burden, to lie listening to the cross fire which still went on above their heads, till all at once a familiar voice shouted--

”Now, my lads, all together, forward! Let them have it!”

The order thrilled through Murray's breast, and seemed to rouse Roberts, helpless as he was, to action.

”Hurrah!” cried the mids.h.i.+pman, as he sprang to his feet, followed by his wounded comrade, who staggered for a moment or two, and then fell, clutching at Murray, dragging him down upon his less active comrade, just as there was a rush of feet, the crackling of wood, and the minute later a fierce yell of raging voices, and the sailors who had responded to the first lieutenant's call were borne back again by four times their number and driven as far as the entrance to the cottage, where they stood fast and delivered a little volley, which sent their enemies to the right-about, giving them time to barricade themselves again and hold the entrance fast.

”Answer to your names there,” panted the lieutenant, who was breathless with his exertions. ”What's that?” he cried directly after.

”Prisoners! Two of them?”

”Four, sir,” growled a deep voice. ”Two black fellows, sir, and here's two youngsters, sir, as far as I can make out. One of 'em's wounded, sir.”

”Well, we don't want prisoners,” cried the lieutenant, ”but we must take them. See that you bind them fast.”

”We don't want binding, sir,” gasped Murray. ”We've got away from the enemy and reached you at last.”

”Mr Murray! This is grand!” cried the chief officer. ”But have you seen anything of poor Roberts?”

”I've got him here, sir, but he's badly wounded.”

”And we've no doctor with us.”

”I don't think it's dangerous, sir; but have you had any news of May and t.i.tely?”

”Tom May is with us, my lad.”

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