“They have boats, too,” he continued. “They intend attacking us under cover of the darkness of the night, believing thereby they will avoid our rifles and musketry.”
“Just my opinion, Prabu. I will send a bullet among them to let them know we are prepared. If it knocks over one or two, it may deter them from coming, as they will have proof sufficient that the darkness is no great protection.”
“No, no, Sahib, not one charge must be wasted. They shall approach, aye, to within a dozen yards of the shore, for you will see that each boat will hold two or three men with torches, which will be lighted only as they are about to land and fall among us like so many demons.”
Prabu then posted the eight of us, including himself, along the earthworks, at intervals of about a dozen yards.
“Speak not a word, move not a limb, till you hear the report of my piece; then, taking a cool, steady aim, fire!”
With what breathless suspense I stood, with my rifle just resting upon the breastwork, endeavoring to peer through the darkness, for now there was no torch-light to be seen ashore. For an hour this lasted—no sound save the rustling of the wind or the gentle lashing of the waves—when there came upon my ears a slight, dull noise as of the dipping of muffled oars. Prabu must also have recognized it, for, stepping softly along the little line of men, he whispered his orders.
“Steady! they are coming! Fire not till you hear the report of my piece.”
Then all was silent—motionless as death. The invaders had rested upon their oars, the better to prepare themselves, perhaps. But a few minutes, and again the sound of measured strokes. They appeared near, nearer, still nearer; then a whispered word of command, followed by the click, click of flint and steel, and six or seven torches were blazing and exposing to view the swarthy bodies of our opponents. It was enough—the loud, sharp crack of the rifles of Prabu and six others was followed by a howling as from a thousand demons—a noise one could scarcely have imagined out of pandemonium. Each shot must have told, too; for the but recently advancing boats immediately fell back into the middle of the channel, and their crews extinguished the lights.
“Marvelously well done! After that they won’t return to-night,” said I.
“Sahib,” replied Prabu, “reload—be prepared; they will be here again directly.”