“No, Pete, of course not,” whispered Archie, though there was no need, for the noise and tumult would have drowned his words even had they been spoken aloud.
He raised the boughs, but nothing was to be seen, for the bungalow was hidden by the smoke and mist now being borne by the faint breeze of the coming daylight in their direction. But he could make out enough to determine that an attack must have just commenced upon the mess-room and its surroundings, while, in spite of the stillness in that direction, the lad could gather that the defenders must be still holding their own.
A sudden sharp rustling and movement of the boat made Archie turn sharply.
“Don’t say nothing, sir,” panted his companion, whose voice sounded as if he had been running hard. “I couldn’t bear it no longer, sir. I was being smothered. Can’t you hear, sir? They ain’t cheering, but our chaps is at work with the bay’net.”
“Yes, yes, I hear,” said Archie hoarsely.
“Well, sir, we are close inshore, and with a sharp run we could get in and help.”
“But it would be madness, Pete, to try and land with Miss Minnie now.”
“Who wants to land with Miss Minnie, sir?” cried the lad fiercely. “She’s safe here. You tell her to lie low, and say that what’s his name is to pull up his anchor and run her a bit lower down, or across the river out of danger till all’s safe again.”
“Impossible, Pete. We are almost unarmed, and it would be like forsaking the poor girl at a time like this.”
“What you talking about, sir? Here’s two of us, and there’s our poor chaps dropping before these niggers’ spears. Come on, sir! I must speak, for I feel it’s our duty to be there.”