CHAPTER XI

THROUGH THE CHINA SEA

Jack Clewlin now found himself in one of the busiest ports of the world, where the ships from the Far East and the Far West met in commercial rivalry, and he was delighted to perceive British colours flying above the Government buildings ashore. Yet the sight of the flag immediately aroused an intense longing, such as hitherto had not been experienced, to return to Stonewell, if only for a few hours, and the desire proved almost overwhelming, for he knew that the barque had now reached a British possession, from which England might be reached within a few weeks. The eight or nine thousand miles seemed insignificant when compared with the countless leagues of ocean traversed by the 'Silver Crown' and the 'Alert.'

'Ay,' he mused, 'and if I put the clock back by a few hours I can tell exactly what dear dad and my old school chums are doing. They seem very close now.'

During such reflections, however, he suddenly became aware that 'a floating chemist's shop,' as he put it, was close aboard, and on passing forward he met Readyman.

'Regular surgery smell, Master Jack,' the quarter-master said.

'It's camphor,' Jack replied; 'where does it come from?'

'That big Chinese junk, just anchored ahead of us,' Readyman replied. 'It's almost enough to knock you down, but very good for the head and lungs, I'm told.'

'Perhaps that is why all Chinamen are such keen bargainers,' Jack returned. 'She must be fairly loaded with it.'

'I should say so,' the quarter-master said. 'But look at the monstrous great stern. That's enough to send her scooting at ten knots, with the wind dead aft. They'll never build better craft.'

'At anyrate,' Jack added, 'she is like the ships in which Sir Francis Drake and Captain Hawkins captured many a good Spanish plate ship, long ago. I have read of their adventures, and seen pictures of the vessels.'

The unwieldy-looking junk was indeed vastly different from anything Jack had hitherto seen afloat. The huge wall-like stern, pierced with many windows, rose high above the forecastle-head of the barque, with the big rudder, looking like a semi-submerged dock gate, abaft of all.

Yet many such craft, larger and smaller, lay among British, American, French, Dutch, and Spanish ships in the harbour, since Singapore, which is situated on an island near the end of the Malay Peninsula, and at the western entrance of Malacca Strait, is the great port of call for vessels bound to the Far East, and its exports of coffee, spices, indiarubber, tin, and many other articles of commerce are considerable.

During the afternoon following the arrival of the 'Alert' at Singapore, a small outward-bound Dutch steamer passed so close that everyone on board was distinctly visible. Among those assembled on the quarter-deck Jack Clewlin recognised Kalli Lal.

'He must be going to Batavia,' the captain said. 'The rascal does not seem to recognise us. Wave your hand, Clewlin.'

The Malay, however, suddenly disappeared down the cabin stairs without acknowledging the greeting.

'You may be sure that he's up to some trick or other,' the old man observed, 'and does not wish to be known.'

The steamer headed away for the distant islands across the strait, and the incident was soon forgotten.

A few days later, however, it was recalled with startling vividness, and in a manner little expected.

Having received orders to proceed to Hong Kong, and filled her tanks and boats with fresh water and fruit, the barque set all her canvas; but while the hands--the Germans being sent ashore--were heaving at the windlass, a boat manned by British bluejackets was seen to be rapidly approaching. In the stern an officer waved the quarantine flag, as if to attract attention.

'I believe they are coming here,' the captain, who seemed much annoyed by the incident, observed. 'What can they mean? My vessel is perfectly clean.'

'Perhaps they mistake us for some other craft,' the mate said.

'"Alert," ahoy!' the lieutenant sang out. 'Pawl your windlass. I am coming alongside. Have a line ready.'

Captain Thorne expressed considerable annoyance at the interference; but when the stranger reached the deck the situation immediately assumed sufficiently serious proportions.

'Veer away on your cable again,' the officer ordered. 'Clew up and furl all the canvas. Should you disobey my commands, you will be followed and brought back.'

'By what authority do you issue them?' the skipper shortly inquired.

'By Her Britannic Majesty's Warrant of Detention,' was the curt reply, and producing it the lieutenant proceeded to secure it to the mainmast.

'What is the charge?' Captain Thorne inquired.

'Harbouring and assisting Malay pirates, headed by one Kalli Lal,' the other replied.

'Kalli Lal!' the skipper exclaimed; 'he acted as my pilot. We sheltered under what was believed to be an uninhabited island in Billiton Passage, but found we had sailed into the very midst of a hornets' nest. To escape with whole skins, I took the fellow on board. Of his followers I know nothing. What have they been doing, sir?'

'Seized and almost destroyed everyone on board a small Dutch steamer which left here a few days since,' the lieutenant explained; 'and but for the opportune arrival of a Dutch gunboat all hands would have been massacred. The skipper says he saw signals pass between you and Kalli Lal when he passed.'

'I will go with you,' Captain Thorne replied, 'and will take my second officer and the apprentice. They can corroborate my statements.'

The barque was re-anchored, all her canvas was stowed, and, leaving Mr. Sennit in charge, the 'prisoners' were conveyed to the British wardship then in port. The Dutch consul had also arrived.

After explanations and some discussion the court adjudged the 'prisoners' free of blame, but at the same time expressed a hope that greater care in mixing with the natives should be observed.

'What more could I have done?' Captain Thorne sharply observed. 'We were at the mercy of those scoundrels, and thanked our stars when clear of them.'

It appeared that Kalli Lal and his followers had boarded the steamer, which was known to contain considerable specie for Batavia, and when surprised they made desperate resistance, till all were slain.

After this the Dutchmen turned their attention to the island community and its chief. The latter stoutly denied all knowledge of the affair, and being unable to bring any further charges of piracy against him the Dutchmen spared his life, but kept him close prisoner at Batavia.

Thus ended the strange adventure of Jack Clewlin among Malay pirates; yet he was not to quit that part of the world without another, but wholly different, experience of life in Eastern waters.

The moment Captain Thorne returned to his vessel orders to sail were issued. With a fresh but contrary wind the 'Alert' got under way, and throughout the remainder of that day beat up through the Malacca Strait for Hong Kong. Toward sundown the wind failed, and within an hour she was scarcely moving, while a small island loomed darkly five miles off the port bow.

From the forecastle-head Mr. Sennit reported the stealthy approach of what looked like two large canoes filled with men. Captain Thorne peered at them through his glasses, and believed that under cover of night the natives intended to attack the vessel, or, at anyrate, to steal whatever they could handle.

'They don't seem in much of a hurry, sir,' the mate said.

'Of course not,' the old man replied. 'They'll lie off on their paddles till midnight. They can always keep us in sight, and yet remain invisible. Anyhow, we are well-armed, Sennit, and should be able to hold our own.'

All the firearms were loaded with ball cartridges and served out; the old navy cutlasses and the dozen long spears were laid ready for service on the main hatch, while every light, save one small one in the compass binnacle, was put out. Lengths of hose were attached to the head pump, so that in case of assault the foe should be thoroughly drenched, and thus, perhaps, escape worse treatment.

'I think, sir,' Mr. Sennit observed, 'that we might also take the precaution of having the outer chain-plates well greased. Although the barque is high out of the water, those rascals are exceedingly active, and once they get a grip don't soon let go.'

'A capital idea,' the old man replied. 'There could be no harm in trying the effect, and it may prove advantageous.'

So the men set to work in the dark, smearing the outer iron-work, to prevent the pirates from boarding. All the while the vessel was becoming more and more hopelessly becalmed, and the vigilance was, if possible, redoubled.

The glasses of both captain and officers were in constant use. At every point of observation sentries were set, to announce the first approach of the enemy, and no one thought of going below, much less indulging in a smoke. The hours dragged heavily away, but there was no sign of attack.

'I expect a silent rush about midnight, Sennit,' the old man said. 'They know we are alone, and probably think that a sudden swoop will catch us napping.'

'And discover the mistake when too late,' the mate added.

Hour after hour the men, musket on shoulder, paced the deck, a keen lookout to port and starboard being maintained; but nothing of the canoes or their occupants could be perceived.

At last dawn began to show eastward. The adjacent island loomed weirdly above the thick morning mist, lying low on the water. As the light strengthened into good promise of another cloudless day, the lookout on the forecastle-head suddenly reported the two canoes within musket range, slightly off the port bow.

'Keep out of sight, men,' the captain whispered, as with Mr. Sennit he hastened forward, and flat on the deck peered through his glasses at the silent enemy.

'Let us give them a volley,' the mate whispered.

'No, no,' the old man replied. 'They must be the----'

The remainder of the sentence was never finished. With peculiar deliberation the captain closed his glasses, and sitting bolt upright looked fixedly at his companion.

'Why, they're nothing but the trunks of _two dead trees_!' he said.

'With the stump branches looking like men in the gloom last night, sir,' Mr. Sennit added. 'I'm sure they might have deceived anyone, and we were much closer than I supposed.'

'Let the port watch go below,' the skipper said. 'You all did your best, and we were ready for anyone. Can't be too particular hereabouts, anyhow.'

Whereupon all the weapons were returned to their stands in the fore cabin, brooms and hose were brought into use for the usual scrub down; but when the fellows got into the chains to clear away the grease, and beyond earshot of the captain, their remarks respecting that night adventure among Malay 'pirates' proved sufficiently amusing.

At anyrate, it was not long before a light breeze stiffened so quickly that the 'Alert' sped along in good style, and speedily left Malacca Strait and its numerous islands far astern.

'Now we're getting into the seas I have such good cause to remember, Master Jack,' the quarter-master observed. 'But for your dad I should certainly have left my bones in them long ago.'

'I do not want such a terrible experience as that, Readyman,' Jack replied. 'Are those typhoons frequent?'

'Well, sonny,' the old sailor returned, 'so far as my experience went they seem to come along several times a year. To be sure, all are not of the same violence. I think the worst are met during July or August; but we may not fall in with them at all. Anyhow, lad, you can never tell when they will come.'

'But the barometer would show that,' Jack said.

'Possibly; but they drive down without much warning.'

A few days later an amusing incident occurred. Early one morning the 'Alert' fell in with another barque, named the 'Speedwell,' bound for Hong Kong with rice, and presently overhauled her.

During an exchange of signals Mr. Statten noticed a large number of pigeons flying about the stranger, and as Captain Thorne had also purchased a few pairs of similar birds when at Singapore, he directed Jack Clewlin to let them out for a fly, without the least suspicion that such action would entail any unpleasant dispute between himself and his brother skipper.

The birds promptly rose on the wing in splendid manner, and on perceiving their friends to leeward went down there. The laughing stranger expressed his entire satisfaction and full determination to enjoy a first-class pigeon-pie for dinner that day.

'With pleasure,' Captain Thorne replied; 'we shall settle the account at Hong Kong.'

'Join me at one, sharp,' the other returned; 'regret not being able to supply a boat.'

'Pray don't mention it,' was the polite rejoinder; 'I expect to be in port about that time. We will tell them you're coming. I am afraid we have lost the birds, Statten,' he added.

Yet the remark was scarcely uttered, when up from the 'Speedwell' rose all her birds, led by the visitors, and having enjoyed a glorious flight through the sun-filled atmosphere, quietly alighted on board the 'Alert.'

Captain Thorne made no sign. Indeed, throughout the incident he had been 'luffing up' all he could to exchange compliments, but on suddenly discovering how the birds had themselves declined to become 'pie,' and that they had no intention of returning, he eased his helm, and with respectful dip of ensign left his dismayed brother mariner far astern.

'He's signalling, sir,' Mr. Statten exclaimed.

'Not another invitation?' the old man inquired.

The second mate hastily turned over the leaves of the signal-book, and, reading the numbers of the fluttering flags, explained their meaning.

'I shall have the law of you at Hong Kong.'

Captain Thorne laughed merrily. 'Invite him to dinner, Statten,' he said; 'turn about's fair play anyhow.'

And thus for the time the incident ended. When the 'Speedwell' arrived at her destination, and anchored near her late consort, the irate skipper immediately ran alongside, only, however, to be met by such a formidable array of long spears, old cutlasses, and worn-out brass signal guns, that he determined to defer the visit to a more opportune occasion, and proceeding ashore took out a summons against the delinquent captain for the return of his property.

Meanwhile Jack Clewlin had secured all the new birds, which were speedily returned to their ship, the result being that when called on for his defence Captain Thorne could truthfully affirm that he did not possess a single pigeon other than that purchased in open market.

'Not got them, sir!' the angry skipper shouted; 'I wonder how you can say such words. What has become of them?'

'Went back to your vessel this morning,' was the quiet reply. The court roared with laughter.

'Come and dine with me,' Captain Thorne observed, as his late accuser passed out of court; and down the street both men proceeded arm-in-arm, each chatting as merrily as though nothing had arisen to occasion temporary misunderstanding.