In a short time now all risk of further spreading of the fire was at an end, and the question arose, to be discussed by officers and non-coms, as to whether, as the Malays seemed to have retreated, something should not be done in the way of extinguishing the flames by bringing entrenching tools to bear and smothering them out with earth.
“No,” said the Major; “it will be useless toil. Let it burn out.”
“But the fire’s getting brighter, sir,” protested Archie.
“Well, sir,” said the Major peevishly, “that’s plain enough; you needn’t tell us that. What then?”
“We shall be having the enemy back directly, sir, and all of us standing out against the light as a mark for their spears.”
“Tut, tut!” exclaimed the Major. “How absurd! I had not thought of that. But, all the same, the explosion seems to have completely scared them away, for I don’t hear a sound. Do any of you?”
There was no reply.
“Yes,” continued the Major sharply.—“Here, Sergeant; half-a-dozen men, and spades. Do the best you can to smother the flames.—The rest take cover, for this can’t last. We shall have the enemy back directly.”
The Major’s directly did not prove to be correct, and while a careful watch was kept on the surrounding jungle and the little patches of fire that were flickering here and there amongst the trees, where goodly pieces of the woodwork had been cast by the explosion, a little meeting was held to discuss their position and the consequences of the catastrophe.
“You had all your ammunition stored there, had you not?” said the Doctor.