“No, no,” panted the stowaway. “Boats! pirates! coming!”
“What! where?” cried Mark excitedly, as he looked in the direction pointed out; and as he did so Bruff set up the hair about his neck, and uttered a fierce and prolonged bark.
For there, just coming into sight beyond the point, was one of the long, low, peculiar-looking boats which the Malays call praus, boats which have been famous for ages as the means by which the fierce tribesmen made their way from place to place, killing and destroying ship and town wherever plunder was to be had.
“Down, Bruff! quiet, sir!” cried Mark. “Quick, every one! In amongst the trees!”
Mrs Strong and the major’s wife had hardly comprehended what was wrong before they were hurried in among the trees, Jimpny following, limping and still breathing hoarsely.
“I was up—up the side of the mountain,” he panted, “when I—I saw them coming. There’s three boats.”
“Three!” cried Mark, peering out from among the trees; and as he looked it was to see one prau clear of the point, and another coming slowly out into view.
“Do you think they saw us?” said Mary in a frightened whisper.
“No; not they,” said Mark. “They could not, unless they had telescopes and were watching; but ah! they’ll see that. Come along, quick!”
He led the way, taking upon himself the guidance of the little party in his charge, and together they hurried on through the trees to where the huts were erected among the trunks of the cocoa grove.