The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-24


it was, crawled cautiously from hut to
hut
'HThat fellow we saw today may
| come at any moment" he said. ''1f
! one of you see him coming, the other
must place himself close TO the door.
ard, if he enters, throw himself upon
| him and hold his arms tightly till the
others come up to help. Keep your
rope handy to twist round him, and re-
member these fellows are like eels.''
Having made the round, he returned
l u the hut that he and Harry occupied
which was in the center of the others.
! Half an hour later, they heard q sud-
! den cutlery from the hut next to them,
and, rushing in, found two men there
! struggling with a Malay. With their
aid the man was speedily bound; then
the men were called from the other
hutS, and the whole party ran down to
the waters edge, and Harry hailed the
ship. boat put off at once, and they
were taken on board. The prisoner
was taken to the captains cabin, and
there examined, through the medium of
the interpreter He refused to answer
any questions, until, by the captain S
orders, he was taken on deck again and
a moose placed round his neck, and the
interpreter told him that, unless he
spoke, he would be hauled up to the
yards arm. The man was still silent.
Tighten the strain very gradually, -
the captain said. Two sailors were hold
him two or three feet above the deck.
and then, when. the doctor holds up his
hand, lower him at once again
This was done. The man, though half
strangled, was still conscious, and on
the Moose being looSened, and SOh Hay
saying that unless he spoke, he would
be again run up, he said, as soon as he
iC hn
any question. On being taken to the
cabin, he said that the prahu had gone
down the river, and had assembled the
ether arm. 1t had only gone a mile or
two above the town. for It had been SO
injured that there had been difficulty
in keeping her afioat, and it was nee
esSary to run her into a creek in order
to repair her before going up farther.
Half an hour later steam was up and
before morning the Serpent lay off the
mouth of the creek which the Malay
pointed out as the one that she had en-
tered. The second officer was by this
time placed in command of the boats,
he himself going in the launch. The
third officer took the first cutter, the
two midshipmen the second. No time
was lost in making preparations, for it
was desirable to capture the prahu be-
fore they were aware that the Serpent
had left its position in the other river
For a mile the boats rowed up the
creek, which narrowed until they were
obliged to go in single file. 1t widen
ed suddenly, and as the launch dashed
through. a shower of balls tore up the
water round her; while at the same
moment a great tree fell across the
creek, completely barring their retreat
and narrowly shaving the stern of the
midshipmen's boat, which was the last
in the line. Fortunately the launch
had escaped serious injury With a
shout of ''treachery,' Lieutenant Hop
kins drew his pistol to put a ball into
the head of their guide, but as he did
so, the man sprang overheard and div
ed towards the shore.
Row. men, we have all our work
cut out for us. There are three prahus
ahead; steer for thc~senter one, cox
swain"
With a cheer the men bent to their
oars and dashed at the prahu which,
as was evident by patches of plank
freshly fastened to her side, was evil
IDENTIFY the one that had before escaped
them.
Follow me- the lieutenant shouted
to the boat behind; we must take
them one by one" The three boats
dashed at the pirate craft, which was
crowded with men, regardless of the
fire from the other two vessels. The
launch steered for her stern, the first
cutter for her bow, while the mid
shipmen swept round her, and boarded
her on the opposite side. A furious con-
test took place on her deck, the Malays
being so confused by being attacked
at three points simultaneously, that
the midshipmen's party were enabled
to gain a footing with but slight re-
sistance. The shouts of the Malays
near them brought many running from
the other points, and the two parties
gained a footing with comparatively
little loss. Then desperate struggle
ensued: but the Malays were unable
to withstand the furious attacks of The
British, and ere long, began to leap
overheard and swim 10 the other craft, |
which were both coming 30 their aid.
The launch's gun had not been fired, /
and calling to Dick, Harry leaped !
down into the boat The two midship- /
men trained the gun on the nearest |
prahu, and, aiming at the water line, /
fired it when the craft was within 20 (
feet of them. 4 moment later it's inn
Detus brought it against the side of the /
launch. which was crushed like an egg
shell between it and the captured pra-
lU, the two midshipmen Springing on /
board just in time. 1t was tie Malays |
turn to board now. that Of the British |
to beat them off. For a time the situa-
ion was well nigh desperate; the mus
kerry OF the sailors and marines tenn
oorarily kept the Malays off, but they
;trove desperately to gain a footing
IN SOard their consort, till suddenly a
oud cry was heard, and the craft into
which the midshipren had fired sank
A loud cheer burst from the
British. The two midshipmen were en-
gagged with the other pirates from
whom a cry of dismay arose at seeing
he disappearance of their friends.
Nov lads, follow me-" Harry shout
raft away. Followed by a dozen sail
)rs, they leaped on to her deck; the
others followed their example, but the
Efforts of the Malays succeeded in
Trusting the vessels apart. In vain the
and their followers fought
desperately. Harry was felled by
blow with a war club, Dick cut down
With a kris; half the seamen were
killed, the others jumped overheard and
'wam back to their vessel. Lieutenant
hopkins shouted to the men to take to
he boats. and the two cutters were
speedily manned. One, however, was
n sinking condition, but Lieutenant
hopkins with the other started in pur-
uit OF the prahu, whose crew had all
eady got their oars out and in spite
4 the efforts Of the sailors, soon. left
hem behind. Pursuit was evidently
lopeless, and reluctantly the lieuten-
mt ordered the men to row back. A
ew minutes later the captured prahu
vas in mass of flames; the boats