“Yes, I know,” said the Major, as the firing increased. “Why, they’ve got muskets! There, Doctor, I felt that I must speak to you, and I am afraid you are going to have your hands pretty full.”
“But you should keep your men more under cover, sir,” said the Doctor pettishly. “Look! They are bringing in two more.”
“Under cover!” said the Major angrily. “Every fence, wall, and breast-work is occupied, and the men are holding the Residency according to orders. These poor fellows were speared at their posts.”
The Major hurried out, to busy himself with seeing that the various occupants of the place were provided with shelter in the officers’ quarters and the other buildings of the cantonments, the upper windows of which were occupied by the little force, with instructions to retire to the Residency, which was so situated that it would lend itself well to being treated as a sort of citadel in case they should prove to be hard pressed.
Fortunately for the defenders, as the night advanced the smoke from the firing hung low, prevented as it was from rising by a gathering river mist; and as not a light was shown in either of the buildings, the firing of the Malays from the sheltering trees and cultivated gardens of the station had little effect, while of the many spears that were thrown after the first attack was made, hardly one found a victim.
The men, in obedience to orders, were now firing only from time to time at the sheltering Malays, who kept on creeping up to hurl a spear in at a dimly seen open window, more than one not being sharp enough in jumping back, for his activity was checked by a bullet which sent him tottering for a few yards before falling heavily with a groan.
This had the effect of bringing the flash and heavy, dull report of the old, cast-off military muskets which the Malays were using; and as these weapons flashed, the defenders of the various buildings seized the opportunity to return the fire, guessing at the enemy’s position by the light.
Just about this time, when a loud yelling from the direction of the river suggested that a fresh party of the enemy were landing from boats, a dimly seen officer hurried through the darkness to one of the upper rooms.
“Who’s in here?” he cried angrily.
“Me, sir—Smithers, sir.”