Just then Adam Gray saluted the lieutenant.
“Will you be good enough to have me set ashore now, sir?”
“Set you ashore, my man?” replied Lieutenant Johnson, “Why, you had better wait till night.”
“I ought to get back with your message, sir.”
“Wait a little while, and perhaps I can run you round to the other side of the island.”
Gray, now that he had somewhat recovered, was eager to get back, but he could not quit the ship without the lieutenant’s consent, and hence he waited patiently for the required permission, watching the steamer’s sails drop down one by one, and fill and flap as the breeze rose and fell.
Now and then a dusky face could be seen amidst the palm-trees watching their proceedings, but it disappeared directly, and the clothing of the vessel with canvas went on without interruption, till pretty well every stitch was set save a studding-sail or two. Then a puff of hot air came, and the steamer bent well over, the sails being so trimmed that the vessel’s course would have been astern had she shown any disposition to move; but though the steam was on full, and the men brought the capstan to bear on the cables, she did not budge an inch.
“Here, my lads, back with these guns,” said the lieutenant; and for the next half-hour the men were busy replacing the heavy guns, when Ali, who since his escape had been remaining in sanctuary upon the steamer, suddenly gave the alarm.
“A prahu coming down,” he exclaimed, running to the lieutenant and catching his arm, pointing out as he did so something moving round a reach of the river, and seen now and then where the growth was thin.
“Two prahus coming up stream,” reported one of the look-out men.