In the grip of the Mullah: A tale of adventure in Somaliland
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Title: In the grip of the Mullah: A tale of adventure in Somaliland
Author: F. S. Brereton
Illustrator: Charles Mills Sheldon
Release date: June 4, 2013 [eBook #42874]
Most recently updated: October 23, 2024
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE GRIP OF THE MULLAH: A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN SOMALILAND ***
IN THE GRIP OF THE MULLAH
_A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN SOMALILAND_
BY CAPTAIN F. S. BRERETON
Author of "One of the Fighting Scouts" "The Dragon of Pekin" "With
Rifle and Bayonet" etc.
_ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLES M. SHELDON_
NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
1903
Copyright, 1903, by
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
_Published September, 1903_
THE CAXTON PRESS
New York City, U. S. A.
[Illustration: THE LEADING MAN FELL TO THE DECK.]
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE CASTAWAY 1
II. OFF TO ADEN 16
III. THE GUN-RUNNERS 31
IV. IN DISGUISE 49
V. A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER 66
VI. ON AFRICAN SHORES 84
VII. THE "MAD" MULLAH 101
VIII. PREPARING TO ADVANCE 120
IX. AGAINST HEAVY ODDS 137
X. FIGHTING THE TRIBESMEN 155
XI. A MARCH INTO THE DESERT 172
XII. IN TOUCH WITH THE MULLAH 190
XIII. THE WHITE PRISONER 207
XIV. HEMMED IN BY THE ENEMY 223
XV. A CLEVER RUSE 239
XVI. THE LAST DARING ATTEMPT 255
XVII. A DASH FOR LIBERTY 271
XVIII. IN THE GOLD MINE 287
XIX. A STRATEGIC RETREAT 305
XX. BACK TO THE COAST 323
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
THE LEADING MAN FELL TO THE DECK _Frontispiece_
THE NATIVES CROWDED ABOUT THEM WITH THREATENING
GESTURES 50
MAP OF SOMALILAND 108
"FIRE!" SHOUTED JIM. "EMPTY YOUR RIFLES INTO THEM!" 148
JIM KEPT HIS REVOLVER STEADILY LEVELLED 218
JIM SPRANG UPON THE MAN 266
THE WARRIORS HAD HALTED UPON THE PATH WITHIN A
FEW PACES OF THE FUGITIVES 292
IN THE GRIP OF THE MULLAH
CHAPTER I
THE CASTAWAY
"Perim!" shouted Colonel Hubbard, placing his hand to his mouth, and his
lips close to the ear of his friend Major Bellamy. "The island of Perim,
or I am much mistaken. It lies in the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, and has
proved the destruction of more than one fine vessel. I can tell you
that, on this dark night and with this fierce gale blowing, we are lucky
to have caught even a glimpse of the light, and still more fortunate to
have slipped by in safety. Now we leave the Red Sea, and run into the
Gulf of Aden, where we shall feel the full force of the wind and waves.
However, what does that matter? Better plenty of water all round, even
though it is lashed into frenzy, than a lee shore close at hand, a dark
night, and no bearings to steer by. Halloa, there's the flash of the
light again!"
Clinging with one hand to the rail which ran round the saloon, the
speaker pointed eagerly into the darkness. Aided by the faint gleam of
the electric lamp which was suspended from the spar deck above their
heads, his comrade, Major Bellamy, followed the direction of his
finger, and having watched for a few seconds, suddenly exclaimed:
"Yes, colonel, you're right! I could have sworn that there was nothing
but inky blackness over in that direction. But there's no doubt about
the matter. The light is flashing in that quarter, I'll stake my word
upon it. Won't our skipper be joyful! I heard him saying, an hour or
more ago, that our safety depended upon his sighting the island; and
there it is, sure enough. Well it's a great relief, and now I can turn
in with some degree of assurance. I'm not nervous, you know, colonel,
but, by Jove, a storm like this, and a pitch dark night such as we are
experiencing, make one a little anxious in spite of one's self. Now, if
it were on land, and we were in an enemy's country, I should feel far
more at my ease. I'd double the pickets, of course, so as to give the
boys a little more courage, don't you know; for even a soldier feels
queer when posted a couple of hundred yards away from his fellows,
especially if he knows that a score or more of niggers are probably
crawling round like ghosts, ready to fall upon him at any moment. Yes,
I've had experience of that, and I well remember how fidgety I was, for
we were fighting on the West Coast, and knew well that the natives of
Ashantee were as cruel and as cunning as they make 'em. So I'd double
the pickets, colonel, and I'd make a point of going round to inspect
them, and at the same time to encourage them, every quarter of an hour.
Depend upon it, nothing like letting Thomas Atkins know that his officer
is at hand, taking an interest in him, and ready to help him at any
moment."
"Just so," responded the colonel, clinging the while with all his
strength to the rail, for the steamer was rolling and plunging heavily.
"Quite right, Bellamy; I'd do the same. But what can our poor skipper
do? He can't send out sentries, and if he could they would be useless on
a night like this. He must just trust to his eyes, and to his skill as a
navigator. But, thank Heaven, we are out of the Red Sea and well on our
way for India. Heigho! I'm sleepy, and, like you, want to turn in.
Good-night! Let's hope the sea will have gone down by morning."
With a nod, they separated, and, still taking advantage of the rail,
went along the slippery and deserted deck to their quarters. This was no
easy matter, for every now and again their progress was impeded by the
plunging of the vessel, which caused them to halt and cling frantically
to their support till they saw a favourable opportunity to proceed.
"Good-night!" shouted the major, who reached the companion first,
turning to wave his arm to his friend; but his words were caught by the
wind and whisked into space. Then he dived below. The colonel never saw
him again.
Colonel Hubbard and his friend Major Bellamy were on their way to India
to rejoin their regiments, both having for the past two years been
engaged in special work in South Africa. At another time the ship would
have been full to overflowing with troops, going to the East to replace
those who had completed their term of service there, but, owing to the
fact that all Indian reliefs had practically been suspended during the
South African war, there were only a few other officers on board.
The steamer had sailed from Liverpool ten days before, and had made a
fine passage to the Suez Canal. But now a change had come over the
weather, the glass had fallen with surprising swiftness, and a fierce
gale had sprung up. Navigating his vessel with all possible care, the
captain had at length the satisfaction of piloting her past the island
of Perim, and had breathed more freely as he steered a course into the
Gulf of Aden, _en route_ for the Indian Ocean.
"We're safer here, at any rate," he remarked in tones of satisfaction to
the first mate, as the two stood poring over a chart in the deck-house
on the bridge. "We've our bearings, and can go straight ahead till dawn.
But we shall have to be careful to take into account the set of the
gale. I reckon that we are making a knot or more to leeward for every
five we advance. So keep her helm well up, Farmer, and send to wake me
if you have any doubts. If I were at all anxious, I'd keep at my post
till morning; but now that we're in the open sea, there can be nothing
to fear. A bright look-out, then, and good-night."
The captain gave vent to a loud yawn, and wearily left the chart-house;
for he had resolutely kept at his station on the bridge ever since the
ship entered the canal, and was now completely worn out. Groping his
way, he descended to the spar deck, and disappeared into his cabin. Ten
minutes later the gleam of light from his porthole was suddenly cut off,
and the deck outside was plunged into darkness.
For three hours the fine ship plunged forward, ploughing deep into the
waves and rolling heavily every minute. But no one suspected danger. Why
should they indeed? What harm could come to such a powerful vessel in
this open sea? Evidently the mate, as he kept watch upon the bridge, had
no qualms, for he even hummed the refrain of a popular London air as he
clung to the chart-house table, and pricked off the course run during
the night. Danger! Why, not a soul expected such a thing, for if they
had, would the passengers have been lying below in their bunks, vainly
endeavouring to snatch a few moments' sleep? Certainly not. They would
have been cowering in the open, a prey to terror, expecting every moment
to bring some dire catastrophe.
"We're in the gulf, and safe," murmured the colonel, thrusting a pillow
between his shoulders and the edge of his bunk, so that he might retain
his position more easily. "We've a capable skipper and crew, and, so far
as I can see, we have nothing to fear. So here's for a snooze till
morning."
With that he turned on his side, and, covering his head with the
clothes, settled himself for slumber.
Crash! The shock threw every sleeper from his bunk, and even brought the
steersman to the deck. Crash! Suddenly arrested in her onward progress,
the ship drew back for a moment, and then hurled herself with awful
force against the obstruction. For the space of a few seconds she
remained firmly fixed, and then, to the accompaniment of rending iron
and timber, and the crash of the waves as they beat against her side,
she slid into deep water once more, and wallowed there, as if undecided
how to act. But there was no pausing with that sea raging all about her,
and with such a gale forcing her onward. Heaving her stern high into the
air, she rushed upon the unknown reef for the third time, seeming to
leap at it eagerly in the vain hope of surmounting it. A moment later
her keel fell upon the rock with a sickening bump, and breaking asunder
in the bows, she disappeared in the raging sea.
It was a frightful calamity, and Colonel Hubbard, as he clung to a
portion of the wreck, could scarcely believe that he was awake--could
hardly realize that this was not some terrible dream, a nightmare for
which the storm and its attendant discomforts was to blame.
"Wrecked?" he wondered, shaking his head to clear his eyes of water, and
shifting his grasp so as to obtain a more secure position. "Am I awake,
or is this only imagination? No; I am wet and shivering. It is all too
real."
At this moment a monstrous wave bore down upon him, and clinging
desperately to the tangled seaweed with which the rock was thickly
covered, he braced himself to withstand the strain to which he was about
to be subjected. Taking a long breath, he had just time to close his
eyes when the mass of water was upon him. Clasping him in its cold
embrace, it tore him from his hold as if he were weaker than a child,
and then, bearing him onward, it hurled him against a piece of floating
wreckage, and left him there, breathless, gasping for air, and almost
unconscious. But the instinct of self-preservation soon asserted itself,
and ere a minute had passed he was astride the floating woodwork,
clinging to it with all his strength.
"If this is torn from me," he gasped, "I shall be washed away and
drowned. But it shan't be, I'll see to that, for I don't mean to die
yet. Things look black enough, but I won't give in."
Clenching his teeth, the gallant colonel clung to the wreckage gamely,
and, though frequently submerged beneath the huge masses of green water
which rolled and tossed about him, contrived to maintain his hold.
Breathless, and shivering--for it was the winter season, and a
piercingly cold wind blew through the gulf--he rode his strange steed
through the remainder of the night, and just as the dawn was breaking,
and the dark clouds in the east were beginning to light up with the rays
of the rising sun, he espied a low bank of sand lying directly before
him. Shading his eyes with his hands, he looked long and eagerly, and
then gave vent to a shout of joy. Yes, though he had lost the best
friend he ever had during the night, and had to mourn the death of every
one of the crew and passengers of the ill-fated liner, yet so strong is
the love of life to the average healthy individual, that Colonel
Hubbard's spirits were raised to the highest by this piece of good
fortune.
"Land, land!" he shouted excitedly, sitting up upon the baulk of timber
to obtain a better view. "I reckon it is two hundred yards away, and
getting closer every minute. I'm a bit done, or I'd make nothing of the
swim. But I mustn't forget that the gulf has a reputation for its
sharks; they are said to swarm everywhere, and to be only too ready to
snap up everything that comes within their reach. Ugh, I won't give 'em
a chance!"
Shivering at the thought, the colonel turned once more to the land, and
watched it closely as the light of the dawning day disclosed its various
features.
"A long rolling sandbank," he said thoughtfully, "with blue hills in the
distance, and scarcely a patch of vegetation to be seen. Now, what shore
can it be? The gale has been from the northeast, and therefore it must
be the northern coast of Africa, and, I fear, a desolate, uninhabited
region altogether. But I mustn't begin to grumble when Providence has
watched over me so carefully. I must just make the best of matters, and
be thankful that my life is saved."
Cheering himself with these thoughts, and with the reflection that, once
ashore, the greater part of his troubles would be ended, the colonel
began to paddle with his hands and kick out with his feet. By now, too,
he had the satisfaction of finding that he was in smooth water, though a
line of hissing surf in front of him, and the dull boom of breakers
falling upon the sand told him clearly that he had still some danger to
contend with. But what was it, after all, when compared with the storm
he had outlived that night? He asked himself the question, and for
answer prepared to leave the piece of wreckage which had proved his
salvation, and strike out for the shore.
"I should be a fool to stick to it longer," he said. "Once in those
breakers it would be twisted and turned in every direction, and if it
did not stun me by a blow upon the head, it might very well roll over me
and crush the life out of my body. So here goes!"
Slipping gently into the water, he struck out for the shore, firmly
determined to do battle with the breakers. Almost before he thought it
possible he reached the broad white line, and was engulfed in a moment.
And now, indeed, his powers of endurance were put to the test, for
whereas a green wave had frequently covered him for the space of a
minute whilst in the open sea, now the seething water bubbled and
frothed about his mouth and ears continually. Then, too, caught by the
fierce wind which was blowing, a sheet of spray covered the tops of the
breakers, making breathing almost an impossibility. But the colonel was
no chicken, and now that he had come through so much danger, was
determined to reach the shore alive. Undaunted, therefore, and with
never a pause, he struggled manfully onward.
At length, worn out with his exertions, he reached shallow water, and
though the receding waves did their utmost to drag him backwards, he
contrived to escape their fatal embrace, and to reach a belt of dry and
glistening sand upon which he threw himself at full length, for he was
utterly exhausted. A quarter of an hour later he sprang to his feet,
and, turning from the sea, set out for the interior.
"I shall starve if I stay here," he said, "for there's not a living soul
in sight, and not a tree or green bush to be seen. I'm done, and I want
food and drink badly. Perhaps I shall find both over that line of
sandhills, and in any case by climbing to the top I shall have a better
opportunity of looking about me to see how the land lies. Perhaps I
shall see a village in the distance, or a shepherd's hut, and if so I'll
go straight on and give myself into the hands of the inhabitants. It'll
be risky, I know, but I must just chance it."
Trudging onward through the sand, which often rose above his ankles, he
at length reached the summit of a low range of dunes which the wind,
during centuries of ceaseless energy, had blown into position.
"Ah!" No wonder the colonel gave vent to an exclamation of astonishment,
for when he reached the top he saw immediately before him a native camp.
It was composed of numerous shelters of coarse linen or tattered
camel-hide, which were dotted about the sand in regular order. Farther
off were herds of sheep and goats and of camels, browsing upon the grass
which here cropped out in every direction. There were also many horses,
and natives were standing about, watching the animals as they fed. But
what attracted his attention most and filled him with a feeling of
dismay, was the sight of some thirty or forty armed men who sat on
horseback in the midst of the camp. They were wild-looking natives,
swarthy of feature, tall, and not ungainly, and clad from head to foot
in flowing robes of white. Some were armed with guns, while a few
carried long spears and shields, which they waved frantically above
their heads. Then, at a shout from one of them who had suddenly caught
sight of the colonel, they set their horses in motion, and came
galloping at a headlong pace towards him. In a few moments he was
surrounded, and very soon he was bound hand and foot, a prisoner of
these fierce warriors of Somaliland.
Two hours later the camp was struck, and the natives began to march
into the interior, driving their herds before them. The colonel's legs
were freed, and he was ordered by signs to rise and follow his captors.
To attempt to disobey was useless, and therefore, with downcast head and
spirits at the lowest, he trudged onward beside the horsemen, a native
with particularly brutal countenance riding close behind him. The
colonel noted at a glance the long double-handed sword with which this
ruffian was armed, and straightway he banished from his mind all
thoughts of resistance or escape. For a week the caravan pushed onward,
accomplishing, however, only short marches each day, for the pace was,
of course, regulated by that of the herds which accompanied them. On the
seventh day they reached their home, which consisted of a collection of
mud hovels, and thereafter settled down to enjoy the loot which they had
taken from the tribes inhabiting the coast. Colonel Hubbard was handed
over to the wife of the Sheik, as the headman of the tribe was known,
and at once became hewer of wood and drawer of water, a hateful and
laborious employment for a man who had fought so well for his country,
and who had commanded one of His Majesty's smart regiments.
Of the passengers and crew of the ill-fated ship which had come to grief
in the Gulf of Aden not another soul escaped. The colonel, who was thus
carried off into captivity, was the only survivor.
* * * * *
"Come in, my lad," said the head master of a large school situated in
the Midlands, turning in his chair, as a knock sounded on his door. "Ah,
come in and sit down there, Hubbard. I'm grieved, my boy, terribly
grieved at this sad news. If only we knew for certain what had happened,
it would make this trouble easier to bear; but the doubt, the hope that
one dare not indulge in, is most trying. But you've come to see me. Have
you any more news?"
As he spoke he sprang to his feet and crossed the floor to meet the
youth, who was no other than the son of the officer whose fortune we
have been following. Like his father, the lad was tall, and by no means
devoid of good looks. His features, indeed, had a close resemblance to
the colonel's. There was the same square chin, the same open, steady
look, and a similar air of resolution.
"News, sir," responded James Hubbard, eagerly, declining the proffered
chair in his excitement, "yes, I have; look at that!"
Thrusting his hand into his pocket, he produced a yellow envelope, and
offered it to his master with trembling fingers.
"Good news, sir," he cried; "here is a telegram from my uncle which
gives me more hope. After all, father may not have gone down with the
ship. He may have been washed ashore. He may have had the good fortune
to secure a life-belt, which would have kept him afloat. Why should this
news not refer to him?"
Snatching the telegram from him with equal eagerness, the head master
dragged the paper from the envelope and scanned the contents.
"More news to hand," ran the telegram. "A native arrived last week at
Aden, having come from the Somali coast, and reports that, on the
morning following the night upon which the station at Perim sighted a
steamer passing east, a white man was cast upon the coast fifty miles
east of Berbera. He was at once pounced upon by a marauding band of
Somali warriors, despatched to the coast by the Mullah for the purpose
of obtaining loot and prisoners. This is the only news, except that
pieces of wreckage have been washed up close to Aden, while a
homeward-bound steamer picked up a portion of a stern rail bearing the
name of the ill-fated vessel."
"Hum, it is certainly news," said the head master, doubtfully. "This
telegram proves beyond doubt that the ship upon which your father sailed
met with a catastrophe. But, my dear lad, anxious as I am to give you
hope, I feel bound to tell you that you must not jump to conclusions.
This man who was cast upon the coast, and who fell into the hands of
that fanatic known as the Mullah, may have been a stoker, a greaser, or
an able seaman aboard the ship. I do not wish to discourage you, of
course. God knows, if it were only possible, and certain news had been
received that it was your father and no one else who reached the shore,
I would rejoice with you, and do my utmost to aid you in obtaining
further information. But it is hopeless. Whoever it was who lived
through that night and safely reached the African shore, would have been
far happier, far more fortunate, had he perished like the rest."
The head master paused for a few moments, and stood looking at the young
fellow before him. There was no doubt that he was full of sympathy for
his loss, and anxious to help him. But what could he do? To advise the
lad to hope on would have been cruel in the circumstances. Better, far
better, to put the facts plainly before him, even though in doing so he
should cause him bitter grief. Yes, that was the best course to pursue,
for to hold out the hope that his father still lived, simply upon the
strength of this news just received, would have been madness--indeed,
the greatest unkindness possible. Why, the man who fell into the hands
of the Mullah was more surely dead than all those others who had sunk to
the depths of the ocean.
"Don't think, my lad, that I am lacking in sympathy," he went on, taking
a pace forward, and placing his hand encouragingly on Jim's shoulder. "I
wish to help you to bear this trouble, and I feel that, when I tell you
to extinguish all hope, I am giving you the best and the most
considerate advice. There, tell me that you will take it in this way.
Try to absorb yourself in work, and so forget your loss. Do not let this
hideous uncertainty prey upon your mind, but banish it, for that is far
the best course to pursue."
He pressed his hand more firmly upon Jim's shoulder, and looked
earnestly into his face, as if to help him in coming to a decision. But
the young fellow scarcely seemed to be aware of his presence. His eyes
were fixed upon some distant object visible through the window, and his
thoughts were evidently still farther away. His head was bowed upon his
breast, and he looked for the moment as though this trouble, which had
come upon him at such an early age, was crushing him. But suddenly his
eye brightened, and a more cheerful expression overspread his face. He
straightened himself, and, raising his head, looked steadily at his
master.
"Thank you, sir," he said. "I know how kind you are, and that in
speaking to me in this way, and in giving me the benefit of your
experience and of your advice, you have acted with the sole purpose of
assisting me. But I cannot believe that my father is dead; I cannot,
indeed. Something tells me that he has survived the wreck, and that this
white man referred to in the telegram is none other than he. Until I
prove this or the contrary, I can never rest, and never settle to my
work. I am thankful now that my mother is not alive to feel this grief.
I am an only child, and my father is my best and kindest friend. I
cannot, and will not, forsake him. I don't know now how I shall act, but
I feel that if the necessity arises, as, indeed, it must, I will
willingly make my way into the heart of Somaliland, into the midst of
the Mullah's bands, and there clear up this doubt. If I find that it was
not he who was washed ashore and captured by the natives, then I shall
be far easier in my mind, and besides, sir, I might have the good
fortune at the same time to bring help to this poor captive. If he were
only a stoker, it would be sufficient reward to have rescued him from
such an horrible fate."
"But your examination, my lad. Will you permit yourself to miss it
altogether?" exclaimed the head master. "Think what it means to you. You
have now been reading hard for a year, and in two months, if only you
are successful, as I fully believe you will be, you will have won a
commission in the Army, and will be on the high-road to success, to
follow in the footsteps of your worthy father."
"I will give it up, sir," replied Jim, emphatically. "Everything must be
put aside for the sake of my father. I would rather lose this
commission, and spend the remainder of my days upon an office-stool,
than leave this doubt unsettled. It haunts me, and though I know how
hopeless the matter is, I will go through with it till I am sure of my
father's fate. But, in spite of everything, I feel that he still lives,
and, perhaps, is even now wondering whether his son will take up his
cause and set out for the purpose of rescuing him. There, sir, forgive
me for saying that my mind is firmly made up, and that I must act
contrary to your advice. In any other matter I would, as you know, have
instantly fallen in with your wishes. But here it is different, for my
father's life may be at stake, and both his happiness and mine depend
upon my exertions. Therefore, I ask you to let me leave at once and go
to my uncle. I will talk the matter over with him, and I feel sure that
he will help me in every way."
Involuntarily Jim's hand left the pocket in which it had been reposing,
and went out to meet his master's. And there together they stood for the
space of a minute exchanging a firm and cordial clasp.
"You are a credit to me!" exclaimed the head master, enthusiastically.
"A credit, I say, and your comrades here will be even prouder of you
than I am. I have put the position plainly before you. And, without
wishing to discourage you, have endeavoured to point out how hopeless it
is. You must know as well as I do what dangers and difficulties will
have to be faced in this undertaking, for your father and the many books
you have read will have given you some idea of life in Africa. Knowing
all this, and with a full knowledge that if you persevere in your search
you must undergo privation and exposure, and may even lose your life,
you tell me that you will sail for that country; that you have firmly
made up your mind to go through with it all for the sake of your father?
Then leave us, my lad, and may Heaven help you, for you are a brave
young fellow, and deserve the utmost success. There, go to your room and
pack your boxes. A cab will be at the door in half an hour; that will
enable you to catch the next train for London. There, leave me now. I
wish to think over the matter quietly before I say farewell."
Once more the two shook hands in silence, and then, turning about, Jim
went hurriedly from the room, and hastened to prepare for his journey.
An hour later he was in the train, and that evening had arrived at his
destination, leaving his friends at the school to mourn the loss of as
fine and good-hearted a young fellow as had ever entered its portals.
CHAPTER II
OFF TO ADEN
Jim Hubbard was a young gentleman of decidedly prepossessing appearance.
Broad of shoulder, and particularly well set up for a lad of a little
more than seventeen summers, he looked for all that far too young to
have such troubles thrown upon his shoulders, to be called thus early in
his life to face a difficulty which might well prove too great for a man
of mature years and experience. But just as the colonel was endowed with
the pluck and perseverance which had enabled him to live through that
wild night in the Gulf of Aden, so also was his son gifted with a spirit
and tenacity that helped him now to make up his mind to face any danger
and difficulty in accomplishing the task he had set himself.
"It is clearly my duty," he said, as he trudged along from the London
terminus of the railway to his uncle's residence in Kensington, "to see
this matter through to the end. I have spent hours and hours in thinking
about it, and have always come to the same conclusion. Until this doubt
is absolutely settled, I can never rest, and never be sure that my
father is not living. I will show him and all those who are interested
in him that I am no fair-weather friend, and that I am prepared to stick
to him and to his cause until further search is useless. I cannot
imagine anyone placed in similar circumstances coming to any other
determination, and if I were to hesitate now and allow imaginary dangers
to frighten me, I should be a coward at heart, and unfit to bear my
father's name. I'll put the facts before Uncle George, and I'm sure he
will do his utmost to help me. Ah, there is his house opposite."
Crossing the street, James mounted the steps of a handsome dwelling, and
pulled the bell vigorously. A moment later the door was thrown open by a
footman, who had scarcely taken possession of his bag and ushered him
into the hall before a short, stout old gentleman, with grey whiskers
and hair and a florid countenance, bustled forward to greet him. Mr.
George Hubbard was, in fact, some ten years the colonel's senior, and
was of decidedly comfortable appearance. Indeed, whereas his younger
brother had led an active life, going hither and thither to all parts of
the world, wherever the duties of a soldier called him, George could
scarcely boast that he had ever left the shores of old England.
"I'm a regular stay-at-home, and never feel better, nor more contented,
than when I am engaged in my business in London," he had often said,
with no small amount of satisfaction and pride. "I confess that a
soldier's life never had any attraction for me, though, like all
civilians, I can and do admire the man who goes out to face death at the
call of his country."
As he advanced towards Jim with outstretched hand, his fat,
good-humoured face showed the concern he felt for his young nephew.
"My dear, dear boy, welcome!" he exclaimed. "I don't know what to say to
you, or how to help you in this distressing affair. Both your aunt and I
have done nothing but talk the matter over, and have, indeed, spent
sleepless nights in endeavouring to come to some conclusion, but without
success. It is the most cruel, the most unhappy misfortune that I have
ever experienced. But come upstairs. Your aunt would never forgive me if
I kept her waiting."
Wiping the moisture from his forehead, and coughing as though the effort
of speaking had been almost too much for him, George Hubbard turned and
led the way upstairs. Jim followed him closely, and a minute later was
in his aunt's presence. Then sitting down, the three discussed the
matter fully, Jim telling his relatives to what decision he had come.
"You know the facts as well as I do, uncle," he said, "and I am going to
ask you to do all you can to help me, and not to try and thwart me. I
know how hopeless my mission must seem to you, and that many would think
I was undertaking a wild-goose chase. But, as I told the head master at
school, I feel sure that the man cast up upon the African coast was my
father, and if that is the case, he surely needs my help. I have been
thinking the matter over as I came up in the train, and bought a map
specially to help me. By it I see that my best course will be to take a
steamer direct to Aden, and from there I shall be able to get a trader
to Berbera. Meanwhile, I shall telegraph to the News Agency which
supplied the information sent me this morning, and will endeavour to
arrange that the man who saw this survivor of the wreck land upon the
coast, and afterwards fall into the hands of the Mullah's Somali
warriors, shall be in waiting to receive me. Then, with him as guide, I
shall make my way to the actual point where the incident happened, and
from there we shall turn our faces inland. It may happen that I shall be
able to join some shooting expedition, for one reads occasionally in the
papers that English gentlemen take caravans into that part of Africa for
the purpose of big game shooting. If not, I shall endeavour to hire a
few followers, and take up the search alone. I know it sounds a big
thing to attempt, uncle; but wouldn't you do the same in a similar
case?"
George Hubbard gasped. He was a man of peace, and though well read and
thoroughly sensible, he had, nevertheless, an exaggerated idea of the
wildness and dangers to be met with in Africa. Nor could he be blamed
for that, for weeks past the papers had been filled with accounts of
Somaliland, and of the doings of the Mullah. And now to sit there in a
comfortable armchair before his open hearth, and hear his young nephew
calmly propose to sail for Africa, and make his way into the very heart
of the Somali country, was quite enough to make a man of his disposition
do more than gasp. He sat forward in his chair staring at Jim with a
horrified expression on his face, and with eyes which threatened to fall
out of his head.
"Go to Africa! March into the interior, and probably meet the Mullah
face to face!" he exclaimed, mopping his forehead with his handkerchief.
"Good gracious, you will be killed, you will lose your life to a
certainty!"
"I may, uncle," responded Jim, calmly. "On the other hand, there is a
possibility of my succeeding, for many men have made their way into
Somaliland and returned to tell the tale. Think of the joy it would be
to rescue father."
"But it is madness, Jim! Because one single white man out of some two or
three hundred who left England on that unlucky ship contrived to reach
the shore alive, you fly to the conclusion that it must have been my
poor brother. It is utter folly to argue in this way, though I cannot
help but admire the brave thought which prompts you. Still, I am a
matter-of-fact man, and I say, without hesitation, that the dangers are
too great, and the end too uncertain, to justify your taking the risks.
However, no efforts and no money shall be spared to obtain further
information, and should it turn out, as I trust and hope it may, that
this survivor is indeed my brother, then you shall go. Indeed, so
deeply do I feel his loss, that I am tempted to say that I, too, would
join you in the search. But that would be foolish, considering what I
am, and how utterly unfitted for such exertions."
He rose from his seat, and turning, stood facing Jim, with a comical
look of despair upon his features. For some minutes there was silence,
and then, just as he was about to begin a long and telling argument,
with the object of dissuading Jim from an attempt which, to his uncle,
appeared worse than madness, a knock sounded on the door, and a footman
entered.
"A telegram, sir," he said.
With an agile spring, which was wonderful considering his unwieldy
proportions, George Hubbard left his position by the fire, and darted
across the room. Taking the telegram from the footman, he tore it open,
and then began to read it aloud, while Jim and his aunt jumped to their
feet and looked over his shoulder.
"From the News Agency!" he cried excitedly. "I gave them instructions to
spare no expense in obtaining information, and here is the result."
"Read it!" exclaimed Jim and his aunt, impatiently. "What does it say?"
"Listen!" answered Mr. Hubbard, holding the paper so that the light
should fall upon it. "'In accordance with your instructions, we have
questioned native who gave information. He states that surviving white
man was tall, with dark hair, getting grey at temples, grey moustache,
and muscular body. Not quite certain, owing to distance, but thinks he
caught a glimpse of a bangle about his wrist. If not that, it was a
piece of cloth tied there, perhaps to cover a wound.'"
"That is father!" shouted Jim, unable to restrain his excitement. "I am
certain it is he, for the description tallies exactly with his
appearance, and, moreover, he was in the habit of wearing a watch
bracelet upon his wrist."
"Tall, dark hair getting grey, and grey moustache," repeated Mr.
Hubbard, as if to assure himself that he had read the telegram aright.
"There can be no doubt that this is my brother. I quite agree with you,
Jim, for, though it is possible, and even very probable, that many men
aboard the ship would have answered to that description, the fact that
the survivor wore a dark bracelet upon his wrist is, in my opinion, an
absolute confirmation. I am glad, my boy--more than glad. Indeed, I
cannot tell you how much this good news rejoices my heart."
Turning to his nephew, he grasped his hand and shook it till the lad's
fingers ached, patting him meanwhile upon the shoulder with his other
hand.
"Yes, delighted; pleased beyond measure," he continued earnestly. "Now
you may rely upon the fact that your uncle is wholly on your side."
As for Mrs. Hubbard, she had a tender heart, and gently pushing her
husband aside, threw herself into Jim's arms with tears of joy in her
eyes.
"You deserve the good news, my dear boy," she said, kissing him
affectionately. "It went to my heart to see your silent grief, and how
bravely you had determined to clear up this uncertainty. It was horrible
to feel that your father might be dead, and still more trying to hear
that there was just a possibility that he was still alive, a captive in
the hands of this man they call the Mullah. The uncertainty was more
than I could bear, and I feel sure that, had I been a man, I should have
followed the same course, and gone to Africa, so as to set the matter
for ever at rest."
"And now let us discuss the question," interposed Mr. Hubbard, pacing
restlessly up and down the room. "There must be no delay in setting out
to rescue my brother, and as we in England can do little, seeing that we
are so far from Somaliland, I advise that you at once take ship for
Aden. It happens that my firm have business relations with a man living
there. He exports camels to that part of Africa ruled over by the
Italians, and gathers in his warehouses every description of merchandise
which comes from the interior of the country. If anyone can help you he
is the man. Now, let me see, a ship will leave the London Docks for the
Mediterranean and Egypt to-morrow evening; we will telephone at once to
obtain a berth for you. That done, we will set about getting you a kit,
for it is absolutely necessary that you should go well provided, and in
that respect the utmost attention must be paid to weapons. That reminds
me, a gentleman of my acquaintance who has visited Africa for purposes
of sport happens to live close at hand. We will go in and see him at
once, for it is more than likely that he will be able to give us
valuable advice."
It was wonderful to see the energy displayed by Mr. Hubbard. Now that
there was no doubt that it was his brother who had survived the wreck,
he was like a schoolboy in his eagerness to set about his rescue, and
took the matter up in a manner which showed that he was determined to do
as much for the cause in his own way as was his nephew. Hastening from
the room, he and Jim quickly donned their coats and hats, and hurried to
the nearest telephone station. As it was late in the evening, the
instrument was disengaged, and within five minutes a passage was booked
upon a steamer that was to leave England the following evening. Jim and
his uncle now hailed a cab, and were quickly transported to the
residence of the gentleman of whom the latter had spoken.
"Glad to be of service, I'm sure," he said, when Mr. Hubbard had
explained the reason of his coming. "Indeed, had it been possible, I
should willingly have undertaken to accompany your nephew, in which case
my experience of life in Northern Africa would have been of some help to
him. Aden is certainly his first point of call, and as you already have
an agent there, the difficulty of obtaining a passage over to Berbera,
and of getting together the necessary followers and camels for transport
purposes, will be easily overcome. I strongly advise him to engage a
'shikari,' or head hunting-man, to accompany him and take charge of the
natives; and if he applies at the British Consul's at Berbera, it is
possible that he will be able to obtain the services of a man called Ali
Kumar, a civilized Somali warrior, who accompanied me on an expedition
two years ago, and who proved invaluable. Now as to kit. A couple of
suits of rough cloth, with leather gaiters and good marching boots, will
be the best. A felt hat would be worse than useless as a head-covering
out there, for in the hot season the sun pours down with a fierceness
that cannot be imagined, and can only be fully understood when actually
experienced. Three or four water-tanks, so constructed as to be capable
of being easily slung upon camels, should be procured, for this
gentleman known as the 'Mad' Mullah has his happy hunting-grounds some
two hundred miles inland, and to reach him it is necessary first to
cross a range of hills, and then to face the Hoad, or waterless desert,
which stretches for quite a hundred and fifty miles without a break.
That is always a most trying ordeal, but you will have to face it, for,
until the Hoad is passed, there will be no prospect of obtaining more
than the most meagre news of your father."
"That will, indeed, be a terrible difficulty," interposed Mr. Hubbard.
"One often hears of whole caravans lost in the attempt to cross these
waterless tracts, and I suppose, in the case of this one which you call
the Hoad, such a fatality is not unknown."
"I will not say that accidents have not happened," was the answer, in
reassuring tones; "but so well is this desert known, and so accustomed
are the natives to crossing it, that they think lightly of its dangers.
But your raising the question reminds me to speak of animals. A good
supply of transport camels will be required, and, in addition, a dozen
or more of the trotting variety will be absolutely necessary. Then,
supposing our young friend happens to obtain some piece of important
news, he will be able to leave his caravan, and make a dash to any given
point. Horses, too, he must have, and he will find no difficulty in
getting as many as he requires. A small case of drugs is another item
that should prove of use, and I strongly advise him to take some rolls
of strong barbed wire. The additional weight that will have to be
carried will be fully compensated for by the feeling of security that
the wire will give."
"But how? I do not follow your point," said Mr. Hubbard dubiously. "I do
not see how this wire will help my nephew."
"Then I will explain. He will march in the early morning, and if the sun
is not too hot, will continue to do so for the greater part of the day.
Sometimes he will cover only a few miles, and will then halt, for his
powers of getting about the country will depend greatly upon the
condition of his transport animals. Again, he will occasionally have to
make forced marches, for the water-holes are often separated by long
distances, which it is absolutely necessary to cover.
"But to come to the barbed wire. When he halts at night, he will form a
zareba, sending out his followers to cut thorn-bushes with which to
build a hedge. A few posts driven into the ground at intervals along the
outside of the zareba, with wire stretched between them, will
effectually stop a rush of the enemy, and will give timely warning in
case of attack. In South Africa miles and miles were used between the
blockhouses, and proved of great service."
"I see your point," exclaimed Jim, who had followed his words closely,
"and I should imagine that if the posts and wires were hidden amongst
the thorns, the surprise and alarm of the enemy would be even greater.
Numbers might easily become entangled, and then we should be able to
teach them a lesson with our rifles."
"Quite so. I fully agree with you," was the answer. "And, speaking of
weapons, reminds me that I have not yet dealt with that subject."
For a few moments the speaker buried his face in his hands, and sat
there thoughtfully.
"There is no doubt," he suddenly continued, "that this is a most
important matter. I take it that you are not bent upon big game
shooting, and that if you come upon lions or elephants you will leave
them severely alone. For your purpose the Lee-Enfield rifle will be the
best, and should it turn out, as it very well may, that you are attacked
by the beasts I have mentioned, then you must trust to slay them by
means of a volley, for it is hopeless to expect that a single one of
these small-calibre bullets will prove fatal. If it were to strike a
vital spot it certainly would, but that is a piece of luck which you
must not count upon, for, remember, you cannot afford to take
unnecessary risks. So you should equip your party with the rifles I have
mentioned, and, in addition, a hunting knife and a brace of good
revolvers would be useful possessions for yourself. A pair of
field-glasses and a tin water-bottle should complete your equipment. I
need hardly mention the advisability of carrying an abundant supply of
ammunition.
"And now, my lad, it only remains for me to wish you the best of luck. I
admire your pluck immensely, but I shall give you a few last words of
advice. Be always cautious, never omit to post sentries at night and
visit them yourself, and, above all, be ever on the look-out for
treachery. The Somali natives have the reputation of being cunning
rogues. Plunder seems to be their sole object in life, and camels have a
peculiar attraction for them. They would think nothing of killing you,
if by doing so they could obtain possession of your transport animals."
Thanking him heartily for his kindness, and exchanging a cordial shake
of the hand, Jim and his uncle left their friend, and returned home at
once.
"We shall have to be busy to-morrow," said Mr. Hubbard, as they took
their seats once more in front of the fire. "In the first place, we must
get your clothing and revolvers, with a few strong trunks in which to
carry them. The rifles and any other items we may happen to think of can
be purchased during the week, and I shall see that they follow you out
to Aden. You will want to have means of drawing money, and for that
purpose I shall write full instructions to our agent. His name, by the
way, is Andrews, and you will find him an extremely obliging gentleman.
I shall tell him to supply you with anything you may ask for, and I may
say now that, though I do not desire that you should be extravagant, no
expense that may help to the recovery of my dear brother shall be
spared. And now to bed, my dear Jim, for to-morrow you have much to do."
Early on the following morning Mr. Hubbard's house in Kensington was
astir. There was an air of subdued excitement about the servants, who in
some mysterious way had contrived to hear full details of all that was
occurring. Mrs. Hubbard took her place at the breakfast-table, assuming
as cheerful a look as she could, though her heart was full of misgivings
for the safety of her nephew. But she was wise enough to know that he
needed encouragement and help, and therefore determined that he should
not guess what her thoughts were. As for Jim, he appeared with smiling
countenance, for now that he felt sure that his father had really
escaped the wreck, he was quite light-hearted, and though fully aware of
the difficulties and dangers before him, was prepared to face them
without hesitation.
"I know it's going to be a job," he had said to himself, as he lay awake
during the night, "and I must be prepared to spend months, and even a
year, in accomplishing it. But it has to be done, and if only I make up
my mind from the beginning that nothing shall beat me, then my chances
of success will be good."
Breakfast over, he said good-bye to his aunt, and then, entering a cab
with his uncle, drove off to a firm in the city, from whom he was able
to obtain a complete outfit of clothing. Trunks were bought at the same
place, and directions given to have them packed at once.
"We'll call for them in an hour," said Mr. Hubbard, "and I shall be
obliged if you will arrange to have everything ready for us, so that
there shall be no delay."
Entering their cab again, they drove to a gunsmith's, where a couple of
big Webley revolvers were purchased, together with a strong hunting
knife contained in a sheath, which was so arranged as to be slung in a
belt. A small case of drugs in tabloid form was obtained at another
establishment, and then, armed with their purchases, James and his uncle
returned for the clothing.
Within five minutes the luggage was on the cab, and they were on their
way to Fenchurch-street Station. An hour later James was safely
installed in his cabin, and shortly afterwards took leave of his uncle.
"You may rely upon my sending the other things promptly," said Mr.
Hubbard, as he moved towards the gang-way. "They should reach you within
a week of your arrival in Aden, and so that there shall be no difficulty
about importing the arms, or about transhipping them to Africa, you had
better go to the Governor at Aden, and tell him all the facts. I will
visit the Foreign Office in London, and I am sure that every effort will
be made to help you. Good-bye, and may you be successful."
That afternoon the steamer put out into the river, and by night was well
at sea. Running down Channel, she made a good passage to Ushant, and was
soon in the Bay of Biscay, which, to the delight of all the passengers,
was comparatively smooth.
Jim was enchanted with this new experience, and before very long began
to feel quite at home. Indeed, so quickly are friendships made upon an
ocean-going steamer, that within a day or two he felt as though he had
known all the passengers for quite a lengthy period.
After coasting along the Portuguese shore, the ship steered to the east,
and entered the Mediterranean. Gibraltar was sighted, and signals
exchanged, so as to let the folks at home know that a safe passage had
thus far been made.
A week later they were in the canal, and in due time reached Aden. Here
Jim's baggage was put ashore, and he himself followed, feeling somewhat
forlorn amongst so many strangers.
"Mr. Hubbard, I think?" said a cheery voice at his elbow, causing him to
turn round with a start, to find that a short, bearded man, with a
pleasant face, was addressing him. He was clad in white from head to
foot, and wore an enormous "topee," or pith helmet, upon his head. "I am
making no mistake, I think?" he continued. "I am Mr. Andrews."
In a moment they were shaking hands, and then Jim's new friend called
loudly to some Indian porters, and gave them instructions concerning the
baggage.
"Everything here is done by natives from India," he said, noticing a
look of inquiry on Jim's face. "In fact, Aden is, officially, part of
our Eastern possessions, and boasts of no other coin than the rupee. But
I will tell you all about that later. We'll drive to my place now. Hi!
gharri!"
At his shout an open carriage, drawn by two "tats," as the small native
ponies are known, dashed up to them, and when they were seated drove off
along the main street of Aden at a pace which in London would have been
considered furious. Leaving the town, they took another road which led
to the right, into a part occupied by many bungalows, and at one of
these they finally alighted.
"Aden itself is a horrible place," said Mr. Andrews, apologetically,
waving his hand towards the town. "It is, as you see, little more than a
wide volcanic plain, with nothing in the way of vegetation to relieve
its barrenness. Out here, however, we have contrived to arrange a little
oasis, in which we Europeans live. But come in, Mr. Hubbard, and I'll
show you the room you are to occupy while staying with me. Then we'll
have tiffin (luncheon), and afterwards we'll sit on the verandah and
talk this matter over. I believe I've excellent news for you, which you
shall hear in good time."
"About father? Does it concern him?" asked Jim, eagerly, pricking up his
ears at the mention of news, for he had been without any for more than a
week. "Perhaps he has been rescued? But that is expecting too much."
"No, it's not that," was the answer, in reassuring tones; "but it's
remarkably good news, I can tell you, for I have ascertained that a
certain gentleman is bound upon a similar expedition, or rather, is
about to go into the Mullah's country for the purpose of obtaining
intelligence of his movements. Hearing that you also contemplated
penetrating into the interior, he asks leave to accompany you, and I
have no doubt you will be delighted to take him."
"I shall, indeed," answered Jim, eagerly. "I was quite prepared to
undertake the journey alone, but a companion will make all the
difference, and I willingly agree to his joining my expedition."
"Then, that's settled; and now for tiffin."
Leading the way through a wide compound, laid out like an English
garden, Mr. Andrews mounted the steps of a shady verandah, and entering
a doorway in front of which hung a curtain of reeds, ushered his
companion into a delightfully cool inner room, in which, on a table
placed in the centre, was spread a snowy white cloth, littered with
sparkling glass and silver. Silent-footed natives salaamed and prepared
to wait upon them, and at once the two sat down and began their meal.
CHAPTER III
THE GUN-RUNNERS
"Now come out to the verandah," said Mr. Andrews, taking James by the
arm as soon as tiffin was finished. "I have a couple of comfortable
chairs there, in which we can lounge, for just now is the hottest part
of the day, and no European ventures abroad unless compelled to by
unforeseen circumstances."
Leaving the airy dining-room, the two stepped on to a broad paved
verandah, which entirely surrounded the bungalow, and took their seats
in a shady nook.
Above their heads was a thickly thatched roof, the eaves of which
projected so far beyond the supporting posts as to make a broad stretch
of shadow beneath. But as they lay in their chairs, Jim and his new
friend could easily see beneath it. For the moment they sat there in
silence. Indeed, Jim was lost in admiration, for Mr. Andrews had created
for himself a perfect English garden. Glancing between the pillars,
about which clung roses, jasmine, and honeysuckle, and many another
creeper, he looked out upon beds of brilliant flowers, laid out in
orderly array, and flashing gorgeously in the rays of the Eastern sun.
"I've only to forget the bungalow, and imagine myself in old England
again," said Mr. Andrews. "That garden is just one of the luxuries I
allow myself, and which helps to make life more pleasant here. Some day
I hope to end my exile and return home, for, however fascinating bright
and continuous sunshine may be, to return to one's native country is
always a pleasure to which we who live out here look forward. But here
is someone coming through the gate. Ah, I see, it's the gentleman of
whom I was speaking."
He sprang from his seat and went toward the steps to greet his visitor.
As for Jim, he watched with some interest to see what kind of man this
stranger should prove to be.
"I hope I shall like him," he said to himself, "for it would be
disastrous to our expedition if we were to fall foul of each other. But
here he is, and--yes, he looks a good fellow, and I am sure we shall be
excellent friends."
As this passed through his mind the visitor mounted the steps, and Jim
obtained a clear view of his features. He was tall and thin, with fair
hair and clean-shaven face, and, as far as one could guess, was about
twenty-five years of age.
"Ah, how do, Andrews?" he exclaimed cheerily, springing with one bound
on to the verandah. "Glad to see you, my dear fellow. I heard that the
ship had arrived, and so came along to have a chat, and to meet the Mr.
Hubbard of whom you were speaking."
"There he is, then," cried Mr. Andrews, turning to Jim; "and he, too, is
anxious to make your acquaintance."
A moment later the two were shaking hands, each greeting the other with
a steady look, which seemed to say, "I want to know what sort of a chap
you are, and how we are likely to get along together."
"Glad to meet you, and I hope we shall be good friends. My name is
Dixon--Tom Dixon; Tom for short."
"And mine is James--James Hubbard, you know," said our hero, with a
friendly smile. "Mr. Andrews tells me that you, too, are bound for
Somaliland, and have suggested accompanying me. I need not say that I
shall be delighted, for it would be dreary work to go alone. But I
would do it if necessary, for my father's life depends upon my going."
"Quite so, and that is just where we shall agree," was the ready answer;
"for you must understand that I am a secret agent, an Intelligence
officer, as we are often called, and----But one minute. Are we alone,
Andrews? For my news is of great importance, and if your native servants
were to obtain an inkling of it, the tidings would fly at once, and
reach the ears of the Mullah in an incredibly short space of time. It is
a fact," he continued, noticing the look of surprise with which Jim
greeted his remark. "Our dusky friend has a perfect system of espionage,
which would shame that of many a European country. Tales of a coming
expedition told across the dinner-table in these bungalows are whispered
in the native bazaars before a day has gone, and I speak only the truth
when I say that the first ship for Berbera or the Somali coast, whether
it be a steamer, a native dhow, or a rascally gun-runner, bears a man
whose duty it is to pass on his information to the Mullah. Why, he knows
well that the British Government is now buying camels here and training
and equipping a native levy at Berbera. Our camp there is full of spies,
and I do not exaggerate when I tell you that the movements of our troops
are known by the Mullah almost before they are by our officers. So, take
my advice, and go about with your lips closed and your eyes very wide
open."
Tom Dixon spoke in the most earnest manner, and lifted his finger, as if
thereby to impress Jim with his warning. And, indeed, he was making no
erroneous statement, and telling only the truth when he described the
extraordinary manner in which news is conveyed into the heart of
Somaliland.
"Make your mind easy, Tom," said Mr. Andrews, reassuringly, stepping
across the verandah to look into the dining-room. "The servants are all
on the other side of the bungalow, and out of earshot, so that you may
speak here without fear of the consequences, and chat this matter over
to your heart's content. But your warning is a timely one, and, indeed,
has only forestalled by a few minutes the advice I was about to give our
young friend. Ever since this matter cropped up, I have kept it a dead
secret between myself and the British Governor, you, of course, being
also included. I have gone so far as to set aside a certain number of
camels of the trotting and of the transport variety, and have also
engaged some fifty followers. They were despatched from here a month ago
for the service of the Government. But this is a more urgent matter,
and, with the Governor's permission, I have arranged that you shall have
them. When you arrive at Berbera, you will find them all encamped
outside the town. Ali Kumar, a shikari of noted reputation, and a
trustworthy fellow, will be there to head the followers and guide you
through the country, while some twenty miles along the coast is a
village in which lives the man who gave information about the survivor
of the wreck. I have purposely refrained from engaging him in any
capacity, but my agent at Berbera has seen him, and has informed him
that a relative of the survivor will come to speak with him. That means
reward, or 'backsheesh,' as these Somali fellows know it, and you may be
sure that he will not fail you."
"Splendid!" exclaimed Jim. "Then, thanks to your kindness and
forethought, there will be little or no delay, and, so far as I can see,
the weapons and ammunition which are coming from England are the only
things that can keep us waiting, and my uncle promised that they should
be here within a few days of my arrival. What luck, too, to have got
hold of Ali Kumar, for he is the very man I was told to engage."
"I know him well, and can tell you that he is a capital fellow,"
answered Mr. Andrews. "But to continue my story. All these preparations
have been made in the quietest and most secret manner possible. Once you
and Tom arrive at Berbera, you have only to ride out to this camp. Then,
when night falls, you can slip away and march along the coast. There is
a headland, forty miles east of Berbera, where you had better camp for a
few days, keeping a bright look-out for a certain native dhow, which
will bring you your rifles, ammunition, and stores. By acting in this
way, you will be able to leave the coast for the interior without anyone
being aware of your intentions--at least, I hope you may. Tom and I have
talked the matter over, for he is as anxious as you to get away without
the news reaching the Mullah's ears."
"Just so," interposed Tom. "You see, Hubbard, your search will carry you
into the very heart of the Mullah's country, and as I am anxious to
obtain full information of his doings, I, too, am bound in that
direction. If he had the slightest notion of our intentions, you may be
sure that he would do his utmost to murder the whole lot of us, and so
it is of great importance to keep him in ignorance. This is your
expedition, but I propose that we share expenses, and the command also,
if you like. You see, I have spent many years on the coast, and speak
the language like a native--a useful accomplishment for the job we have
in hand. But I'm not a bit of a soldier, and when it comes to fighting I
shall have to look to you to pull us through. Nominally, you will be in
charge of the expedition, but I think that by putting our heads together
we shall get along with greater success."
"I quite agree with you," responded Jim, thoughtfully; "the fact that
you speak the language will be of the greatest service, and as this
expedition is to suit your purpose as well as mine, I feel sure that we
shall not fall out when difficulties arise. But there is one thing I
wish to say. I must not have my movements hampered in any way, for it
may turn out that news of my father will reach us as soon as we get into
the interior. Perhaps, even, we may have the good fortune to rescue him
at once, and in that case, my mission being ended, I should return to
the coast immediately."
"And I should not attempt to dissuade you," said Tom Dixon, with a
smile. "If by that time I had not obtained information of the utmost
value, it would be my own fault entirely; and besides, supposing you
were to rescue your father, I think there is but little doubt that we
should find it necessary to retire at once--in fact, to make a bolt for
our lives, for the Mullah has a reputation for fierceness, and would not
easily forgive our boldness.
"But I have something else to tell you, which may cause you to prick up
your ears. It has come to my knowledge that a rascal here is about to
ship a load of guns across to Somaliland. Would you care to join me in
an attempt to capture him? It would be a risky business, I tell you
candidly, but if we are successful, it would be a glorious adventure.
You need not be afraid that it will delay us, for my plan is to ship
aboard as a hand, and wait until close to the African coast. Then
matters must depend upon circumstances. I shall endeavour to give
warning to one of the British gunboats stationed in these waters, and in
that case should allow myself to be taken prisoner without saying a
word. But it is just possible that I may be unable to ascertain the
exact destination for which we are bound, and in that case should have
to take my chance of capturing the dhow single-handed, or of looking on
quietly while the guns were handed over to the Mullah's emissaries. If
you were with me, we could make a grand fight of it, for these dhows
seldom have more than four men aboard. Sometimes, of course, they carry
a bigger crew, and if it were to turn out like that, we should have to
alter our plans."
"But how am I to be smuggled aboard?" asked Jim, eagerly, delighted at
the thought of such an adventure. "I don't speak the language, and
should certainly be spotted the very moment I set foot upon the vessel."
"I don't think so," responded Tom Dixon, emphatically. "The natives in
these parts do all sorts of curious things, and it has just struck me
that, by pretending that you have made a vow, you can get over this
difficulty. We'll give it out that we come from some Somali tribe which
is friendly to the Mullah, and that we are willing to lend a hand in
loading and unloading the dhow in return for our passage. I shall say
that you have sworn never to speak until you have made a pilgrimage to
Mecca. That is no uncommon vow, and amongst these fanatical people will
raise you to their highest estimation."
"It sounds a likely story," cried Jim, "and I'll come with you. When do
you propose to start? And when are we likely to arrive on the Somali
coast?"
"That I cannot say, but I believe the dhow will sail within a couple of
days, and two more should take us across the water. Then much depends
upon how matters turn out."
"It's a risky business," said Mr. Andrews, who had listened attentively
all the while. "But I won't try to dissuade you, Hubbard, for the danger
is no greater than you will encounter in Somaliland, and I think the
experience you will get will help you in your search. It may turn out
that by going upon this dhow you will come across a native who knows of
your father. In that case the risk will not have been taken for nothing,
for you can rely upon it that Tom will worm his secrets out. Our friend
is a thorough native, and I only tell you the bare truth when I say that
his get-up and behaviour are marvellous. You see, his father was
stationed here for many years, and Tom has made the most of his
opportunities."
"That is so," said Tom. "I used to be awfully fond of dressing up as a
native and going down to the bazaar. Once or twice my disguise was
discovered, and if I hadn't taken to my heels, I should have come in for
some rough handling. But that is a very old tale, and I have played the
trick so often now that, when in native costume, I feel and act the part
with assurance. Indeed, I often forget that I am an Englishman, so
absorbed do I become, and many and many a time have I come from the
bazaars primed with a piece of information that has proved of service to
our Governor. And it is on that account that I have been employed as an
Intelligence officer. But you'll come, then, Hubbard? That is splendid,
for, with you to help me, I shall hope to bag these fellows. I propose
that you remain here till this evening, and then, when the servants have
retired after dinner, walk down the garden to the gate. I'll be there to
meet you, and together we'll go to my place. Mr. Andrews will look after
your things here, and will send them over in the ship he spoke of."
Tom Dixon now rose, and, after chatting for a few moments with his
friends, departed. For more than an hour Jim and Mr. Andrews sat on the
verandah, talking in low tones, for there were many points to be
arranged. Then Jim went to his room, and wrote a long letter to his
uncle, telling him all that was about to occur, and describing the
preparations which Mr. Andrews had made for his expedition.
"And now, as weapons will be required, I'll look to my revolvers," he
said to himself. "I am very glad that I spent the time on board ship
practising, for until then I had never fired anything but a toy pistol.
Now, however, I can feel fairly sure of putting a bullet into a man at
ten yards' range, and, as they are heavy revolvers, that should be quite
enough to stop him. I have heard that these natives are very hardy, and
will stand far more knocking about than the average individual, but I've
a notion that if I were to hit the hardiest of them plump with one of
these big bullets he would not require any more."
Unpacking his revolvers, he set to work to clean and thoroughly overhaul
them. Then wrapping them in a towel, together with a small box of
ammunition, he placed them in one of his trunks until it was time to
join Tom Dixon. Then he set to work to look through his possessions, and
so absorbed did he become in the occupation that he did not notice the
time slipping by, and, when dinner was announced, could scarcely believe
that it was already evening.
An hour later, having said good-bye to Mr. Andrews, he left the
bungalow, with his bundle under his arm. When he emerged from the gate
of the compound, he was joined by Tom Dixon.
"That you?" asked Tom, in a low voice.
"Yes; here I am," answered Jim.
"Then come along, old chap. We had better walk along silently, for I
know these natives well, and caution in such matters pays. For instance,
it's quite likely that someone is following you, just to see where you
are going. The natives are the most curious people under the sun, and
will take no end of trouble over a little matter like this. But we'll
soon see. Come down here."
Catching Jim by the sleeve, Tom Dixon suddenly drew him into the deep
shadow of a palm which grew close at hand, and whispered to him to
crouch low upon the ground. Ten minutes later their caution was
rewarded, for a dusky figure crept silently past them, and disappeared
in the darkness.
"We'll give him five minutes to get well away," said Tom, "and then
we'll move off in the opposite direction, and get to my place by a
different route. I dare say all this secrecy seems unnecessary to you,
but you've heard my warning."
"It does seem strange," Jim agreed, in a whisper. "Coming from old
England, where everything is so free and open, one is at first at a loss
to understand the need for all this secrecy; but after what you have
told me, I can fully believe that our plans might easily be ruined,
unless we kept them to ourselves. That fellow creeping after us just now
is an object-lesson which I shall not easily forget."
When sufficient time had elapsed to make it certain that there was no
fear of detection, the two rose to their feet again, and leaving the
shadow of the tree, went off in the opposite direction. In some twenty
minutes' time they arrived at the outskirts of the town of Aden, and,
pausing to make sure that they were unobserved, entered a narrow
doorway, which led to the interior of a native house.
"Ten paces to your front, and then stop," whispered Tom. "Now follow me
closely, and take care that the door does not bang in your face."
There was the creak of rusty hinges, and the snap of a lock being pushed
back. Then, guided by Tom's hand, Jim found himself descending a flight
of rickety stairs, which groaned beneath his weight, and threatened to
deposit him with more swiftness than was quite agreeable in the room
below. A minute later a match flickered before his eyes, and he saw Tom
applying it to a candle, which quickly burned up and allowed him to take
note of his surroundings. To his astonishment he found himself in a
comfortably-furnished room, with a tiny bed in one corner. There was a
washhand-stand against the wall, and a couple of basket-chairs, while a
big chest stood beneath a tiny window, which admitted light and air to
the room during the day, but which was now curtained with thick
material.
"Not exactly a model dwelling, or the kind of place that a European
would choose for his residence in this hot climate," said Tom, with a
laugh, "but it has the great advantage of obscurity. This is really part
of a disused building, and it was whilst consorting with a gang of
rogues, whose secrets I was endeavouring to ascertain, that I
accidentally discovered it. I at once saw that it was the very place for
me, and promptly set about putting it in order. You see, I am supposed
to be a kind of clerk to the Governor, though my duties in that way are
purely nominal. As a matter of fact, I turn up every now and again with
bundles of papers in my hand, and have an audience with my chief. But
the official-looking documents are a fraud, and my conversation has no
reference to them. But to return to this room. I've the share of a
bungalow elsewhere, and when about to undertake one of my spying
adventures, I slip away from there during the night, for all the world
like a thief, and find my way to this place. That chest is full of
disguises, stains, and paints, and it takes but little more than an hour
to transform myself into a worthy Parsee, a race of men engaged in trade
in Aden. More often I leave this place as a simple coolie, and at times
I have appeared in more disreputable attire, such as is worn by the
budmashes, or criminal class of the town. Look here!"
Taking the candle with him, he went across the room to where the chest
stood, and slipped in a key. Throwing open the lid, he disclosed a
neatly packed interior, with a shallow tray at one end, which contained
a number of wigs and hirsute adornments for the face.
"My stock-in-trade," said Tom, with some degree of pride. "It has taken
me a long time to collect them, and so important do I consider the
question of wigs, that I've gone to enormous trouble to provide myself
with all those you see. After all, clothes are easily purchased. One has
merely to go into the bazaars, and one will easily find every variety of
garb worn by the natives in these parts. With the hair it is a different
matter, and to obtain exactly what I wanted I have been compelled to
make every one of those little articles myself, for the slightest
mistake in get-up would lead to discovery, and most likely to death. But
take a seat, and let us decide how we are going to act."
Throwing himself upon the bed, Tom motioned Jim to one of the chairs,
and then lay at full length, his hands behind his head, and his eyes
fixed upon a patch of dingy light thrown by the flickering candle upon
the ceiling above. As for Jim, he sat back in his chair, lost in
wonderment. Indeed, when he came to think the matter over, he could
scarcely believe that less than three weeks had passed since the first
news of the wreck had reached his ears. Then he was just a schoolboy, on
the threshold of life, with no higher aim than to go up for his
examination, and win a commission in the Army. In the meanwhile no worry
troubled his mind, and all his spare hours were taken up in an
endeavour to excel in games, for he was passionately fond of exercise in
any form. And now, in a moment it seemed, he had been transported into a
different life--into a different world indeed. Who could have dreamt
that those few short days would have made such a difference to him,
would have brought him all those miles across the sea, to face dangers
and difficulties the extent of which he could scarcely conceive!
"And here I am, a regular conspirator," he said to himself, looking
about the room, "and bound upon an adventure which, from all I can
gather, will afford considerable excitement. But I've thought the matter
out carefully, and believe that I am justified in entering upon it, for,
who knows but that it may turn out an advantage in the end! If these
gun-runners are in league with the Mullah, it stands to reason that they
know something of his movements, and as white prisoners are seldom or
never taken, the fact that the survivor of the wreck fell into his hands
will have reached their ears. Perhaps, too, they are even aware of
father's exact whereabouts, and if only Tom can worm the secret out of
them, we shall be saved enormous trouble, and very likely a large
proportion of risk; for, in that case, we should march into the interior
as rapidly as possible, choosing night for our movements, and hiding up
amongst the sand-dunes and hills during the day. Then, when we got
within striking distance, we should mount our trotting camels, and make
a dash for the place. If we were successful, I should abandon the
transport animals and our baggage, so as to enable us to retire to the
coast at all speed.
"But that is hoping for too much," he continued. "This business is going
to be no ordinary affair, and before we are successful we shall be
compelled to face no end of difficulties. But all the better, if in the
end we are able to carry out our purpose."
For quite five minutes Jim sat there silently, lost in thought, while
Tom lay upon the bed, still staring at the dingy ceiling, as if, indeed,
he could see there a plan which would be likely to prove of service when
endeavouring to capture the dhow.
"I can see my way quite easily," he said aloud, as if addressing himself
to no one in particular. "At first, of course, I shall have to find out
where the dhow lies, but an hour or two spent in the bazaar will soon
set the matter at rest. That done, we shall have to obtain a passage
aboard her, but there again I fancy things will be easily arranged. I'll
get into casual conversation with some fellow who seems to know the
destination of the craft, and I'll drop, as if by accident, a few words
which will let him know that I am a friend of the Mullah. These natives
are well aware of the risk they incur in these gun-running expeditions,
and I've no doubt that hands are difficult to obtain. If that is the
case, they will jump at our services, and we shall soon find ourselves
installed upon the dhow. After that the outlook is uncertain."
"Bound to be!" exclaimed Jim, emphatically. "That's just where the risk
comes in. But it would be a fine thing to hold them up, and to capture
the vessel and its contents."
"By George, it would! You're right, Jim, and we will do it," cried Tom
enthusiastically, swinging himself into a sitting position. "Look here,
I've been going over all the points, and I've come to the conclusion
that our best plan will be to do as I have just said. Just you lie down
there and have a snooze, while I get into the proper togs and go out to
the bazaar. Then we shall be able to start for the dhow to-morrow
morning, without delay."
"I'd like to come, too, if it could be arranged," said Jim eagerly. "You
see, I have to get used to the dress of a native, and shall feel far
more sure of myself if my first attempt is made while it is dark."
"Then come along. Just hop out of your things as quickly as you can,
while I do the same. Then we'll apply the stain to our bodies, and dress
ourselves in the robes usually worn by natives from the interior of
Somaliland."
Both at once proceeded to undress, and that done, Tom dived to the
bottom of the chest, and produced a carefully stoppered jar, and a big
brush, composed of the silkiest hair. With this he at once proceeded to
paint Jim from head to foot, and when that operation was concluded, the
latter took the brush and did the same for his companion. Another dive
into the chest produced an earthen pot. This contained a dark, oily
liquid, which was freely applied to the hair and eyebrows.
"Hum! Doesn't smell over-pleasant," remarked Jim, with a grimace. "It
has a most peculiarly pungent odour."
"Oh, you'll get used to it in time," was the laughing rejoinder. "But I
can assure you that it is very necessary, and quite typical of the
Somali people. There are your sandals. Slip your toes into the tags, and
walk across the floor. No, not that way, but like this, shuffling
along."
Slipping a pair on to his own feet, Tom strode swiftly up and down the
room, imitating a native, and would not be satisfied until Jim was able
to do precisely the same.
"Now watch me put on this head-gear," he said, taking a long fold of
snowy linen, and beginning to wrap it about his temples. He then
produced a light belt of webbing, to which two holsters were made fast,
and proceeded to buckle it about his waist, tossing a second to Jim for
his own use. A minute or two later he had wound a long cloak of linen
about his body, contriving, however, to leave one arm and half his
breast bare, while his legs were visible from the knee downwards. Then
revolvers were placed in the holsters, a small pouch filled with
ammunition, and a long and spiteful dagger thrust through the belt, and
arranged so that the handle just peeped out through the clothing. A
second and shorter weapon was attached to the inside of the left arm,
and thus equipped, Tom placed himself before a wide strip of
looking-glass which was nailed against the wall, and having put the
candle in position, so that its light fell full upon him, began to
survey himself critically.
It was evident that he was satisfied, for he smiled at his own image,
displaying a set of teeth which looked particularly white, now that his
features were stained.
"And now for you," he said. "I want you to dress yourself from head to
foot just as I have done, for, remember, you may have to do so before
the natives, and if you bungled, then you would certainly be
discovered."
Twenty minutes later the candle was extinguished, and the two crept up
the creaking staircase and went out. Then, with long, shuffling strides,
which carried them quickly over the ground, they made their way towards
the native bazaar.
"Remember your rôle," whispered Tom, as they approached the line of
squalid huts and booths which formed the native market. "Not a sound is
to escape your lips. If you are addressed, make no answer, but turn away
angrily, waving your arm. Should the man persist, turn upon him, but
beware that you do not touch your weapons, for to do so would be fatal.
Of course, if you are discovered, you must make a fight of it; but
we'll hope that it is not coming to that."
Walking side by side, the two were soon in the midst of the bazaar, and
Jim was interested to see how these Eastern people behaved. Lights
twinkled in the various booths, and dusky natives were gathered in knots
here and there. Some sat silently, but the majority were conversing in
the most excited and voluble manner. Indeed, they might very well have
been engaged in a squabble, so exaggerated were their movements.
Suddenly, on turning a corner, the two adventurers came upon a circle of
men squatting about a brazier, and singing a weird song to the
accompaniment of a tom-tom. As they came into the firelight, one of the
natives caught sight of them, and called loudly to them.
"Come hither and join us, brothers," he shouted. "Here we shall make
room for you."
He shuffled to one side, those who were close at hand doing the same,
until a sufficiently wide gap was left in the circle.
"Come on," whispered Tom; and straightway, shouting his pleasure, he
went towards the place, Jim following closely upon his heels. To
hesitate would have been to arouse instant suspicion, and therefore,
watching closely to see how his comrade acted, our hero joined the
circle and squatted in native fashion. It was a trying ordeal for a lad
who had but recently left school, and though he fought against the
feeling of excitement, almost of fear, which assailed him, he was
nevertheless well aware that his heart was beating like a sledge-hammer
against his ribs, and that his pulses were throbbing almost painfully.
But he was not the lad to show the white feather, and remembering his
determination to go through with the adventure, he sat stolidly, staring
into the glowing brazier.
"A song, brother! Allah has willed it that you should join us this
night, and we would hear your voice," shouted one of the group,
stretching out a lanky arm and touching Jim upon the knee.
There was no answer, and, to the astonishment of all the natives
gathered there, the stranger who had been bidden to join them as a guest
still kept his eyes fixed upon the brazier. That he had heard they were
certain, for an involuntary turn of the head had betrayed that fact. At
once shouts of anger arose, and the man who had spoken sprang to his
feet.
CHAPTER IV
IN DISGUISE
For the moment it looked as though the expedition upon which Jim and his
friend had set out was doomed to early disaster, for there was no
denying the fact that they had unwittingly aroused the anger of the
natives. And yet, what could they do? Passing through the bazaar in
their search for information, an evil chance had brought them into
contact with this gathering, and they had found themselves compelled to
accept the unwelcome invitation to join the circle which sat about the
brazier. And now, at the very beginning, indeed, within less than a
minute they were engaged in an altercation with them. Deeply did Jim
regret the fact that he could not speak the language, for had he been
able to do so, there would have been no need for silence, and no need to
ruffle the feelings of the gathering.
It was a dilemma, and, puzzle his brains as he might, he could not come
to any solution that would help him. Instead, therefore, he sat there
stolidly, his eyes now fixed upon the brazier, and then turning for the
space of a second to the man who confronted him.
"Insolent! How dare you to insult us so?" shouted the native, thrusting
his hand into the folds of his waistcloth, to withdraw it a moment later
clasping the handle of a dagger. "Dog!" he continued, springing forward.
"Speak, or I will bury this blade in your flesh."
Meanwhile the other natives who formed the gathering had sprung to
their feet, and crowded about the two young Englishmen with threatening
gestures.
[Illustration: THE NATIVES CROWDED ABOUT THEM WITH THREATENING
GESTURES.]
"Yes," they shouted angrily, "answer, or we will kill you now, and throw
your bodies into the gutter."
It was wonderful to see the coolness with which Jim and his companion
acted. Had they lost their presence of mind, and sprung to their feet
with the intention of escaping, they would have been instantly cut to
pieces, for they were entirely surrounded. Indeed, there was no doubt
that this was a situation demanding cunning more than anything else, and
both recognized that fact fully. Seated, therefore, side by side, as if
they were unaware of the commotion raging about them, Jim still looked
nonchalantly into the flames, as if, indeed, he had no other interest in
life, while Tom stared at the circle of angry faces with the utmost
calmness.
"Are we, then, guests or dogs?" he demanded quietly, letting his eyes
wander from one to the other. "Was it not you who bade us join your
circle? Then why do you grumble if one of us is a man who will keep his
vow, whatever befalls? My friend and I have come here from Somaliland,
bound upon an expedition to Mecca. But ill fortune fell upon us, and now
we return to our country to replenish our funds. For my part, I confess
that I am disappointed, but my comrade is grieved beyond expression. His
lips are closed, and his ears deaf, until the day when he completes his
pilgrimage. He has sworn it by Allah, and by Allah he shall keep to his
oath, even though thousands attempt to dissuade him. Take your places,
then, again, I beg of you, and let us be friends, for we are deserving
of your kindness."
The words, spoken quietly as they were, acted like oil upon troubled
waters. Scarcely had they left Tom Dixon's lips, when the excitement of
the angry natives disappeared even more rapidly than it had arisen.
For a moment only they looked incredulously at one another, and then,
saluting Jim with the utmost respect, they took their places again
shamefacedly.
"We meant no harm, brothers," said the first speaker, apologetically.
"Forgive us, if we spoke angrily and in some haste, but the occasion
demanded instant explanation, and, now that you have given it, we are
fully satisfied. More than that, it is an honour to us to know that
there sits in our circle in friendship with us one who has made such a
vow, and who refuses to break his oath in spite of any danger. I watched
him carefully as I advanced upon him with my drawn weapon, but he did
not flinch, did not even turn aside, or raise an arm to ward off the
blow which might well have fallen. Moreover, he allowed no sound to
escape his lips, and, true to his word, and to the holy task which he
has set himself, sat there unmoved, prepared to die rather than cry out
for mercy. It is marvellous the strength that Allah gives to such men."
"Yes, it is a great thing," chimed in an aged native, who sat crouching
over the brazier, as if to absorb all its warmth; "and in Aden here not
one in ten thousand is capable of making and keeping such a vow. It is
only men from Somaliland who are brave enough to do such a thing. Our
brother has just told us that we are honoured; we are more than that,
for these guests of ours are friends of the Mullah, a holy man, who has
made many pilgrimages to Mecca, and who will yet be king of the country
which lies yonder across the sea."
He pointed towards the harbour, and looked round at his companions.
"Yes," they agreed in guttural tones, "the Mullah is a great man, and
will be even more powerful."
"We can speak openly," continued the old man, "for there are none but
friends here, and no Hindoos are within hearing. How thrives the
Mullah?" he went on, addressing Tom. "Does he know that the English are
preparing to march against him?"
"Yes, he is fully aware of it," answered the latter, quietly, "and will
meet them in battle. But at present he is fearful of defeat, for though
his soldiers are numerous, they are poorly armed, and for the most part
carry only shields and spears. Guns are what he wants, and he is
prepared to pay well for them. Indeed, he bade us on our return to make
enquiries here, and endeavour to induce some of the wealthy merchants
who are friendly to him to send him a ship-load of weapons and
ammunition. We believe that such a ship has lately sailed, or will
shortly leave this shore, but we are uncertain. We have been to more
than one of those who live in this town, and are friendly to us, but
they will do nothing until silver is placed in their hands, and of that
we have absolutely none. However, once we can get a passage across to
Somaliland, we shall be able to replenish our store, and shall return
immediately."
"And how knows your friend of this arrangement?" asked the old man
suspiciously, glancing sharply at Jim. "If he has made a vow not to
speak, how can he have discussed this matter with you?"
The question was a shrewd one, and at once set the whole circle of
natives staring hard at their guests.
"Yes, how can he have learnt of this plan?" cried another, rising to his
feet, and waving his arms excitedly. "You say that you have been to many
in the town, and have questioned them concerning arms for the Mullah.
Then this vow of which your comrade boasts is one made to be broken or
kept at will. Perhaps he is a spy come here to learn our secrets."
His words at once brought the whole gathering of natives to their feet,
and again, such is the excitability of these Eastern people, they
crowded threateningly about their guests, calling loudly for an
explanation. But Jim and his friend were equal to the occasion. The
former was certainly dumfounded at the sudden turn affairs had taken,
for he had not understood a word of all that had been said. But he was
fully aware that here again an attempt to escape would be worse than
useless, and therefore, placing full reliance in his friend, he squatted
there as calmly as before, prepared, however, to spring to his feet in a
moment and join Tom in fighting for their lives. A hasty glance at the
latter told him that there was still some chance of calming the natives,
for Tom Dixon sat as if carved in stone. One hand was buried, as if
accidentally, in the folds of his waistcloth, though Jim knew well that
it grasped the butt of a hidden revolver; while the other was stretched
out towards the brazier, as if to gather some comfort from its glowing
embers.
"Did I say that I had discussed this matter with my comrade?" he asked
sarcastically, looking round the circle with a contemptuous glance.
"When I said that we had been to various merchants in the town, I
thought that you were wise enough to understand my meaning. My comrade's
vow is one which few or none of you would dare to take, and yet you do
not hesitate to doubt it. It was sworn more than a week ago, and, by
Allah, it has never been broken. But look at him? Do you not see him
turn his head as each one speaks? He cannot help the words falling upon
his ears, and hears and understands all that you say, without, however,
deigning to answer. So it is with me. So that he should know what was
to happen, I have spoken of my plans to him, but we have never entered
into discussion on the matter. Come," he continued, "let us be friends,
and treat us like brothers."
"We will," exclaimed the old man warmly. "We cannot venture to take
risks, for were a spy to come amongst us, he would learn many things of
value to the Government. It was on that account that we tested you, and
have proved you to be of ourselves. We are friends and brothers."
Each of the natives gave vent to a guttural exclamation of approval, and
then, as if to forbid further altercation, the sharp notes of the
tom-tom were heard, and the gathering began a chant, one of those
peculiarly dismal dirges which seem to delight the ears of natives of
the East. Then, when the song was finished, an earthen dish, containing
slices of juicy lemon, was handed round, each man present helping
himself.
"You spoke of a ship which might be sailing for Somaliland," said the
old man, suddenly, awaking from a reverie into which he seemed to have
fallen, and looking up at Tom. "You also told us that you and your
friend were in search of a passage. Are you strong, and are you willing
to work? For, if so, I will find places for you upon the dhow."
"It is a good offer, and we accept it gladly," responded Tom promptly.
"As for strength, we are capable of hauling at the ropes as well as any
man. Would there be much else to do? For I tell you honestly that we are
unused to the sea, and are more at home when mounted upon horseback and
galloping across the smooth plains of Somaliland."
"There is little else for you to do than keep watch upon the deck, and
help to pull in the sails, for three men will go besides yourselves, as
well as the master. But I warn you that fighting may fall to your lot,
for a steamship flying the Government colours patrols these seas, and,
should she sight you, will certainly endeavour to capture you. In that
case your death would be swift and almost certain. If not, you would be
thrown into prison, and would be a slave for the greater part of your
days."
"Then the post will suit us well. If there is fighting we shall not
grumble, for it is our trade, and as capture means death, you may rely
upon it that we shall do all that is possible to defeat the enemy. But
why should the Government fall upon this dhow?"
For a moment the old man scrutinized Tom closely, as if still suspicious
of him, and as if doubtful whether he was to be fully trusted. But the
latter returned his glance with one that was equally steady and
unflinching, and, satisfied with this, the native at length answered:
"That dhow is filled to overflowing with guns and ammunition for the
Mullah," he said. "If she reaches the Somali coast in safety, I shall
have done well for myself, and shall have aided the cause of your
master. She sails to-morrow at noon, and you will know her by the fact
that she bears a red streak upon her bows, and has a large rent in her
sail. When you see her, she will be lying some few yards from the shore,
and any of the small craft in the harbour will put you aboard her. You
must go below as soon as you get on board, and if any of the crew are
there, pass them without a sound, but salute them in this manner."
The old man paused for an instant, and withdrawing his hand from beneath
the blanket which covered him, placed two fingers upon his lips.
"That is the sign which you must make, and be careful that you do it
exactly as I have shown you, for, if not, the crew will believe that
you are spies, and will fall upon you as soon as you are below. To-day
the Customs officer has been on board, inspecting the cargo. But the
crew are even now busily employed in transferring it to another ship,
and in taking in the guns and ammunition destined for the Mullah's
troops."
"It is a good plan," said Tom, "and I can see the need for secrecy.
To-morrow we shall go on board the dhow, and we shall be careful to
follow your wishes. Can you tell us how long the passage will take, and
where we shall be landed?"
Again the old man looked suspiciously at him, and then shook his head
emphatically.
"No, I cannot tell you that. If Allah wills it, you shall land upon the
coast and return to your people."
Some five minutes later Tom touched Jim upon the arm, and made signs to
him to rise. Then, nodding to the natives, they left the circle, and
went on into the bazaar. But they had already had one experience of
native cunning and curiosity, and instead of turning their steps towards
the room in which they had disguised themselves, they moved away in the
opposite direction, and taking advantage of a narrow alley, which was
filled with chattering natives, they mingled with the crowd, and
sauntered on, now looking curiously at the wares of some Hindoo
merchant, and then watching with evident interest the skill of a
juggler, who sat in the middle of the street, with an admiring circle
about him. Winding hither and thither, they at length came to a deserted
part, and having hidden in the shadow of a booth for some ten minutes,
so as to assure themselves that they were not followed, they took to
their heels, and before very long had reached the dwelling in which they
were to shelter that night.
"We're in luck," exclaimed Tom, in tones of satisfaction. "I must admit
that at one moment I thought it was all up with us, for these natives
are suspicious beggars, and would think nothing of killing anyone whom
they suspected of spying upon them. If they had discovered us, you may
take it for certain that we should have disappeared for good, and no
amount of searching on the part of our friends would have led to news of
our fate. There is no doubt that they are masters at the art, and no
bribe will induce anyone to give evidence against his comrades."
"I can quite believe that," answered Jim, "and I agree with you that
things looked very black. Of course, I didn't understand what was
happening, and am puzzling about it even now. But the shouting and
excitement, and the fact that that fellow drew his knife, told me that
trouble was coming. It was as much as I could do to sit there quietly,
but I took my cue from you, and I can tell you I was jolly glad when the
squabble ended."
"You behaved like a brick, old boy. Considering that you are a novice,
and quite unused to these natives, you showed no end of pluck. I admit
that it was not without some misgivings that I allowed you to accompany
me into the bazaar, for, you see, I hadn't an idea how you would behave.
But I felt sure that the fellow who could come out here, and quietly
make his preparations to face the dangers of an expedition into the
heart of Somaliland, must be someone quite out of the ordinary. Of
course, you might have been a thoughtless kind of beggar, who had no
fear simply because you were unaware of, and had taken no trouble to
find out, the difficulties and risks you were about to face. But I soon
saw that you realized the gravity of your task, and, by George! I
admired you for it, for there are precious few youngsters of your age
who would have the grit to go on with the matter. But I am wandering
from the subject. There's no doubt that if you had flinched, and shouted
out when that beggar drew his knife, we should have been set upon by the
whole gang of ruffians, and, though we were armed with revolvers, we
should have had precious little chance. The whole row arose because you
made no answer when they invited you to sing."
Throwing himself upon the bed, Tom Dixon gave his comrade a full account
of the altercation, and then went on to describe how a passage had been
offered them upon the dhow, which was to sail upon the following day,
with arms for the Mullah.
"It will not do to take any risks," he said, "and therefore I vote that
we practise going aboard and making the sign, for the slightest slip
would mean ruin to our plans."
Accordingly, while Tom stood at one end of the room, Jim advanced from
the other, and turning, raised his fingers to his lips as he passed him.
Not till he had done it some half-dozen times was Tom satisfied, and
then he, too, went through the process.
"The next thing will be to give news to the Governor," said Tom, "so as
to make it possible for the gunboat to intercept us. She left Aden a
couple of days ago, but was to return to-morrow night. If she slips away
again at once, she should easily overtake us, and then I should give
very little for the chances of the crew. There should be four on board
besides ourselves, and if we cannot master them with our revolvers, I
shall be greatly surprised. It will be a feather in our caps, Jim, to
capture the dhow by ourselves and then hand her over to the gunboat."
"But you said that you had been unable to ascertain the destination of
the dhow," interposed Jim. "Supposing the gunboat could not find her?"
"It would be very awkward, and that's where the risk comes in."
"Yes, it would be awkward," agreed Jim; "but then there would be all the
more honour in capturing her. It would be grand to overpower the crew
and compel them to sail the dhow back to Aden."
"Perhaps it will turn out like that," said Tom. "But you lie down on the
bed and have a sleep while I go off to the Governor. I shall be back
within an hour, and shall make myself comfortable in the corner there
with a blanket as a covering. No," he exclaimed, seeing Jim about to
remonstrate, "you are not yet used to sleeping on a hard floor like the
natives. But I am, and even prefer it."
A few moments later Jim was left alone in the room, and blowing out the
candle, at once lay down upon the bed and settled himself to sleep. An
hour later his comrade returned, and threw himself down in the corner,
where his heavy breathing soon gave evidence of the fact that he, too,
had forgotten the adventures of the night and was lost in dreams.
Scarcely had the sun risen on the following morning when both were
astir, and at once rearranged their clothing, so as to make sure that
their disguise was satisfactory and would pass muster in broad daylight.
Then Tom produced a small oil stove and a frying-pan, and began to
prepare breakfast. Eggs were to be had in plenty, and as these were easy
to cook, four of them were quickly spluttering upon the pan. Meanwhile a
kettle of water was set upon a second stove to boil, and soon they sat
down to a satisfying if not dainty repast. To a hungry man food, if
clean and fairly well prepared, is always acceptable, and Jim and his
companion were not the ones to turn up their noses simply because their
eggs reposed on rough tin plates, and their tea was contained in mugs of
similar material. Seated upon the two chairs of which the room boasted,
and taking the plates upon their knees, they set to work with energy,
and quickly caused the food to disappear. Indeed, so keen was their
appetite, that they unanimously agreed to prepare a second relay of
eggs, and partook of them with the same relish.
"And now to business," cried Jim cheerily. "I feel as fresh as paint,
and quite ready for this adventure. Shall I do as I am?"
For the moment Tom did not answer, but pulling the curtain from the
window so as to allow all the light that was possible to enter the room,
he placed his comrade in the centre and walked slowly round him.
"The disguise is perfect," he said in tones of satisfaction. "I
guarantee that you will pass muster anywhere, and, so long as you
remember that you are never to open your lips, I have little fear that
you will be discovered. Let me give you a little additional advice. As
we go towards the dhow it is quite on the cards that we shall run across
some of the passengers who accompanied you from England, and you may be
tempted to renew your friendship with them, quite forgetful of your
disguise. But you must not dream of doing such a thing, for sharp eyes
are always watching in this town, and were the natives to learn that a
spy is amongst them, your chances of success in Somaliland would be
considerably diminished. Now, are your revolvers in position, and do you
feel ready to accompany me?"
"Quite," exclaimed Jim, with emphasis. "I tell you that I feel as
light-hearted as possible, and fully prepared for the adventure."
"Then come along."
Leading the way to the window, Tom Dixon threw it open, and placing a
chair beneath it, stepped upon it and crawled through. Jim followed,
without hesitation, and found himself in a narrow courtyard, from which
a gate that was almost tumbling from its hinges led into a street
behind. A glance showed them that the street was empty, and at once they
stepped into it, and hurrying along, were soon in the main thoroughfare
of Aden.
Had anyone taken the trouble to scrutinize them closely, he would have
seen two stalwart and swarthy men, one somewhat younger than the other,
and of slightly smaller proportions, but both evidently from the shores
of Northern Africa. They strode along with that quick shuffling gait
common to men of their race, and due, no doubt, in some degree, to the
sandals which they wear. That they were strangers to Aden could be
easily guessed, for they looked curiously about them, and stopped every
now and again to look in at the shop windows. An Englishman marching
along the footpath was obviously an object of interest and respect, for
they turned aside to give him more room to pass, and gazed at him in
wonderment. So cleverly did they act their part that no one suspected
that they were not what they pretended to be, and even the natives, who
swarmed everywhere, let them pass without a doubt. On one occasion a
native arrested their progress, and would have entered into conversation
with Jim, but a few words from Tom altered his intention, and he stood
aside, allowing them to pass without comment. A few minutes later, when
turning a corner sharply, they barely escaped running into a second
Englishman, who was no other than Mr. Andrews. But he motioned them
aside with a brusque "Out of the way!" and went on, without a thought
of the two young fellows who had sat with him on the previous evening,
and without a suspicion that the two Somali tribesmen whom he had met
face to face were those whose interests he had so much at heart.
Half an hour's sharp walk brought Jim and his companion to the shore,
where they paused for some minutes to gaze at a large steamer which was
moored there, undergoing the process of coaling with the help of a
perfect army of dusky figures who swarmed about her, shouting at the top
of their voices.
From there they took their way to that part of the harbour usually
allotted to native craft, and before very long had the satisfaction of
noting that one which floated in deep water, and was of fairly large
proportions, had a thin streak of red upon her bows.
Tom at once turned towards her, and, followed closely by Jim, went down
to the water's edge. A number of flimsy native boats were drawn up on
the mud, with their owners seated chatting beside them. As soon as they
caught sight of the two strangers, the boatmen at once sprang to their
feet, and, gesticulating wildly, offered their services.
"We want to go aboard the dhow there," said Tom shortly, selecting one
of the boatmen. "What will you take us for?"
A price was agreed upon after some little haggling, and a few moments
later a boat was run down into the water and pushed off. Taking his
place in the stern, the oarsman paddled out into deep water, and quickly
brought them alongside the dhow. Tom at once handed him his fare, and
then, grasping the halliards, which were close at hand, swarmed up on
deck, closely followed by Jim. As he did so he threw a glance aloft, and
noted that the huge leg-of-mutton sail which was tied up to the mast
had a large rent in one corner of it.
"We are on the right ship, at any rate," he said to himself. "And now
for the crew."
Turning towards the stern of the dhow, he and Jim walked towards a
narrow hatchway, which evidently gave admission to the hold. As they did
so, three figures started up from behind some coils of rope with the
silence of spectres, and gazed at them curiously and suspiciously; while
a fourth, happening to thrust his head up at that moment, caught sight
of the strangers, and, with a guttural exclamation, climbed out upon the
deck. They were fierce-looking fellows, clad in scanty raiment, and
undoubtedly armed, for, as the newcomers returned their glances and ran
their eyes over them, they noted the handle of more than one weapon
protruding from their waist-cloths, while the man who had just emerged
from the hold bore a pistol of gigantic proportions.
"We shall have our work cut out to master them," Jim said to himself,
"for they will fight hard and make a desperate resistance. However, so
long as their suspicions are not aroused, and they believe that we are
friends, and to be thoroughly relied upon, we shall have every
opportunity of taking them by surprise. If we are successful in doing
that, I think we shall be able to overawe them; and if not, why, they
must look to themselves."
A movement on Tom's part now attracted his attention, and following him
closely, Jim strode down the deck, taking little notice of the natives.
Arrived at the hatchway, his companion paused for the space of a moment,
and rapidly made the sign. Instantly the crew, who had stood there with
menacing looks, evidently determined to attack them should they prove to
be enemies come to spy upon them, sauntered away, watching, however, to
see that Jim, too, lifted his fingers to his lips. A moment later both
had disappeared into the darkness of the hold, and, creeping forward,
sat down side by side.
"Guns!" whispered Jim, feeling about with his hands, and venturing for
one second to break the silence which he had promised to observe.
"Scores of them! They are all over the place."
"And precious uncomfortable to sit upon," answered his companion in
husky tones. "The stock of one is digging into me. But, hush! We must
not talk, for those beggars are certain to be curious about us, and we
may take it for granted that for a day at least they will watch us like
cats. No doubt, for the present, and until the dhow sails, we shall be
left severely alone; but then will come the trial. Recollect, Jim, that
we are landsmen, and don't forget to bungle when you hang on to a rope.
I shall let them know of your vow, and you must act up to it by
appearing morose and stupid. Hear nothing; say nothing; but wait until
everything is explained to you by signs."
"Right, old man; you may rely upon me," was Jim's whispered reply; after
which they both sat silently, neither venturing to speak nor move, but
listening intently to every sound that reached their ears. Now and again
they could hear the distant shout of some native boatman, or the howl of
a cur prowling along the shore. Then, too, the voices of the crew could
be occasionally heard as they chatted together on the deck, but the
actual words could not be distinguished at that distance, though Tom
would have given anything to learn what they were saying. And all the
while the dhow rolled lazily from side to side, her mast creaking
dismally as she did so, while the rigging rattled loudly against the
woodwork. Occasionally, as a boat of large proportions passed, the sea
would come with a splash against the side and drown all other sounds.
But the noise soon quieted down, and Jim and Tom found themselves
listening again, as if fascinated, to the distant shouts, the murmur of
voices above, and the flapping of the sail.
Three long and weary hours passed--hours of suspense to the two young
Englishmen seated below; and then, just as their patience was exhausted,
they heard someone moving on the deck. There was a patter of bare feet
upon the boards, followed by the noise of a rope passing through a
block.
"Up goes the sail!" whispered Jim, in tones of delight. "Hurrah! We're
off!"
"Then prepare to go on deck," answered Tom. "They'll wait until we're
out of sight, and then will call us up."
"Ah, there she goes!" exclaimed Jim, as the dhow suddenly heeled over,
and began to move through the water. A minute later she was driving
along before a brisk breeze, and the two young fellows below realized
that, at last, their adventure had begun in earnest.
CHAPTER V
A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER
Barely half an hour had passed from the time when the sail was unloosed,
and the dhow cast off her moorings, before one of the crew knelt upon
the deck, and, thrusting his head through the hatchway, shouted to Jim
and his companion to come out of the hold.
"Now for it," whispered Tom. "Keep cool, and be perfectly unconcerned.
If there is trouble, do not hesitate for an instant, but draw your
revolvers and shoot. You've only got to look at those fellows' faces to
see that we have to deal with desperate men, who would kill us if they
had the slightest doubts of our good faith. Ready?"
"Quite," answered Jim with a calmness that surprised himself.
"Then up we go."
Rising to their feet, and bending low, for the cargo of guns left little
space in which to move, they crept towards the hatchway, and in due time
emerged upon the deck, blinking as the dazzling rays of the noonday sun
fell upon their eyes. When they had accustomed themselves to the strong
light, they became aware that three of the crew confronted them, while
the fourth stood at the tiller, keeping the vessel to her course. Right
astern, a dim blue line showed the position of Aden, while ahead, and on
either hand, nothing but blue ocean could be seen. Not a sail was in
sight, though Jim strained his eyes in every direction, and not a
streak of cloud in the sky could, by the wildest flight of imagination,
be interpreted as the smoke from the funnel of the gunboat. But at this
moment one of the natives addressed him.
"You and your comrade can lie upon the deck for a while," he said, "but
you must be ready at any moment to give us a help. Keep a keen look-out
in all directions, and if you see a sail, shout so that I shall know. If
we are pursued we must fly, and may Allah send a breeze to aid us. If
not, we will fight, and in that we are told that you can help us."
"We hear what you say," answered Tom hurriedly, anxious to explain his
companion's silence. "Take no notice of my friend, for, as those who
sent us here may have told you, he is, for the time being, both deaf and
dumb. Do not speak to him, I beg of you, for he will not answer, and
will stand, as he does now, refusing to comprehend your words. If you
have orders to give, I will hand them on to him by signs. As for
fighting, what is that to us? In our country we are ever at war, and
should be miserable without it. Make your mind easy, therefore, for we
shall strike hard when the moment of danger arrives."
Apparently his words satisfied the natives, for they turned away, and
walked towards the steersman. Tom at once grasped Jim by the arm, and
pointing to the deck, strode across to the bulwark, and threw himself
down there for an instant. Then he rose to his feet again, and placing a
hand above his eyes, so as to shield them from the sun, stared long and
anxiously across the sea. Again he threw himself upon the deck and
repeated the process, but this time with a different result, for,
apparently, he caught sight of some distant object, and giving vent to a
shout, ran to communicate his news to the crew. Indeed, so realistic
was his acting that they, too, imagined he had seen something of
interest, and at once came crowding to the bulwarks, and stared eagerly
across the water in the vain endeavour to discover some object between
themselves and the horizon.
"Where?" shouted the man who had addressed Jim, and who seemed to be the
master. "Where?" he repeated anxiously. "I can see no sail, though it is
possible that one is hidden in the haze yonder. Hold out your arm so
that I may follow the direction."
There was no doubt from the manner in which he spoke, and from the
anxiety displayed by the remainder of the crew, that the prospect of
discovery had filled them with alarm. They were conscious that they were
engaged upon an unlawful expedition, and though that did not trouble
them much, the thought of what would follow if they were captured set
them trembling.
"Ah, what is that?" shouted one of their number. "I can see something
which has the appearance of a bird, but which may well be a sail. If so,
we are safe, for the Government would follow us in a steamship, if at
all."
"It is nothing," replied Tom calmly, with difficulty keeping his
features straight. "I saw nothing to alarm me, but was merely explaining
to my comrade the duties he was to carry out. See, it is evident that he
understands."
"Is that so?" was the grumbling reply. "By the manner in which you gave
the alarm, I thought you had sighted a suspicious sail, and my heart
leapt into my mouth at your shout. But it is well that there is nothing
in it. Go to your places now, and do not forget to keep constant watch."
For a minute he stood by the bulwark, while Jim and his companion went
forward and threw themselves upon the deck. Then he retired to the
stern of the vessel, and sat down in the shade cast by the enormous
sail.
For three hours the dhow kept steadily on her course, and then Jim, who
lay upon the starboard side, suddenly caught sight of a speck of white
coming from the opposite direction. Keeping his eyes fixed upon it, he
noticed that it increased rapidly in size, and soon there was no doubt
that it was another vessel. Giving a low cough to attract Tom's
attention, he pointed towards the object, and then sprang to his feet.
Walking along the deck, he approached the group at the farther end, and
laid his hand upon the shoulder of the master, shaking him as he did so,
for he had fallen asleep.
In a moment all were on their feet, and staring across the sea.
"It is a large dhow," said the man who commanded the crew, "and she is
sweeping down in our direction. What do you think she is?"
"It is too early to say," answered one of the men, "but she is not a
trader--of that I am sure--nor does she belong to the Government. It is
possible that she comes from some African port, but until she is closer
I cannot be certain. This I can say, she is larger than any dhow plying
between Aden and the opposite coast, and therefore we shall do well to
keep her at a distance."
For a few minutes the natives held a heated conversation, and a sharp
order was given to alter the course. When that was done, and the dhow
was holding along in a southerly direction, the crew gathered in the
bows and stood there, gazing anxiously at the distant vessel. Cries of
alarm escaped their lips when they noticed that her head came round, and
that she, too, had altered her course so as to intercept them.
"She sails faster than we do!" exclaimed the master, with an oath. "We
cannot hope to escape her, and therefore I advise that we resume our
course, and make ready for an encounter, though it is more than likely
that she will prove to be a friend. And if not that--well, we must
prepare to sell our lives dearly. But I cannot believe that we have
anything to fear, for none but peaceful traders sail upon this sea."
"That is so," agreed one of the crew. "But I have heard that, at times,
piratical craft sail from the coast of Africa, and swoop down upon the
traders. If that dhow is bent upon such an expedition, we are lost, for
her owners care no more for the Mullah than they do for other people."
The news filled his companions with dismay. In a half-hearted manner
they produced a number of guns from the hold, and proceeded to load
them. Then they placed swords beside the bulwark, and motioned to Jim
and Tom to select a couple.
"There is trouble before us, and we must fight for our lives," said the
master, brightening up a little. "If you do not wish to be killed, you
must join us, and help in the struggle."
"We shall do so gladly, if there is need," answered Tom. "But let us
hope that the stranger will turn out to be a friend."
"I wish I could think the same," the master replied with a shake of his
head. "It is more than likely that she is a pirate. But now we must
separate. You and your friend go forward into the bows. I shall station
two of my men in the centre of the dhow, while I and the fourth go aft.
Then we shall be prepared at all points, and wherever they attempt to
board us, we shall have men at hand to beat them back."
"If I were you I should order everyone to lie down," said Tom,
thoughtfully. "At the distance they are from us now they cannot have
ascertained how many we have on board, and will naturally keep away
until they are certain. If they are bent on capturing us, and open fire
when within range, we can all creep to the centre and give them a
volley. Then we'll hasten to the bows, and fire from that quarter. You
have plenty of guns, so that you have only to load a number, and pile
them at various points along the deck, in readiness for our volleys. If
we are quick, and take good care to keep well below the bulwarks, we
ought to confuse them, and make them think that we have plenty of men."
"It is a good plan," the native answered. "I shall see that the guns are
brought up at once, and the men warned. That ship will sail close up to
us, expecting us to fall an easy prey. But we'll astonish them with our
bullets, and will set them wondering, for it is unusual for a peaceful
trader, as we are supposed to be, to carry any firearms. Go forward now,
and explain to your comrade."
Tom at once ran to the bows, where Jim was reclining on the deck,
watching the oncoming ship, and throwing himself down beside him, began
to make signs to him, keeping a watch all the time, however, upon the
other members of the crew.
"Ah, they've gone below for the guns," he said at last, "and there is
only the man at the helm to be feared, and he is engaged in watching
this pirate, or whatever she may be. Listen, Jim. We're in for a
struggle, for that ship is an enemy, and is probably filled with negro
cut-throats. I have advised the master of our ship to make a fight for
it, but I doubt if he or his men have the necessary courage. What are we
to do if that is the case?"
"It is hard to say, Tom. If the dhow over there carries a big crew,
resistance would be madness, in my opinion. Better to give in and
fraternize with them, if they will allow us, trusting to get away from
them at some future date. That's the best advice I can give. But if you
think we have any chance, I'm ready and willing to stand by you."
"I know that, old boy," answered Tom warmly; "but though I have advised
resistance, I doubt whether it will be attempted. We'll just wait, and
see how things go. This stranger may turn out, after all, to be a
friend."
Whatever hopes they might have had as to the peaceful nature of the
approaching dhow, they were quickly disappointed, for she was coming up
rapidly, aided by a steady and brisk breeze. Almost before they thought
it possible, she was within range, and then they saw that she was quite
double the size of their vessel. Shooting up into the wind, she lay to
dead across their bows, displaying at the same moment a broad expanse of
white deck, which was thickly crowded with men. Almost instantly a puff
of smoke belched from her bulwarks, and a ball came hurtling over the
water.
"Caught, I am afraid," whispered Jim, peeping at the stranger. "We
haven't a chance, Tom, for look at our comrades."
As he spoke the leader of the native crew rushed to the helm and waved
his arm frantically in token of surrender, while his men threw
themselves upon the deck, and grovelled there, in terror lest another
shot should be fired by the pirate.
"Curs!" exclaimed Tom, angrily. "When there is no danger to be feared,
they are fierce enough looking fellows. But now that we are in trouble,
they show the real stuff of which they are made. But what are we to do?"
"Stay where we are till the enemy comes alongside," answered Jim,
promptly. "If they rush on board with the intention of killing us, we
must stand side by side up here in the bows, and keep them off with our
revolvers. It is ten chances to one that they are only armed with
swords, and in that case we ought to be able to make a good fight of it.
Whatever happens, I don't mean to be killed without a struggle."
He spoke quite calmly, and thrust his hands into his waistcloth to make
certain that his weapons were there. As for Tom, he looked at his young
companion with amazement, and then, fired by his example of pluck,
prepared to do as he had said.
"Then it's agreed that, if there is no hope, we fight," he said; "and if
there is, we give ourselves up, and trust to better luck later on."
"That's it," replied Jim, shortly. "It would be madness to resist if
they were inclined to spare our lives. But if they want to slay us,
they'll find one here who strongly objects."
By now, the big native dhow had paid off into her course again, and,
seeing that she had nothing to fear, came on till within easy
hailing-distance. Then a huge negro, dressed in gaudy colours, and
bearing a cutlass in his hand, sprang upon the bulwarks, and shouted to
them.
"Who are you?" he cried. "And where do you come from?"
Shaking with terror, the master went to the side, and answered that
there were five besides himself on the vessel, and that she came from
Aden.
"Where for, and what cargo?" was the next question.
"For the coast, with arms for the Mullah."
"Then we are friends," came the answer. "The Mullah is our master also,
and we sail the sea in his ship. All whom we capture we send to him to
swell his forces, while the loot we keep for ourselves. Do you know of
any trader about to leave the shores on the farther side?"
"Not one," shouted the master, scarcely able to restrain his joy. "But I
can tell you that a British gunboat is on patrol, and you will do well
to keep clear of her. Now, good-bye. We must press on at our fastest
pace."
Going aft to the helm he brought the dhow round, and in another minute
they were shooting away from the piratical-looking stranger, leaving her
rolling gently on the water, with her bulwarks lined by a crew of
natives, of all sorts of every race, who stood there watching the
smaller vessel depart. Ten minutes later she, too, had turned, and was
dashing away at a pace which showed how hopeless it would have been for
the dhow to have attempted to evade her.
The delight of the master and crew of the smaller vessel was immense,
and they could scarcely contain themselves for joy. They threw
themselves into one another's arms, leapt high into the air, and shouted
at the top of their voices. Then they produced a hubble-bubble, and,
going aft, squatted down close to the steersman, and began to converse
in loud tones. It was wonderful to see the change in their appearance.
Whereas, a few minutes before, they had been shaking with terror, and
prepared to accept their death without so much as a struggle, now they
held their heads erect, and recounted to one another, in piercing tones,
the brave deeds which they would have accomplished had the larger dhow
turned out, after all, to be an enemy.
As for Jim and his friend, they lay full length upon the deck in the
bows of the vessel, keeping a bright look-out over the bulwarks, and
apparently undisturbed by the excitement of recent events. But, for all
that, they were deeply relieved, for the situation had for a time seemed
desperate.
"I am trying to think what would have happened," whispered Jim, taking
advantage of the fact that the natives were fully engaged in
conversation. "Suppose those pirates had compelled us to join them, and
we had afterwards fallen in with a British ship, we should have been in
a very awkward position, for we could not have refused to fight."
"We should have found a way out of it somehow, Jim. I noticed that, like
this dhow, she carried a dinghy on her decks, and we could have taken
advantage of that and slipped away during the night. But I am glad that
things have turned out as they have, for now we have a better chance of
capturing this vessel. Look out! Here's one of the beggars coming to
talk to us."
As he spoke one of the men aft handed the stem of the hubble-bubble to
his companion and came running forward.
"The chief bids you come and join us," he cried, and at once returned to
his old position.
"You stay here, Jim," whispered Tom; "those fellows want a chat, so I'll
go and smoke with them. If you were to attempt that you would certainly
fail, for it requires a deal of practice to tackle a hubble-bubble."
Accordingly, leaving Jim on the look-out in the bows of the vessel, Tom
sauntered aft, and was soon squatting beside the natives. The stem of
the pipe was at once handed to him, and soon he was engaged in animated
conversation. It was evident that something had aroused the suspicion of
the master and his crew, for they questioned him closely. But his
answers seemed to satisfy them, and in half an hour he returned to Jim's
side, and taking advantage of the fact that the natives were still
engaged in animated conversation, began to chat in low tones to him.
"They seem inclined to be very friendly," he said, "but I am not quite
satisfied. Something--I don't know what it is--seems to have upset them.
The fact of the matter is they don't quite believe in this silence of
yours. One man declared that he had seen us exchanging words when the
pirate bore down upon us. Of course, I said that that was impossible,
and that he had imagined it. But he was positive, and, I could see, had
been talking to his fellows. However, the subject dropped, and after a
time turned to the Mullah. His position was mentioned, and, by
pretending to know a great deal more about him than I really do, they
became quite confiding, and told me the number of adherents of which he
boasted. In the most unconcerned manner, I mentioned that a white
prisoner had fallen into his hands of late, and I could see at once that
they knew all about it. But I could get no further information from
them.
"'Yes,' said their chief, 'a man was thrown upon the shore, and fell
into the Mullah's hands; but he is only one, whereas, as soon as the
foolish English advance, hundreds more will be made into slaves.'
"That's all I could get out of him, and so, after changing the
conversation and having another turn at the hubble-bubble, I rose to my
feet and returned."
"I'm not surprised to hear that they are suspicious, Tom. I saw one of
the natives look at us while we were deciding what to do, and if he is
quite certain that he saw us speaking, he will never be satisfied until
he has found out all about us. You know what kind of men these fellows
are, better than I do, and I have no doubt that, rather than run any
risk in the matter, they would pounce upon us and throw us overboard. I
advise that we keep watch in turn. It's already getting dark, and, if
you like, I'll take the first watch. I'll wake you in a couple of hours,
and you can do the same for me when you have had your turn. Hush! They
are moving."
Turning his head, Jim saw the natives rise to their feet and disappear
down the hatchway. Ten minutes later they climbed to the deck again,
bearing a large dish and a gourd of water, and, having given the
steersman a drink and placed a pile of food beside him, they advanced to
the mast and sat down there, motioning to Jim and Tom to join them.
Gladly did the young fellows obey the summons, for many hours had
elapsed since they had partaken of any food, and their naturally keen
appetites were sharpened by the sea air and by the excitement of the
past few hours. Indeed, up to that moment, so much had occurred that Jim
had had no time to think of food, for all his thoughts had been
concentrated upon his surroundings. But the sight of it reminded him at
once of his long fast, and he joined the group, feeling that it would
require a large amount to satisfy his hunger.
Squatting around the bowl, they helped themselves to dates, of which
there was an abundant supply. Simple though the food was it was
satisfying, and Jim soon returned to his old position, feeling very much
better. Tom remained for a short while chatting with the natives, and
then rejoined his friend. It was now evening, and within a few minutes
darkness fell, for there is scarcely any twilight in the Tropics.
"The night will be a cold one, and the dew heavy," said the master,
coming up to them. "You had better go down into the hold and sleep
there. I will post a man up here to keep watch."
"If it is the same to you, we would rather remain where we are," Tom
answered promptly. "You see, we are not used to this kind of thing, and
that stuffy hold makes us feel ill. We will ask you to lend us a couple
of blankets in which to wrap ourselves."
"You shall have them, but you cannot sleep here, for the look-out man
must stand in this position; but you can go farther along the deck, if
you like. Come with me now, and I shall give you what you have asked
for."
Ten minutes later Jim and his friend were wrapped from head to foot in
thick blankets, and had taken their places close to the bulwark on one
side, and about the centre of the vessel. As they did so one of the crew
passed them and went to take his station forward, while the remainder
proceeded aft, and throwing themselves down upon the deck, prepared to
sleep. Two hours passed without incident, Tom's heavy breathing telling
clearly that he was asleep. Then Jim, whose eyes had been wide open all
the time, touched him gently with his foot, and had the satisfaction of
seeing that he had awakened his companion. Then curling himself in his
blanket, he closed his eyes. He could not sleep, however, for, though he
was tired out with the long day of excitement, his novel position, and
the thought that danger threatened them, kept him wide awake. He was,
therefore, fully prepared when Tom stealthily stretched out an arm and
tugged at his blanket, and at once sat up with his back against the
bulwark. Once more it was time for his companion's watch, and Jim, who
was now feeling decidedly drowsy, awoke him and lay down again upon the
deck. A few minutes later he was fast asleep, and remained so for a
considerable period. But a shout from Tom suddenly roused him, and,
starting up, he saw that a struggle was taking place within a few feet
of him. Dawn was just breaking, and the light enabled him to discover
the fact that his companion was clasped in the arms of two of the
natives, who were hustling him towards the bulwarks, and evidently
endeavouring to throw him overboard.
Springing to his feet, Jim leapt across the deck at one bound, and sent
his fist crashing into the face of one of Tom's opponents. Then, with a
shout, he clasped the other by the neck, and, tearing him from his hold,
sent him reeling across the deck.
"What has happened, Tom?" he asked. "What made them attack you?"
"I can't say," was the breathless answer; "but I deserved to be thrown
overboard, for I believe I had fallen asleep. At any rate, they were
upon me before I was aware of it, and, while one held me by the
shoulders and placed a hand firmly over my mouth, the other caught me by
the legs, and hustled me to the side. I fought like a cat, and managed
to free my mouth. But you saved my life, old chap."
"Look out! They are preparing to rush again," cried Jim, in a warning
voice. "I suppose we must make a fight for it."
As they were talking, the two men who had attacked Tom had picked
themselves up, and had retired to their comrades, who stood close to the
helm. That they were disconcerted by the sudden resistance was evident,
but, seeing only two unarmed young fellows, they forgot their fear, and
at once prepared to renew the combat. Snatching arms from a pile which
lay beside them on the deck, they shouted to their comrades to join in
the struggle, and then came rushing towards Jim and Tom at their fastest
pace.
It was a critical moment, and might well have unnerved the bravest of
men. Indeed, Tom was so shaken by the narrow escape he had had, that,
for a second or two, he did nothing but stare at his opponents, as if
fascinated. Jim, however, was fully alive to the danger, and promptly
took measures to protect himself. Without taking his eyes from the
natives he felt for and grasped the butt of a revolver, and, as they
approached, presented it at their heads, hesitating to press the trigger
in the hope that a sight of the weapon would overawe them. But they were
maddened with rage, and, with shrill cries, came on boldly, waving their
swords above their heads.
Crack! Jim pressed the trigger ever so gently, and, to his astonishment,
the report had scarcely rung out upon the air when the leading man
suddenly tossed his weapon above his head and fell to the deck with a
crash. A second later, the native who followed him tripped over his
body, and came sprawling upon all fours, where he lay, stunned by the
fall.
"Now get ready for the other two," cried Jim. "Pull yourself together,
Tom, and when they rush, leave me to manage the first one. You can put a
bullet into the second, if necessary, but we don't want to kill them
all, if it can be helped. Ah, here they come!"
Undeterred by the quick fate which had befallen their comrades, the
master of the dhow advanced cautiously along the deck, accompanied by
the steersman, and armed with an enormous double-handed sword, which he
held well before him. The steersman snatched at one of the guns which
had been loaded in preparation for the attack of the pirate on the
previous evening, and sinking upon one knee, took steady aim in Jim's
direction. He was in the act of firing it when Tom, who had suddenly
come to his senses, took a snapshot at him with his revolver, in the
hope of killing him before he could do any harm. But the bullet flew
wide of the mark, and striking the bulwarks, buried itself deep in the
wood. An instant later there was a loud report, and, to Jim's amazement,
the folds of linen which were bound about his head flew high into the
air, while he staggered back, feeling as though someone had struck him
violently.
But he was not the lad to give way without a struggle, or to cry out
before he was hurt. Starting forward a pace or two, he levelled his
revolver at the man who had just fired, and who was, at that moment,
engaged in reaching for another gun. Sighting carefully, and with the
utmost coolness, he pressed gently upon the trigger, and had the
satisfaction of seeing the native start to his feet with a shriek of
pain, and then collapse suddenly upon the deck.
"And now for the master!" he said quietly, turning to Tom. "Tell him
that if he moves a pace forward we will shoot him like a dog."
"Drop your weapon!" Tom at once shouted, advancing towards the man,
revolver in hand. "We have already killed two of your number, and will
shoot you also, if you show the slightest wish to continue the conflict.
Drop your sword, I say, and hands up!"
"You are too strong for us," answered the native humbly, letting his
weapon tumble with a crash to the deck. "Spare my life, and I promise
not to attack you again."
"That's right! And now, wake this fellow up," continued Tom, pointing to
the man who had been stunned, and who was now recovering consciousness.
"When you've done that, go aft, and send him into the bows; but before
doing so, you can repeat to him what I have said."
Meekly obeying these commands, the master of the vessel went to his
fallen comrade and shook him savagely. Then he dragged him to his feet,
and shouting words of warning in his ear, sent him forward, retiring
himself to the helm.
"And now let us see to these other fellows," said Jim. "I expect the
first is dead, for I fired at close quarters, and aimed plump at the
middle of his chest. The second was a longer and more difficult shot,
and may not have proved fatal."
Keeping their revolvers in their hands, in case of treachery, they
crossed the deck to the fallen native, and turned him upon his back, Jim
in vain attempting to disguise the horror with which the sight filled
him.
"Dead!" he said in a whisper. "It's terrible to think that I killed
him."
"I dare say it is, old boy," Tom answered calmly. "But then, you see, it
would have been far more terrible if he had run you through with this
murderous-looking sword, and had then thrown you into the sea. It's not
nice, I admit, to feel that that ugly-looking wound is due to your
bullet, but then, you know, he fully deserved it, for he had every
intention of killing you, and, as you saw, did his best to rid the world
of my presence. So, cheer up, Jim. It was a splendid shot, and I'm still
marvelling at your pluck and coolness. If it hadn't been for you, I
really believe that our bodies would have been floating a mile or more
astern by now, a prey to the sharks, for I was completely unhinged by my
struggle with them. You behaved grandly, I tell you, and you saved both
my life and your own."
"I don't think so," replied Jim modestly. "You see, I couldn't very well
have behaved in any other way. Your shout awakened me with a start to
find you fighting with those two ruffians. Naturally, I went to your
help, and as an Englishman's first weapons are his fists, I used mine
with a result that fairly astonished me. After that, everything was, of
course, plain sailing."
"There's no plain sailing at all about it, Jim, my boy," said Tom
sharply, "and I'm not going to allow you to run down the share you took
in the matter. You behaved splendidly, and with the greatest pluck,
while I made a fool of myself. First of all, I fell asleep when I should
have been keeping careful watch, and then I was so thoroughly upset by
the attack made upon me that I was practically useless. But there, I can
see you don't like the subject, so I'll say no more. Shake hands! That's
right. I feel better now."
"Then let us look at this other fellow, Tom."
Walking along the deck, they knelt down beside the second native who had
fallen, and turning him over, at once saw that he was dead, for he had
been struck in the neck.
"A lucky shot," said Jim, looking pityingly at the man.
"And mine was an execrable one!" exclaimed Tom, in disgust. "It almost
lost you your life. Let's look at your head."
"Yes, it was a narrow shave, Tom, but I was so excited that I forgot all
about it in a moment. George! Look at that!"
Jim placed his hand to his head, and withdrew it with a long curl of
dark hair, which had been neatly severed by the bullet.
"Yes," he repeated, "it was a close shave, and I never want another like
it. Indeed, I have very much to be thankful for, for had the gun been
aimed half an inch lower, my head would have been shattered, and I
should be lying like that poor fellow there."
CHAPTER VI
ON AFRICAN SHORES
There was no doubt that Jim had good cause to be thankful, for his had
been an extremely narrow escape; and as he turned away from his
companion, he was quite overcome at the thought, for this was the very
first time he had known what it was to be face to face with death.
Burying his face in his hands, so that Tom should not see his emotion,
he stood there, leaning upon the bulwark, for at least five minutes.
Then suddenly he roused himself, and went to join his comrade, who
respecting his feelings, had walked away to the other side of the deck.
"Well, Tom," he said cheerfully, "the expedition has so far proved an
undoubted success, and this gun-runner is safely in our hands. The next
question to be considered is what we are to do with her. You said that
you would probably sail her back to Aden; but doesn't it seem a shame,
now that we are almost within sight of Africa, to return to our
starting-point?"
"It does, Jim; and I am in hopes that that will not be necessary. As far
as I have been able to make out, we have held steadily upon our course
since we left Aden; and in that case the gunboat should soon catch us
up. I propose that we remain where we are until she comes up with us,
and then we'll ask them to do us the favour of taking us on to Berbera.
They'll be glad enough to help us, for this capture will appear in their
names, and will be a feather in the captain's cap, though he will not
fail to give us the credit that is due to us. You see, it wouldn't do to
publish the full facts of the case, for, if the natives learnt that I
had a hand in the capture, my life would not be worth an hour's
purchase, and I should have to leave Aden for good and all. But, I
say----"
"What?" asked Jim. "You were about to suggest something."
"About those fellows there, old man," Tom replied, pointing to the
bodies of the natives.
"They're not very pleasant objects to look at, Tom; and if you think it
right, I vote that we tie some weights to them and throw them over the
side. Half a dozen guns should be sufficient if we cannot find anything
better. What do you think of the plan?"
"It will have to be done sooner or later, Jim, and I think had better be
carried out at once. Let's slip down into the hold and see what we can
find. But--that would not do, for there is no trusting these native
beggars; and it's more than possible that while we were beneath decks
they would play a trick upon us."
"That has occurred to me, too, Tom; but from the look of them, I don't
think we have much to fear. They are thoroughly cowed, and go in terror
of our revolvers. I'll wait here at the stern while you go below. Just
order the master to go forward, so that I can keep an eye upon both of
them. If they show signs of wishing to attack me, I'll shout, and you
can hop up to my help."
"That will do famously," answered Tom. "Look here," he continued,
addressing the late commander of the dhow, who stood a few paces away,
watching his captors through the corners of his eyes, "get away forward
to your comrade, and sit upon the deck. If either of you attempts to
move, you will be shot. So take good care to keep absolutely still, for
my friend is a capital shot, as you have been able to see for yourself."
The precaution was a wise one; but a glance at the two prisoners showed
that it was scarcely necessary, for all their courage had fled. Indeed,
at the mention of Jim's prowess with the revolver, they shivered
visibly, while their eyes wandered to the two figures lying upon the
deck.
"You can trust us to be still," said the master humbly. "We have seen
your bravery, and know that we are beaten. Promise that you will spare
our lives."
"I can make no promise at all," answered Tom sternly. "You have been
caught in the act of carrying arms to the Mullah, and in aiding the
enemies of the Government, and to the latter you must answer."
"What is the talk about?" asked Jim at this moment; for, being entirely
ignorant of the language, he could not even guess the drift of the
conversation. "I hear you chatting away to these fellows, and long to be
able to join in and understand what is said. I've quite made up my mind
that, at the first opportunity, I shall begin to take lessons."
"He is asking me to promise them their lives," explained Tom, "and I
have told him that it is impossible, and that someone else will have to
do that for them."
"But you could say that you would speak for them," exclaimed Jim, a
sudden thought occurring to him.
"And why? You seem to forget, old boy, that a few minutes ago these
fellows were doing their best to kill us. And now you want to help them
to escape the punishment which they have earned."
Tom became quite indignant at Jim's words, and turned away from him
impatiently, as if it angered him to listen.
"Steady. Wait until you have heard all that I have to say," cried Jim,
catching him by the arm and detaining him. "Did you not tell me that one
of the crew knew more than he would admit about that white prisoner of
the Mullah?"
"Yes, that is the case," answered Tom, unable as yet to follow his
companion's meaning.
"Well," continued Jim eagerly, "these fellows deserve to lose their
lives, but, you know, the Government are no more fond of hanging people
than we are. You could, therefore, safely say to them that you would
speak on their behalf on certain conditions. Don't you see my point
now?"
"By Jove! Of course, I do, Jim! What a duffer I am, to be sure! I'll see
what I can do at once."
They went along the deck towards the natives, who watched them
furtively, fearful of what was coming, and expecting at any moment to be
shot where they sat.
"I have talked this matter over with my friend," said Tom sternly,
addressing the man who had commanded the captured dhow. "We both agree
that we should be within our rights if we shot you. But you have asked
me to promise you your lives, and I am inclined to do so on certain
conditions. The first is that you solemnly promise to remain faithful to
us until we hand you over to the Government; and the second, that you
tell us all you know about this white man who recently fell into the
hands of the Mullah."
"We shall fall in with your wishes gladly," replied the native, scarcely
able to repress a shout of joy. "We solemnly declare that we will be
true to you, and will not venture to attack you. As for the other
matter, we do not know much, but we have heard that the prisoner was a
soldier, what the Hindoos in Aden call a 'sahib.'"
"He says that the prisoner was an officer," explained Tom, turning to
Jim, so that he should be able to follow the conversation.
"Ask him if he heard the name," was the eager reply.
"My friend wishes to know more," said Tom, continuing his interrogation.
"What was the name of this prisoner?"
"That I cannot say; but he was 'sahib' and 'colonel,' so the man who
told me of his capture said."
Jim was listening eagerly, vainly endeavouring to understand all that
passed, and he could have leapt for joy when Tom translated the man's
answer.
"That settles it, then," he said. "Up to this there has been some doubt
as to whether my father was the man who reached shore alive, but now I
am certain that it was he; for I have been through the list of
passengers, and there was only one colonel on board, and he, of course,
was Colonel Hubbard."
"I think you are right in what you say," answered Tom, after a pause. "I
must confess that, until this moment, I have been very doubtful, far I
happen to know that nine British officers out of ten wear a watch
bracelet upon their wrists. It is a habit which seems to have become
general during the Boer war. Still, the fact that this survivor was
tall, and in other respects corresponded with your father, made it
possible that it would turn out to be he. Now, however, the question is
settled, for, no doubt, when the Mullah's men captured him he gave his
name, hoping that that would cause them to release him. They know quite
sufficient of the British to feel sure that a colonel is a man of some
importance, and they must have boasted of it. That's how the news has
got to this fellow's ears. Yes, I think you may take it as certain that
your father is the white prisoner spoken of, for if not, who else could
it be?"
"There is no doubt about it," answered Jim emphatically. "I was never
very doubtful, and now any fears I may have had are absolutely set at
rest. But ask him more, Tom. For instance, perhaps he knows where father
has been taken, and whether he is being well treated."
Turning again to the native, Tom plied him with question after question,
and was able to elicit the fact that the white prisoner was constantly
with the Mullah, who often changed his whereabouts. Also that he acted
as a slave, but was safe for the time being.
"How long he will continue to be sure of his life I cannot say," the
master continued thoughtfully. "But I feel certain that if the Mullah
suffers at the hands of the British troops, he will avenge himself by
slaying the white man. Indeed, I wonder at his allowing him to remain
alive so long, for all those who are not of his own colour and religion
are his bitter enemies, and he slays them without remorse."
"So you can feel easy about his safety for a time," said Tom, as he
discussed the facts with Jim; "we know that the Government is making
preparations for a general advance, and that nothing can be done till
all is absolutely ready. I should say that we have quite two months, and
perhaps more than that, in which to effect his rescue."
"We must try to do it in two weeks, if that is at all possible," said
Jim with decision. "You see, there is always an element of doubt, and
until my father is out of the Mullah's hands, I do not think we can ever
consider him out of danger. These native beggars are cruel and
capricious; at least, so I have always been given to understand. He
might order his prisoner to be killed in his rage at hearing that the
British were preparing to attack him, and even might make the capture of
these guns sufficient excuse to execute father. It is horrible to
imagine such a thing."
"Don't be down-hearted, old boy," exclaimed Tom encouragingly. "If you
allow yourself to think in that way, you will be miserable. Make up your
mind that your gov'nor is alive and well, and badly in need of his
freedom; and that you are going to bring it to him. That's the way to
look at the matter."
"You're right," answered Jim with a sigh of relief.
"Better look at the bright side of things, and just put all one's back
into the task. Yes, that is the way, I'm sure; and by Jove! I'll do as
you advise, and what's more, I'll rescue father, or die in the attempt."
"Spoken like a man! If you say that you'll carry the job out
successfully, I am sure that that is half the battle, and that you will
get along ever so much better. I can tell you this, that I will help you
to the best of my power, for this expedition has taken my fancy; and
besides, Jim, I owe you something. Remember that half an hour ago you
saved my life. I want to pay back the debt, you know; and how could I do
it better than by standing beside you in this affair?"
There was no doubt that Tom was thoroughly in earnest, for he spoke with
a vigour to which his companion was unused, and to show how deeply he
felt, grasped him firmly by the hand.
"Thank you," Jim answered, returning the clasp with one as warm. "As to
the debt, I fancy that we are quits, for, had you not stood by me, we
should both have been like those two poor fellows there. Let's get rid
of them. I cannot bear to look at them, for it reminds me that it was I
who caused their death."
"Right. We'll set these two natives to work, for they will understand it
better."
Tom beckoned to the master, and gave him instructions to tie half a
dozen guns to each corpse, and then consign them to the sea. When that
necessary but unpleasant task was satisfactorily accomplished, he
ordered the two prisoners into the bows again, and retired with Jim to
the stern, from which point of vantage they could keep a watch upon
their prisoners. Not that that was necessary now, for the promise that
he would speak on their behalf, made by Tom, had put the natives on
their best behaviour. Indeed, unbidden, they began to sweep the decks,
and then suggested that they should prepare some food.
"We have taken nothing to break our fast," said the master, coming to
them as they sat by the tiller. "Is it your wish that I and my comrade
should go in search of something with which to stave off our hunger?"
"You can go, certainly," answered Tom readily; "but one at a time. It
does not matter what it is so long as there is sufficient, for we are
badly in want of food."
In a short time the master returned and placed before them a plate of
dried meat and some pieces of wheaten cake. This they devoured with the
utmost satisfaction, completing the repast with a copious draught of
cool water. Then both rose to their feet, and began to patrol the deck,
for after having lived ashore for the greater part of one's existence,
the craving for movement, for exercise of some description, when aboard
a ship of such small proportions as the dhow, is very great. Half an
hour later Jim gave vent to a sudden shout of joy and pointed astern.
"What do you make of that?" he asked in excited tones.
"No, not there, but more to the left."
Stretching out his arm so that his companion could follow the direction,
he pointed to the horizon, where a faint streak of dark colour was
visible. Tom looked at it for some minutes without answering, but at
last he turned to Jim with smiling features, which told that he had
guessed at the origin of the cloud.
"It's the gunboat, sure enough," he said, "and I tell you that it lifts
a weight from my mind. You see, things have been rather uncertain, and
there is no doubt that we have been in great danger. Of course, we came
through this scuffle remarkably well, but if that pirate fellow had
turned up again we should have been in a nasty mess. There can be no
doubt that the patch of dark colour on the horizon is a steamer of some
sort, and I fancy it will turn out to be the gunboat, for this is right
out of the track of ordinary shipping, and though a few steamers are
just now engaged in bringing stores to Berbera for the Mullah's
expedition, I happen to know that none were leaving Aden during this
week. So we can take it for certain that that is the gunboat, and I can
tell you I am jolly glad. Won't it be grand when she comes alongside and
finds the capture already made!"
"It ought to get you promotion, at any rate," answered Jim. "After all,
when you come to look at the matter quietly, you must admit that it was
rather a risky thing to do. Who else would have thought of making up as
a Somali native and shipping aboard the very dhow upon the capture of
which you were bent? Mind you, I take no credit to myself for that part
of the adventure. It was you who planned the whole thing, and I think
you deserve no end of praise. But, I say, look at her again."
By now the dark streak had developed into a low-lying hull, which was
fast coming up from the horizon. Very soon a stumpy mast could be seen,
poking up barely into the blue sky, and, within twenty minutes, Jim and
Tom could even make out her guns, two of which stood amidships, and
formed her only broadside, an amply sufficient one in such waters. Half
an hour had barely passed before the gunboat came rushing alongside,
surging through the swell, and sending the foam seething in a broad band
of white from her cut-water. Then she put her helm hard over, and
turning upon her heel in the space of a few seconds, and with a heave
which caused her to roll her scuppers into the sea, she came up on the
other quarter, and lay to, with the muzzle of one of her quick-firers
grinning at the occupants of the dhow.
"Dhow ahoy!" came in stentorian tones. "Who's that?" shouted Tom in
reply, springing upon the bulwark to obtain a better look. "Is it
Humphreys?" "Yes; and who are you?" "Government agent from Aden," sang
out Tom, refraining from giving his name, for, had he done so, the
natives would have heard, and it would have become common property
before very long. "I want to hand over this vessel to you. She's full of
cheap guns, which were going to the Mullah. We've a couple of prisoners,
too."
"Bravo! Congratulate you!" was shouted from the gunboat, while at the
same moment a figure, clad from head to foot in snowy white, leapt upon
the diminutive bridge and signalled to the dhow. "We'll come right
alongside, and then you can slip aboard, and give us the tale. Any
casualties?"
"None, I'm glad to say, though one, if not both, of us, was nearly
killed. But we shot two of the crew, and threw their bodies overboard
half an hour ago."
"Look out for us now," was shouted from the gunboat. "If you have a rope
fender, or two, you might sling them overboard. Our plates are too thin
to stand bumping, even against the wooden sides of your dhow."
Jim saw the commander of the gunboat grasp the handle of the telegraph,
and, so short was the distance intervening between the two vessels, that
he could actually hear the tinkle of the bell sounding down in the
engine-room. Then the screws whirled around, the blades churning the
waters of the gulf into white foam, which went hissing and frothing
along the sides of the vessel as she ran astern. Five minutes later, she
was securely fastened to the dhow, great care being taken to place
several thick rope fenders between the vessels, together with some fibre
matting which happened to be aboard the dhow. No sooner was all to his
liking than the captain of the gunboat stepped on to the bulwark of his
own vessel, and leapt lightly upon the deck of the one which Jim and his
companion had contrived to capture. A particularly smart officer he
looked, too, in his spruce and neatly cut white drill-clothing. Coming
forward, with outstretched hand, he advanced towards Tom with a smile of
welcome.
"Glad to see you--heartily glad to see you!" he said. "'Pon my word,
when the Governor told me for what I was wanted, and packed me off
post-haste last night, I quite thought I was on a wild-goose chase. It
seemed to me that you and your young friend must have run your heads
into a perfect hornets'-nest, and I tell you, had I come across your
bodies floating in the sea, I should not have been by any means
astonished. But I'm bound to say that the Governor, though fully
realizing the extent of the danger, thought far better of your chances
than I did. You see, I've often met you before and known you in the Club
at Aden as a clerk in the Civil Service, and as a particularly good
billiard-player. And to hear suddenly that you were an Intelligence
officer, who was notorious for success in worming out the secrets of the
natives, was quite astonishing, for you must understand that I always
looked upon you as a peaceful sort of fellow."
"And so I am," laughed Tom. "You see, I've lived the best part of my
life in Aden, so that to appear as a native is nothing out of the way
for me. I am so thoroughly used to it that I run very little danger. But
it's different with my friend here, for he is only just from school, and
doesn't understand a word of the language, and yet he boldly came with
me; and if it had not been for his help, I can honestly say that this
would have proved my last adventure. But he turned out trumps, and
proved to be as cool and steady as an old hand, and thoroughly plucky
into the bargain. But, I say, let me introduce him. Jim Hubbard--Captain
Humphreys."
"Glad to meet you, and I congratulate you on coming so well out of your
first engagement," said the officer, gripping Jim by the hand. "Never
been under fire before, I suppose, and never seen men fighting in real
earnest?"
"Never!" answered Jim, returning the handshake with equal fervour; for
the captain of the gunboat was an open-hearted, cheery individual, to
whom one was bound to take on the instant. "I must admit, too, that the
experience for the first time was far from pleasant; and if it hadn't
been that the fighting came suddenly, and before I was really prepared
for it, I am sure I should have been in a regular funk. You see, waiting
always did upset me. I was the same at school when I was in for a
licking, and had orders to attend in a few hours at the Doctor's study.
I'm too impatient, I suppose, and employ the interval in imagining all
kinds of awful things. But I'm sorry to say that I killed two of the
natives during the struggle."
Jim looked the captain steadily in the face, and then flushed guiltily,
for it appeared to him a terrible admission to have to make.
"I know what you feel, my lad," was the hasty answer, given with an
encouraging smack upon the back. "But that's the fortune of war, you
know, and everyone has the same regrets at first. Why, I remember how
terribly upset I was when I sent a bullet into the body of a rascally
slave-dealer. It thoroughly unnerved me when I looked at the fellow
afterwards. But my chief took me aside, and just put the matter to me as
I have to you. You may take it from me, that if you engage in adventures
of this sort, you will kill more men before you have done, though always
in self-defence. It's just that that helps one to get over the feeling."
"And now about the dhow," interposed Tom. "She's full up to her hatches
with cheap guns and ammunition, and I now hand her over to you. In
return, I ask you, if you possibly can, to take us to Berbera, for we
are bound for Africa."
"So the Governor told me, and you may rely on it that I shall do as you
ask, for I know how important it is for you both to make an early start
into the interior. You say that the dhow is full of cheap arms. If that
is the case, they are unlikely to prove of any use to the Government,
and we should not be thanked for bringing them back. I'll just pop
below, and look for myself, and then we'll put a charge of gun-cotton
into her and blow her to pieces. It will be the cheapest and best plan
in the end. But you may rely upon it, Dixon, that I shall make a full
report to the Governor, and if there is no promotion in your particular
branch, then I prophesy that your salary will be increased, for there
is no doubt that this is a most important capture. Indeed, had all these
guns reached the Mullah, so many more lives would be lost in the coming
expedition. So you can see for yourself what good service you have
done."
"It's very good of you to say so, Humphreys," answered Tom, "and I will
only ask you, while mentioning the fact to the Governor, to be sure that
my name is not published in connection with the capture, for it is
important for me to continue to be known as a simple clerk in the Civil
Service."
The captain of the gunboat readily assented to this proposal, and then,
stepping along the deck, quickly disappeared through the hatchway. Ten
minutes later he appeared again, and returned aboard his own vessel. An
order was given, and within a short while a couple of seamen went into
the hold of the dhow, where they remained for half an hour. Meanwhile,
the lashings which connected the two vessels were cast off, the fenders
and matting removed, and all aboard the dhow, except the men who were
placing the fuse, were ordered to leave and take up their quarters upon
the gunboat. Five minutes later the two British tars appeared, and when
they had joined their own ship again, she sheered off from the low-lying
gun-runner. When she had run a mile at the top of her speed, she went
about, and stopped her engines. And there, with eyes fixed upon the
distant vessel, all waited for the explosion that was to rend her to
pieces and send her cargo to the bottom.
Bang! The roar of the bursting fuse could be loudly heard, followed by a
spurt of fire which rose high into the air, accompanied by a dense
column of smoke. As the latter cleared away, all looked to see what had
become of the dhow, but not a vestige of her was to be seen.
"The Mullah will grieve for her, and will grind his teeth with rage when
he learns that the freight of guns and ammunition is lost to him,"
laughed Captain Humphreys. "But we can smile, for we have done a good
turn to those who are going with the expedition. And now, I want to ask
you young fellows whether you intend to land as you are. If you would
prefer to change into European costume, I have plenty of togs aboard
which will fit you, and to which you are heartily welcome."
For the moment neither answered, but each looked at the other, as if
awaiting a reply.
"I've been thinking the matter out," said Jim at length, "and I've come
to the conclusion that we should be wise to make no alteration in our
dress. Secrecy seems to me to be the object at which we particularly
aim. Now, if we take advantage of your kind offer, and appear as
Englishmen, our coming will certainly be noticed at Berbera."
"No doubt about it, Hubbard," said Captain Humphreys decisively. "Like
Aden, Berbera has a very large native population, consisting, for the
most part, of Arabs. The landing of a couple of Somali men would pass
unnoticed, whereas it is perfectly certain that each white man causes a
stir. He becomes the subject of conversation in the bazaars, and if his
mission to the town is not perfectly clear, it sets every native
wondering. Of course, if you were officers come to join the troops
there, you would arouse no further interest. But as you are not that,
and not traders, then for what reason have you come to Berbera? That's
how these fellows look at such a matter, and they're cute enough and
curious enough to go more deeply into it. Therefore, I think you will be
wise to make no change in your dress."
"And I fully agree," cried Tom. "Our aim, as Jim has just said, is to
arouse no curiosity, and to maintain our incognito. That can be best
done by appearing as Somali natives. Once ashore, we can go to the
Consul's to tell him our plans, and from there we shall strike straight
away for the camp, where Ali Kumar awaits us with the followers. The
same night we shall disappear, and when we have received our baggage and
stores, and put a day's march between ourselves and the coast-line, we
can get rid of this paint and these long white robes, and reappear in
our ordinary costume."
"And now for a meal!" interposed the commander of the gunboat. "I expect
you two fellows will be glad of one, for the grub aboard that dhow must
have been of the coarsest. Let me see, it's a hundred and forty miles
from Aden across to Berbera, and I reckon we have already steamed the
greater part of the distance. By the time we come on deck again the
coast should be in sight, and shortly after noon we should be at our
destination."
Accordingly, the trio descended to the tiny cabin, where they did ample
justice to an excellent luncheon. Then they chatted for an hour before
going on deck again. When they did so, it was to discover a low-lying
coast before them, with purple headlands, and a long range of hazy blue
hills in the distance. Indeed, at the first glance, it was a
hospitable-looking coast, for the sand-dunes and the desolate, treeless
wastes were not visible. Soon Berbera itself was sighted, and the
gunboat was headed for the harbour, which seemed to be filled with
trading dhows, and with a few steamers of small size, which had come
there with stores for the troops. Half an hour later they were safely
moored inside.
Jim and his companion took farewell of the captain, and watched him as
he was rowed to the tumble-down pier which did duty as a landing-place.
Then, as the dusk of evening fell, they put off in a small dinghy which
the gunboat carried, and were landed at a deserted part of the town.
Stealing away in the darkness, they were soon lost among the Arab
streets, and had the satisfaction of feeling that their expedition was
to begin under the best auspices. For who would take the trouble to
enquire about them? Captain Humphreys had impressed upon his men the
need for silence, while the two prisoners who had been captured with the
dhow could do them no harm, for they were at that moment in irons
beneath the deck of the gunboat, and likely to remain there until they
were thrown into prison at Aden.
It was, therefore, in the highest spirits that they sauntered through
the town, and made their way towards the British Consul's.
CHAPTER VII
THE "MAD" MULLAH
"You'll know the house where the British Consul lives immediately you
set eyes upon it," Captain Humphreys had said, when giving directions to
Jim and his friend. "It's a long, low-lying bungalow, surrounded by
quite a little forest of trees, and has the reputation of being one of
the coolest in Berbera. As soon as you are ashore, you must pass through
the Arab town, and bear towards the harbour again. I shall go to him at
once, and will tell him that you are coming, and arrange for the door of
his sitting-room to be left open. Of course, it gives entrance from the
verandah, and all you will have to do will be to walk straight through
the compound and into the room. I leave it to yourselves to get there
without being seen."
Accordingly, acting upon this advice, they made their way slowly through
the narrow and dirty streets of the town, remarking how clean the
white-washed houses looked in contrast with the filth and squalor
around. Here and there a smoky oil-lamp glimmered, allowing them to
catch glimpses of huddled figures sitting in the doorways, swathed from
head to foot in robes of white. At length they reached the outskirts,
and seeing a belt of trees before them, at once turned in that
direction. Nestling in the centre of this plantation was a low building,
the windows of which were brightly illuminated. For a minute or more the
two stood in the deep shadow cast by the trees, and took careful stock
of the dwelling.
"There's the room which we must aim for," said Jim, in a whisper,
suddenly pointing to the farther end. "Look! you can see that the door
leading on to the verandah is wide open. Let us creep along in the
shadow until we are directly opposite; then we shall be able to see
whether there is anyone waiting in there for us. If none of the native
servants are to be seen walking about, we'll cut straight across and
slip in. After that we'll ask the Consul to draw the blinds, and shut
out the light, for it would look funny, and would certainly give rise to
a good deal of chatter, if we were observed in conversation with His
Excellency."
"I follow. It's very good advice; and, upon my word, you are becoming a
regular conspirator," laughed Tom. "I quite thought when we started out
upon this expedition that I should constantly have to warn you to be
cautious; but really, you seem to have taken to your new _rôle_ as a
duck does to water, and I am sure that no one could lay his plans with
more care and discretion than you do. Come along. I quite agree that the
room yonder is the one in which we are to have our interview."
Stealing along in the dense shadow cast by the thick growth of leaves
overhead, Jim soon reached a point exactly opposite the farther end of
the building, and at once threw himself upon the ground, for a dusky
figure suddenly appeared between himself and the brilliantly lit window
beyond. It was a native servant; of that there was little doubt, for he
stood there, leaning against one of the verandah posts, sharply
silhouetted against the rays cast by a tall standard lamp.
"Hush, Tom!" Jim whispered, turning to find his comrade close beside
him. "Lie down, for I can see someone over there."
"And there's a man in the room," was the answer. "See, he's getting up
now and coming our way."
As he spoke a tall figure, clad in white, and with a red cummerbund
about his waist, suddenly appeared at the open window, and catching
sight of the native, addressed him angrily.
"Be off!" he cried sharply. "Have I not frequently given the order that
no one is to come upon this side of the verandah at night? Be off, then,
I say, or I shall find a means to sharpen your memory."
The words had effect at once, for the servant salaamed, and retired
hastily.
"Now is our time," said Jim. "Let's walk quickly across."
Leaving the shadow of the trees, the two started across the open space
at a sharp walk, and mounted the verandah. A few steps forward took them
into the room, when they at once crossed to the farther side, so as to
be well away from the window.
"Excuse me," said the gentleman who was present, and who had betrayed no
astonishment at their sudden entry. "I'll just shut the window, and let
down these thick rolls of matting, for, you know, it wouldn't do quite
for the Consul at Berbera, the representative of the great 'Sirkal,' as
the British Government is known, to be seen engaging in an animated
conversation with two of the very tribe against which our forces are
about to march. It would look queer, particularly at this time of the
day, and would set the town agog."
Gently pulling the sash to, he lowered the blinds, and then turned with
smiling face to his visitors.
"Very glad to see you," he said, coming forward, and shaking both by the
hand. "I have already had a communication from the Governor of Aden, who
writes to me that he has had orders from the Foreign Office to help you
as far as is possible. Short of providing you with troops, or an armed
following, I am prepared to do anything that lies in my power, for, Mr.
Hubbard, I have the pleasure of your father's acquaintance. But putting
that aside altogether, it is the nature of Englishmen to stand by one
another, whatever the trouble, and this, I think, is just the case in
which we should do our utmost to give assistance. Now, sit down there,
and tell me what I can do for you."
"I hardly know," answered Jim, after having thanked him for his kind
offer of assistance; "but if you will allow the dhow which is to bring
our guns and baggage to land her cargo without question or molestation,
we shall be greatly obliged. We have decided to go straight from here to
the camp in which our followers are quartered. To-morrow morning we hope
to have disappeared, and a week from this we should be in the heart of
Somaliland. Should you obtain news of us after we have gone, will you
kindly forward it to Mr. Andrews at Aden, who will telegraph home to my
uncle?"
"Make your mind easy about the dhow," said the Consul. "The Governor at
Aden gave his authority for it to sail, and the gunboat which blew up
that rascally vessel which was carrying weapons for the Mullah has been
quietly warned to look the other way. As for news of you, it is quite
probable that I shall occasionally hear some, for we have many spies in
various parts of the country, who are well paid to bring in information.
Thanks to them, we know a good deal about the Mullah and his movements,
though I am bound to confess that their word is not always reliable.
But Mr. Dixon and yourself will have excellent opportunities of
obtaining an insight into the true condition of affairs, and I may tell
you that we are hoping to derive great benefit from your expedition."
"You shall have all that we can get," exclaimed Jim, "but I must admit
that at the present moment I have only the haziest idea of this
gentleman whom you call the 'Mad' Mullah. In fact, until a month ago, I
should have found it very difficult to explain precisely the whereabouts
of Somaliland."
"In that you are like the majority of people, I fancy," laughed the
Consul. "Hitherto the minds of the public have been fully occupied with
other parts of this huge continent. First, there was Egypt, with the
campaign which ended at Omdurman, and resulted in the reclaiming of the
Soudan. Then the Boer war began, and whereas scarcely one in ten was
aware of the position of the two Republics a couple of years ago, now
everyone could point them out on the map with the greatest ease. You
must recollect, too, that the Niger, the West Coast, Abyssinia,
Coomassie, and other parts, are forever engaging public attention, and
consequently, this strip of country which occupies the north-eastern
angle of Africa has been overlooked. Suddenly, however, the rising of
this Mullah and his bands of desperadoes has filled the papers with long
and interesting articles, and bids fair to arouse as much enquiry as did
the rising of the fanatics who met our armies at Omdurman.
"But--look here--you're just bound for the interior, and it is as well
that you should have all the news I am able to give you. Sit down, do,
and make yourselves quite comfortable. You may feel quite certain that
we shall not be interrupted, for I have given strict orders to my
servants that I am not to be disturbed."
The Consul, who was a man of middle age, dragged a chair into a
convenient position, from which he could easily observe the faces of his
listeners. Then, seating himself, he gave a preliminary cough.
"Let me see," he said, "I think, then, I had better begin by giving you
some idea of the class of men you are likely to meet with. Of course, I
understand that Mr. Dixon is well acquainted with them, in fact, better
even than I am, for his long residence in Aden has given him many
advantages. But to you, Mr. Hubbard, the news will be strange, no doubt,
and may be of service."
"I'm sure it will, and I am eager to hear all about these Somali
people," exclaimed Jim.
[Illustration: SOMALILAND.]
"Well, I will tell you what I know about them. Up to recent times they
have been known to us as friendly and harmless people. Many of our
countrymen have made shooting expeditions into the interior, and all
have reported that they have met with kindness and courtesy; that the
natives are intensely fond of sport, and enjoy the pursuit of wild game,
with which the country abounds. I remember having a long chat with one
of these great hunters, and he told me that the Somali people are
entirely different from the 'Fuzzy-Wuzzy,' as the natives of the Soudan
are jocularly known. They are more like playful children, and are
extremely excitable. If suddenly thrown into a position of danger, they
will face it boldly, and are reliable fighters in such circumstances.
But they are afraid of uncertainties, and that being the case, are of
little use as soldiers. Then, as I dare say you have already heard, they
are a scheming and cunning race, so that it is always well to be on the
best terms with them, for then one has nothing to fear. On the other
hand, if you incur their hatred, you may look out for squalls, and you
will find it a wise precaution to put an extra guard over your camels.
Indeed, the one serious occupation of the Somali is to keep his own
beasts safe from marauders, and to rob his neighbours of as many as
possible. Sometimes a few of the men will band together and raid a
neighbouring tribe. If they are discovered, they fly for their lives;
for camel-stealing, though a recognized crime in the country, is one
which is not easily forgiven by those who are attacked, and capture
means certain death. But the narrow escape is never taken in the light
of a warning, for, on the very first opportunity another raid will be
planned and carried out.
"There, I think that will give you a fair idea of the men you will meet
during your march; but, because I have described them as a friendly
race, you must not on that account omit to take every precaution. You
will meet many different tribes, some of which are still friendly to the
British, but others which have gone over to the Mullah, whose emissaries
are busily at work stirring them up against the white people.
"As for this man, whom we all speak of as the 'Mad' Mullah, he is, I
have little doubt, an unscrupulous ruffian. To the Somali he is known as
Hadji Mahomed Abdullah. He belongs to the Habr Suleiman section of the
Ogaden tribe, who have their hunting-grounds in the southwest of the
country. He married into the Ali Ghiri, a Dolbahanta tribe, and is,
therefore, connected with a great number of people. But what has given
him such a powerful position in Somaliland is the fact that he has made
several pilgrimages to Mecca, and, consequently, is considered a man of
deep wisdom, and 'hadji,' or holy, as the word is understood here. For
some time he has travelled about Somaliland, pillaging the various
districts and attacking the peaceful tribes. But it was not until he
quarrelled with a certain tribe living in our Protectorate that we took
any notice of him. Then we began to gather troops, so as to attack him.
Having pillaged the land in this direction, he struck off towards the
Abyssinian frontier, and flung himself and his hordes of desperadoes
upon the men of that race who happened to be stationed there. I am happy
to say that they beat him handsomely, so that he was forced to fly. For
some time we heard little more of him, and, no doubt, during all that
while he was busily collecting men and arms, the latter being
considerably harder to obtain than the former. But there are some
rascals who will do anything for money, and amongst them, I regret to
say, are a few white people, who, at considerable risk, run cargoes of
inferior guns to the coast, and sell them at an exorbitant price,
careless of the consequences to the peaceful nations who live within
touch of the Mullah.
"In due time his preparations were completed, and he then began to give
us further trouble. First, it was by raiding a tribe who lived under our
protection, and then by stealing camels from Berbera itself. In one way
and another he has steadily made himself a pest to the country, and as
he is as cruel as he is unscrupulous, the people have suffered terribly
at his hands.
"And now to tell you why Britain should concern herself with the Mullah.
The Italians, the French, and ourselves, each hold a Protectorate over a
large tract of country along this northern coast of Africa, and there is
really no more reason why we should take up the quarrel any more than
the others. But then, you know, Britain has always been the one friend
of the oppressed. It has been our policy for generations, and we are
known the world over as a fighting race who love freedom and hate the
oppressor. Look at the manner in which we subdued the Soudan at enormous
cost to ourselves, and yet without benefit to our country. This is a
sample of the work we do, and we are about to repeat the same process
here. Indeed, we have already made one successful attempt, during which
we beat the Mullah with heavy loss to himself, and caused him to
retreat. But a holy man, in a country like this, has extraordinary
power, and the Mullah rapidly took advantage of that fact. Within an
incredibly short space of time he gathered together the remnants of his
following, and at once began to march through the country preaching a
holy war. Those tribes who were reluctant to join him, and who preferred
a peaceful existence, were compelled to throw in their lot with him or
take the consequences, which meant that they would be robbed in a most
scandalous manner, and, possibly, would run the danger of being
altogether exterminated. And so the host of warriors marching beneath
the banner of the Mullah has steadily and rapidly increased, so much so
that they have become a menace to us, and forced us to take action.
"The Foreign Office, which governs this Protectorate, gave orders that a
field force should be prepared for service in Somaliland. In January,
1901, the force did not exist, but, by dint of superhuman exertions,
fifteen hundred natives were got ready for the fray at the end of May.
They consisted almost entirely of Somalis from the neighbouring friendly
tribes, and they were trained and taught to use the rifle by a select
band of British officers, than whom there are none more expert at this
class of work. A score of non-commissioned officers from India helped
them, and together they built up a very creditable following. At length,
when all arrangements had been made for transport, and sufficient
drivers had been engaged, the force marched for Burao to cross the
waterless Hoad. Crossing the range of mountains known as the Gobik, they
entered the Geratto pass, which leads from the Guban, or low country, to
the high country, which is known as the Ogo, and which is very much
healthier. From there the troops safely crossed the desert, and entered
the Mullah's country. And now, for the first time, they met with
opposition, for stragglers hung upon their flanks, sniping at the
caravans, and flying whenever an attempt was made to come to close
quarters. At length information came to hand that the enemy was a couple
of days' march away, and at once it was decided to attack him. Leaving
his baggage and the greater part of his camels to the care of a handful
of the Somali levy, with Captain McNeill in command, Colonel Swayne, who
had charge of the whole expedition, marched forward with the bulk of his
men, hoping to come upon the enemy unawares and teach him a lesson.
"You will remember that I mentioned to you a certain characteristic of
these people. I told you that in certain circumstances they were bold
and reliable, and that, if they were unfriendly to you, it was wise to
watch them with the utmost care, on account of their cunning and
treachery. The Mullah speedily gave an example of this, and made a
crafty move, which might have proved disastrous had it not been for the
soldierly qualities and the bravery of Captain McNeill. You may be sure
that if we had information of the Mullah's whereabouts, he, also, was
well aware of our movements, for his spies and scouts were in all
directions. Waiting until Colonel Swayne and his men had marched well
away from the camel zareba, this leader struck his 'karia,' or
camping-ground, and travelling in a roundabout direction, so as to evade
the main column, threw his thousands upon the tiny garrison which was
left to protect the camels and baggage. It was a splendid move, and was
most successfully accomplished, so far as eluding the main army went.
But the Mullah was not to have it all his own way, for he had, as I have
just said, a man to deal with who had studied his profession. Put
yourself in Captain McNeill's position for one moment, and imagine what
you would have done. Knowing that the greater part of the force had
marched against the enemy, many men would have put aside all thought of
danger, and would have been content with the ordinary precautions which
are necessary when campaigning in an enemy's country. But Captain
McNeill thought otherwise. It occurred to him that, with a crafty man
such as the Mullah was known to be, this was a splendid opportunity for
him to fall upon the weaker portion of the force which had come to
attack him, and after disposing of that, to march swiftly upon the other
part, and take it by surprise. Therefore, he at once made preparations
to meet an attack in force. Selecting an excellent site, upon a raised
plateau, so situated as to be unapproachable from one side, and
altogether cleared of the scrub and undergrowth, which could be so
useful to an attacking enemy, he built two zarebas of thorns,
strengthened with long stretches of barbed wire, and between the two a
third, into which he drove the camels. At the highest point he built a
mound, and placed upon it a Maxim, which, owing to its elevation, could
command the plateau in all directions, firing over the heads of the
defenders when necessary. That done, he sent out scouts in all
directions, and having appointed each man to a post and given him
precise instructions as to his part in the coming battle, he sat down to
await, with as much patience as he could, the appearance of the Mullah
and his rascally gang.
"Never before was there such an uneven contest, for you must recollect
that in this case the commander of the British zareba had only Somali
natives to depend upon, and they were so little trained that they could
only be termed raw recruits, while their reliability was a matter of
pure conjecture, for they had never yet been called upon to show the
stuff of which they were made. In addition, there were a few Indian
non-commissioned officers, and one lieutenant from an English line
regiment. In all, their numbers were extremely small, while the Mullah
would have at least five thousand troops.
"Well, thanks to the foresight of Captain McNeill, all that experience
could suggest had been carried out, and, satisfied that this was the
case, the garrison waited. They were not to be disappointed, for,
scarcely was all in readiness, when quickly moving dots in the distance
told them of approaching horsemen, and very soon scores of the Mullah's
followers came clambering over the distant sky-line and dashed down into
the wide sweeping plain which surrounded the zareba. Evidently with them
it was a foregone conclusion that this weak party left in charge of the
camels was to be annihilated, and then, what loot there would be! At the
thought of the hundreds of camels there, and the huge stores of baggage,
their delight was intense, but it was as nothing to their pleasure when
spies reported to them that the reserve ammunition of the whole force
lay in that zareba, ready to be taken. And what a prize that and the
rifles of the defenders would prove! Guns were difficult to obtain at
any time, but of late, since the British Government had sent its
torpedo-boats to patrol the coast, it had become almost an impossibility
to get them, while, in the case of ammunition, it was difficult to lay
hands upon the smallest supply of powder.
"No wonder the Mullah, as he looked down from the surrounding heights
upon that solitary camp, gave vent to an exclamation of satisfaction. He
was exultant, and almost shouted for joy.
"'They are mine!' he shouted; 'the hated foreigners will fall into our
hands, and Allah will punish them as they deserve. Press on, my men, and
fear not the bullets of the enemy, for I swear to you that they shall do
you no harm; and, even though they strike you, they shall melt upon your
bodies as the snow turns to water. Rush on them, then, and slay every
living man within the zareba.'
"By now, some thousands of dusky warriors had descended into the plain,
and while those who we're unmounted pressed forward at their fastest
pace, the men who had horses and camels to help them came on
impetuously, and it seemed, indeed, as though they would venture alone
to attack the tiny garrison. Such, no doubt, was their intention, for,
carried away by their fanatical hate, and shrieking loudly so as to
encourage one another, and with weapons waved high in the air, they
charged at the lines of thorn-bush which surrounded the zareba.
"Were they to break in without opposition, and without losing a man? It
looked as though this was to be the case, for not a gun flashed, and not
one of the defenders could be seen, save a group of five or six, who
stood immovable upon the mound where the Maxim was placed. But the
defenders were acting under the orders of their commander, and
resolutely held their fire, though the temptation to open upon the
oncoming horsemen must have been great indeed. Lying behind the thick
thorn-bushes, with rifles in readiness, all in the upper zareba kept
their eyes upon that tall, khaki-clad figure standing beside the Maxim.
Would he ever give the word? Were they to lie there and suffer death at
the hands of the Mullah's soldiers without even attempting to defend
themselves? It was a sore trial to untrained troops, to men who up to
this had done little else but occupy themselves in agricultural work,
broken here and there by a camel raid, the excitement and danger of
which was as nothing to that which they were now experiencing.
"'Fire!' The command rang out sharply in the crisp, clear air, and
almost instantly the clatter of the Maxim awoke the echoes. Glad to be
doing something, the remainder of the defenders joined in the fusillade,
and, encouraged by the calmness of their officer, emptied their rifles
without throwing away a shot. Scarcely a cry escaped them, for their
attention was far too much engaged in the business of exchanging full
cartridges for empty ones, and of discharging them against the enemy.
And still the latter came on in their hundreds, undaunted as yet,
reckless of the consequences, and careless of the numbers killed, so
long as they could gratify their hate and slay these insolent invaders.
Falling by ones and twos, and very often in groups of five and more, the
adherents of the Mullah pressed on with a courage which was truly
wonderful, and which was, no doubt, due in part to their leader's
promises that no harm should befall them.
"Then, too, these Eastern people have a childish belief in fate. To them
Allah's will is everything, and if it is decreed that they shall die,
they will meet death boldly. Therefore, though scores of their comrades
had already fallen victims to the Maxim, or to the rifle-bullets, the
horsemen still dashed forward, while the footmen, coming upon the scene
at this moment, rushed to join them, undeterred by the bodies which lay
scattered everywhere upon the plain. Armed with Sniders, with
elephant-guns, and with cheap muzzle-loaders, which no sane man would
have dared to fire, they went bounding forward, shrieking at the top of
their voices, and waving their weapons madly in the air. A few of the
more cautious ones halted at times, and, dropping upon one knee,
discharged a load of slugs at the defenders. But they were up again in a
minute, and this time, with sword in hand, flung themselves against the
zareba. Leaping upon the thorns as if they did not exist, they hacked
desperately at them, endeavouring to force a way through. Coming in
contact with the wire, a few became hopelessly entangled, and in due
time were killed. And all the while, without cessation, without a
moment's pause, the rifles of the defenders flashed forth revengefully,
and the Maxim scattered its volleys into the masses of the enemy.
"'The
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