“Help! Help!” It was Jack’s voice from the fort and was instantly recognised by Billy.
But by this time the men about the fire, headed by ‘Bully’ Broom, were on their feet. There was no time for them to get their weapons, which had been left inside the fort so that they would not rust in the damp night air. The battle was a brief one, although some shots were fired, none of which, in the excitement, took effect.
Billy, by a clever ruse, brought the engagement to a speedy termination. In the midst of the fight he turned toward the cliff and then raising his voice as if summoning help, he shouted:
“This way, captain. Bring that company up here. Let the others guard the river.”
“Get out of here, boys,” roared Broom, completely taken in. “I’ll settle with you later on,” he cried, shaking his fist as he turned and followed the rout of his followers, who, imagining they were being pursued by great numbers, made off at top speed for the jungle, which soon swallowed them up.
CHAPTER XXXI.—THE JOURNEY RESUMED.
“Thank Heaven that is over,” said Mr. Jukes, as he sat on an old bench in the fort after he and Jack had been released. “You may depend upon it that I shall not forget the part that Salloo and all of you played in our rescue.”
It was some two hours after the “battle,” if the rout of the rascals who had captured Mr. Jukes and Jack could be termed such. The kidnappers’ larder had been ransacked and a good meal enjoyed by all hands, especially, as may be imagined, by the two captives who had been without food for almost twenty-four hours.
Donald Judson, looking hang-dog and abject, was huddled on a bench in a corner of the room. He had been picked up after the fray, having shammed insensibility to avoid being injured, and was easily captured by the victors.