Trapped by Malays Part 17

Smithers stuck the mouth of his rifle against the stranger's breast-bone, and pressed upon it heavily.

"Sit down," he said.

"I will not sit down! I re-fuse."

"Mind," said Smithers. "I don't want this rifle to go off."

"You dare--you dare not shoot," cried the visitor; but as he spoke he began to subside slowly, as if still mentally resisting, till the sentry raised his foot quickly, gave a sharp thrust, and his prisoner went down suddenly upon his back, with the sentry's right foot upon his chest.

"Now then, no nonsense. Hand up that pistol."

The prisoner's hand went rapidly to his waist as if with the intent of s.n.a.t.c.hing out and making use of his revolver, but quick as a flash the sentry's rifle was pressed down harder now, close up to the man's throat.

"That's right," said Smithers. "Now drop it."

There was a few moments' hesitation, and then the revolver fell softly upon the earth just beyond the shelter of the attap mat.

The next moment Smithers had raised his foot and kicked the pistol aside, but with an unexpected result, for one chamber exploded with a loud bang.

"I've done it now," said Smithers to himself. "As for you, you lie still;" and he held his piece pointing still towards his prisoner while he cleverly retrieved the revolver. "Look here," he said, "I had orders not to fire, only if it was wanted particular. Well, I haven't fired, but they will hear that shot and be coming down before you know where you are."

"What!" cried the prisoner, starting up in a sitting position.

"Look ye here," cried Smithers; "do you want me to have an accident?"

"No, no; I want you to let me give you many dollars. You must let me go before your officers come."

"Nothing of the kind, sir. You must talk to them when they come. You are my prisoner, so just lie still."

As the sentry was speaking the notes of a bugle were ringing out upon the silent night. Hurrying feet could be heard, and it was evident that the night alarm had set the occupants of the cantonments buzzing out like the bees of a hive.

"They don't know which sentry it was," thought Smithers, and he was raising his piece to fire and bring the relief to his side, when it struck him that he should be leaving himself defenceless if his prisoner should make a dash to escape.

"Second thoughts is best, says the missus," he muttered, and taking the revolver from his pocket, he fired it in the air, and after a short interval fired again.

"That's done it," he said to himself.--"Hullo! what's the matter with you?" For his prisoner was rocking himself to and fro as if in pain, and grinding his teeth.

Directly after there was the light of a lantern showing through the trees, shouts were heard and answered by the sentry, and a strong party of the men, led by Captain Down and Archie, surrounded them.

"What's wrong, Smithers?" cried the Captain eagerly.

"Took a prisoner, sir."

"Corporal, a light here," cried Archie; and the man doubled up to throw the rays of the lantern upon the prisoner's face as he now rose to his feet.

"The Count!" cried Archie.

"Yes, sir. Your stupid sentry, he make a John Bull blunder--a mistake."

"A mistake?" said the Captain. "Why, how come you here?"

"Only I have my lanterrne and collecting-box, and come down the river to catch specimens of the beautiful moth for the naturalists at home in France. I land from my boat, and the boat come to take me away; but your sentry man re-fuse to let me go."

"Collecting--lantern!" said the Captain.

"Yes, sir. Look. I fear my beautiful specimens are spoiled in the pannier here. He use me very bad."

"You mean that you were collecting moths?" said Archie dubiously, as he recalled the rustling sounds he had heard below the veranda that night.

"Yes, sir," said Smithers gruffly. "I suppose it's right, what he says, about collecting. Here's one of his tools;" and he handed the beautifully finished little revolver to the young officer.

"Humph!" grunted the Captain.--"Well, sir, I'm sorry if our sentry behaved roughly to you, but he was only obeying orders, and you ought to know that you had no business here."

"All a mistake, Captain. You will please make signals for my boat to come."

"All in good time, sir," said the Captain, in response to a nudge given by his subaltern; "but you must come up first and make your explanation to the Major."

"What! It is not necessary, sir."

"You think so, sir?" said Captain Down. "I and my brother officer think it is."

Directly after the relief party and their prisoner were on their way to headquarters.

CHAPTER NINE.

THE MAJOR ON HEDGING.

"Look here, Dallas," said the Major; "I think your diplomacy and arguing and writing despatches is a great nuisance."

"You will think better of it some day, sir," said the Resident.

"Never!" said the Major warmly; and his ruddy, sun-browned face grew redder, while his stiff, silvery-grey moustache and short-cut hair seemed to bristle. "Of course I know you must have troubles, sir, with other nations, and people like these Malays, who are subservient to us; but when they come, let's fight and bring them to their senses.--What do you say to that, Archie Maine?"

"Spoken like a soldier, sir," cried Archie quickly.

"Good!" cried the Major. "Your writing despatches and minutes and red-tape and all the rest of it to a fellow like that Rajah Suleiman is all waste of energy. Here you are supposed to be guiding him."

"I hope and believe I am guiding him, sir," said the Resident coldly.

"Bah! He and his people are growing more impudent every day. It's bound to end in a blow-up. These imitation Scotch n.i.g.g.e.rs in their plaid sarongs, as they call them, will be getting up a big quarrel with my men with their bounce and contempt for my well-drilled, smart detachment. Here's every common, twopenny-halfpenny Malay looking down upon my fellows, while there isn't one among my lads who isn't a better man than their Rajah. There will be a row some day; won't there, Archie?"

"I expect so, sir," replied the lad, who was listening to the conversation, and felt rather amused.

"I sincerely hope, Major, that you give strict injunctions to your officers and men about doing everything to avoid coming into collision with the natives and their traditions."

"You leave me alone for that, sir. I think I know what to do with my lads. You would like me to confine them to barracks, I suppose?"