He was right, apparently, for immediately the frigate’s head sails were seen shivering in the breeze, and slowly coming about, she stood towards us on the other tack. The other prows discovered her at the same moment that we did, and were now pulling away as fast as their crews could urge them through the water. The frigate, as she approached, began firing from her foremost guns. Had one of her shots struck us between wind and water, it would have sent us to the bottom. As to the prows escaping, it seemed scarcely possible. Still the Malays held on, tugging desperately at their oars. While some of the crew were rowing, the rest were employed in examining the priming of their muskets and feeling the edge of their swords, while a low conversation was carried on among them.
“I do not quite like what they are saying, sir,” said Smith to me. “As far as I can make out, they are vowing to Allah, that if the frigate comes up with them they will knock us all on the head and blow themselves up. They are in earnest, I am afraid, for I know their people have done the same sort of thing before now.”
“Tell them,” I said, “that as they have treated us so well, that if they will haul down their colours we will use our influence with the captain of the ship to have them set at liberty. Tell them we think she is the ship we belong to, and that if they are wise men they will follow our advice.”
Smith, knowing pretty well that our lives depended upon the way he might put the matter to the old chief, began to address him slowly. Gradually he grew more energetic and warm. While he was speaking a shot came flying close by us, carrying away the greater number of the oars on one side. Escape now seemed impossible. Again we urged our advice. The chief seemed unwilling to follow it.
“Ask him if he hasn’t got a wife or two and a few young children at home who would like to see him again,” said Brady to Smith. “Tell him at all events we have, and if he’s a wise man that he will live himself and let us live. Faith, it’s a little exaggeration as far as some of us are concerned, but if it excites the old gentleman’s commiseration, sure Father O’Rouke would absolve me for that as well as a few other lies I have had to tell in my life.”
Smith interpreted these remarks. The Rajah spoke to his crew. Directly afterwards the uninjured oars were thrown in.
“We have got your promise, then, young officer, that my people and I shall be uninjured, and shall be allowed to go free?” said the chief.
“Yes,” I answered, “I fully believe if that frigate is the one to which we belong, that the captain will carry out my promises.”
On this the chief briefly addressed his crew.
The frigate, understanding apparently that we had given in, ceased firing, and directly afterwards hove to. There was just time to lower a boat, when again she stood on in chase of the other prows. The moon was now shining brightly, and by her light we saw a boat approaching us. In a few minutes she was alongside, and her crew, led by an officer, sprang on board. I thought I recognised Oldershaw’s figure. “They have given in,” I shouted out, “and we have promised that you would spare their lives and let them go free.”