Still there was no sign of the prahus, and to the lieutenant’s great annoyance, he found that in the darkness they must have turned up the sluggish stream that flowed into the creek, and missed the continuation, which was probably masked with reeds.
He felt ready to stamp with vexation, but controlling himself he passed the word, and the boats backed down the stream, that in which the officer in command was seated naturally being the last of the three.
“Wouldn’t it have been better to have brought the Malays, sir?” said Bob.
“Yes, of course; but the cowards were afraid to come, my good lad,” said the lieutenant.
“There, sir,” whispered Bob again, “isn’t that firing?”
“If you say another word to me about your confounded firing,” said the lieutenant sharply, “I’ll have you gagged, sir.”
“I don’t want to talk about it, sir,” grumbled Bob, “but I’m sure there’s something wrong up yonder.”
“And I’m sure there’s something wrong here, Mr Roberts,” said the lieutenant, “and that’s enough for me to attend to.”
They went back in silence for some time, and then Tom Long, whose eyes were unusually good, pointed to a part of the reed-bed on the right.
“Is not that the continuation of the creek, sir?”