No more attempts were made to cut away the boat, and Mr Gregory’s piece became silent; but it soon grew evident that a fresh attack was to be made upon them, for the crashing and shivering of glass was heard in the sky-lights, and directly after, heavy blows from an axe. This was soon followed by the appearance of an opening through which a spear-head gleamed as the weapon was darted down so adroitly that it passed through the fold of the boatswain’s trousers, and pinned him to the table on one side of which he too leant.
The answer to this was a shot from Morgan’s revolver, and another from the gun the boatswain held, after which he proceeded leisurely to wriggle out the spear and draw it away.
Then more blows were heard, and a fresh hole was made in the sky-light defence, but the spear thrust down more than met its match, and after a shot or two no more blows were delivered there.
By this time the Malays had grown less daring, and though a man or two rushed forward now and then to dart a spear at them, there was a cessation of the work of destroying with axes, and the sailors were able to keep command of the holes, and send a well-directed shot through from time to time.
But the encounter, badly as it had gone with the Malays, had had its effects among the defenders of the place. The major had an ugly gash in his left arm delivered by a knife-bladed spear. Billy Widgeon’s ear was cut through, and he had a slight prick in his right arm, while one of the other men had a spear stab in the left leg.
The withdrawal of the Malays from the attack enabled the injured to go into hospital as the major termed it, and each wound was carefully bandaged by the major’s wife or by Mrs Strong.
“They’re about beaten, I should say,” said the major, cheerily. “By the way, Strong, a little bleeding is very refreshing. I feel like a new man.”
“So do I,” said the captain grimly.
“Here, quick, look out!” cried Mark at that instant, for, wincing from seeing the dressing of his father’s wound, he had unscrewed one of the little side-lights and was looking over the calm sunlit sea, when he caught sight of a prau gliding along from the Petrel’s bows, and it was evident that she was coming to attack simultaneously from the stern.
“Hah! that’s it, is it!” said the major. “Hitting back and front too! Confound that fellow! how badly he steers the boat!”