Trapped by Malays Part 50

"Yes, sir. I got hold of one of the chaps who went with him."

"Well, go on; I'm burning to hear. What have they found out?"

"He says, sir, that the Major did not want Sir Charles to go, and they had words together. He heard Sir Charles say the attack was made on the boat up the river, as well you and me know, sir."

"Yes, Pete," said Archie, who was listening and watching the movements of the boat at the same time.

"And that he felt sure Miss Heath must have been carried right up-stream, and that they should find her in one of the campongs, or kept shut up in some place belonging to the Rajah."

"Well, go on."

"And then the Major said, sir, to Sir Charles that they weren't quite sure that the Rajah had done this, and that he should be obliged if Sir Charles would stay, and let one of the officers go instead. Then Sir Charles says that he's morally sure that it was the Rajah's doing, and that he feels he must go. And then they went, and they've been right up the river as far as they could get the big boat; and they landed over and over again and searched the campongs and examined the people, who all said they did not know anything about it, and looked stupid, as these Malay chaps can look when they don't want to tell tales; and at last Sir Charles had to give up, after he had been down with something like sunstroke."

"Yes--go on quickly," said Archie.

"And he went onsensible like, and there was nothing else they could do but bring him back."

"And they brought him back ill?"

"Yes, sir; and those chaps you can see there with the lanterns are coming back from carrying him up to the Residency."

"Poor chap! Poor fellow!" said Archie. "Well, go on."

"That's all, sir. Don't you see they're tying the boat up for the night? I thought you would be satisfied if I picked up something."

"Too much this time, Pete," said Archie sadly.

"Too much, sir?"

"Yes. It's all bad."

"But you said I was to bring everything, sir."

"Yes, yes; that's quite right. But it is so disheartening. They must have taken her up somewhere; for aught we know, poor girl! she may be a prisoner somewhere in one of the places near that elephant-shed."

"Near what elephant-shed, sir?" said Peter rather vacantly.

"Why, where we were prisoners."

"Oh no, sir. Didn't I get out that night and go and look everywhere?"

"No. There might have been scores of other buildings up there. You couldn't have seen much."

"No, sir, I didn't. It was so dark, and there was that tiger."

"Here, I've got leave to be up to-morrow, and I must see what I can do."

"Don't think you could have done any more than I did, sir, that night."

"I know that, Pete; but I want to be trying now all the same. Here, I know; I'll get the Major's permission to go up and join Sergeant Ripsy and make a better search up there."

"Spite of the tigers, sir?"

"In spite of ten tigers, Pete, for I shall have men with me, and rifles."

"Think old Tipsy will like it, sir?"

"I think Sergeant Ripsy is a stern old British soldier who would do his duty, Pete."

"Well, yes, sir. He's a hard nut, but he's all that you say. I'd rather be under anybody else, but you talk about ten tigers: I'd go under ten Sergeant Tipsys if it was to bring Miss Minnie back."

"I know you would, Pete. And poor Sir Charles was knocked over by the fever?"

"Sunstroke, sir."

"Well, sunstroke. He's _hors de combat_, and we want to take his place."

The next day Archie signalised his permission to be about by asking for an interview with his commanding officer, who congratulated him warmly, and then replied to his request with an imperative:

"No! Quite out of the question, sir. I have weakened my force too much as it is, and I cannot spare another man."

"Horribly disappointing," said Archie to himself as he came away--"but he did call me _man_!"

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

A DESPATCH.

Archie Maine had been round visiting posts in the faint hope of picking up some fresh news from the men, after the hurried mess dinner, glad to get out into the comparatively cool, soft night air; for the Major had sat in his place, hardly speaking a word to any one present, and for the most part with lowered brows, deep in thought.

The night was as beautiful as ever; the brilliant stars that spangled the sky looked twice as large as those at home, and the reflections, blurred by the motion of the river, seemed larger still. The fire-flies sparkled in every bush, and the distant cries of the jungle floated softly on the night air. But everything seemed to bring up thoughts of trouble and misfortune. The native messengers sent in from the search-parties brought no good tidings, and to the lad, still suffering to some extent from his injury, everything seemed to suggest despair.

"I can't help it," he said to himself. "I'm sure I'm strong enough.

I'll go round by the Doctor's and beg and pray him to tell the Major that I might very well go to the front, if it's only to join old Ripsy.

I might be of some help to him. Yes, Pete ought to go with me. We know more about the part there by the elephant-stables, and with him and his men we could follow up some of the paths where poor Pete dared not go."

On the impulse of the moment he turned back and made for the mess-room, to try there first, though half in doubt as to whether he might find that his chief had gone back to his own quarters, where he was now p.r.o.ne to shut himself in.

The lad had been sauntering very slowly and doubtfully before. Now he quickened his pace as he thought over his adventures when a prisoner in the elephant-stable; and as he recalled watching the going to and fro of the elephants, he felt more than ever that he ought to be there helping the surly old Sergeant.

"Not gone," he said, as he came into sight of the open window of the mess-room, where the shaded lamp was casting down its light upon the stern-looking, grey head of the old officer, who had a paper lying before him, which he was scanning, while just at the other side of the table the lad could see the swarthy countenance of a native, whom he recognised at once as one of the followers of the regiment.

Archie's heart began to beat fast, for he grasped the fact at once.

This was evidently the bearer of a despatch from one of the detachments, for a private was standing in the shade resting his piece on the floor, after bringing in the man handed over to him by a sentry.

As Archie pa.s.sed into the veranda the Major heard his step and looked up.