The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-10

erS on the coast of the river, Dut VIII
greatly please all the other chiefs, and
win enable them to hold their own
! against Sehi.''
Five minutes were added to the
| promised quarter. and then the pipes
were laid down and the boat proceeded
at a steady stroke until they reached
the spot where they had tished.
! Somewhere about here. lad?
Yes, sir; think that this is just the
place. / noticed that tall tree rising
above the general line just opposite
where we were anchored"
Then lower the grapnel: in oars
| Another bottle was produced from
! the hamper; the lieutenant filled wine
glass and drank it off and then passed
the glass over to Dick.
What is it, sir?"
1T is some grog, with large dose
of duinine. The doctor begged me to
give it an hour or two before daylight
Now, lads. you are each to take a glass
Of this. 1t will protect you against the
effect of the mist on the river. You
can show the lantern now; it is just
as well that they should see it if they
are on the lookout
Every man took his glass of the
mixture.
Now wrap yourselves in your blan
kets, lads. and lie down for couple of
hours sleep" After a minute or two's
Scuffiing while each found a plank to
suit him. all was quiet in the boat.
Dick, who felt far too excited over the
events Of the night to be sleepy. had
volunteered to keep watch, and. light
ing another pipe at the lantern. smoked
till it was broad daylight. Then he
reused the crew, and in less than two
hours afterward they rowed alongside
the Serpent. The captain was greatly
pleased with Mr.. Ferguson's report.
l.
creek. otherwise we might have taken
the ship right into the pool and fought
il out with them there. Still. it may
be that this will be the best in the ell!
for we could hardly have counted upon
sinking the whole of them, and. once
past us they would have been off like
the wind: and though we might have
followed some of them. the others
would have made off, some one way
and some another whereas by laying
the vessel across the mouth of the creek
we have good chance for catching
them all as they come down There is
no doubt lot of more fellows have ar
rived to help the rajah. We can see
that there are a great many more
about on the shore than there have
been before. l think things will come
to crisis before many hours have
passed. We have made out that men
keep coming and going behind that row
of six nuts facing the river, and I
should not be surprised if they are not
hard at work establishing a battery
there"
Presently two Malays. whom they
recognized as belonging to the rajah's
council. advanced to the edge of the
shore. which was but some 50 yards
away. One of them held a pole, to
which q white cloth was attached.
7 have q message from the rajah."
he shouted out. The captain sent for
the interpreter. and went to the side of
the quarterback.
THE rajah says that he does not
! want to have any more to say to you.
You want to take his country. He viii
not let you have il. and if yOu do not
go away in an hour he will sink your
ship"
Tell him." the captain said. that il
will be the worse for him if he tries it.
I came up here at his invitation, and
shall stay just as long as l please"
The two Malays retired. walking in a
quiet and dignified way.
The news soon ran through the ship
of the defiance that had been given,
and soon excited the liveliest satisfac-
ton. The men were shaking hands.
cutting caperS and indulging in much
Joking and laughing. Half an hour
/ later there was Il sudden uproar in the
town. Drums were beaten. horns
sounded, and the Malays by the river
ban speedily retired behind the huts.
You had better get the magazine
opened. Mr.. Ferguson, and everything
in readiness, but we won't beat to
quarters till they begin
The tumult on shore increased. and
soon a few shots were fired from behind
houses and walls, the balls whistling
overhead.
There won't he much of that" the
captain said. as he walked up and
down the quarterback. with the first
lieutenant. We have seen very few
guns among them. I should doubt If
there were hundred in that town
What there are We're no doubt captured
from trading vessels the scoundrels
have plundered and burned"
\ few minutes later the bamboos
forming the wall of the six houses.
where a hustle hal been observed. fell
outward, the lashings having been cut
by swarm of Malays. who, as soon as
the last fell. ran back, showing eight
brass cannon.
Beat to quarters. Mr.. Ferguson"
the captain said. quietly, and at the
first tap of the drum the sailors, who
had been expecting the order. ran TO
their stations AS they gained them
the little battery on shore opened fire
Although the distance was but 100
yards. only three OF the balls hit the
hull. the others passing through the
masts
Load with grape" the captain or
dered.
Captain Hugeson.' he said to the
marine officer will You place your
men on the poop, and tell them to open
fire as soon as the guns send the Ma
lays flying from their battery? I can
see that there are large numbers gath
cred round it. Mr.. Ferguson. will you
see that the guns are all laid on that
battery. When they are ready. fire a
broadside that viii clear the place at
once"
Two minutes later there was crash,
as the whole of the guns on the star
board side were discharged at the
same moment. The effect was tremen-
dous. and the storm of grape swept
away the whole of the buildings be-
meath which the guns were standing
Three of these were dismounted, and
not one of the men who had been
crowded around them remained on his
feet Numbers were seen running
away in all directions, and volley
from the marines brought several of
these down.
There is an end to the attack" the