Suddenly, at a bend in the stream, a glare of light was
seen ahead. Harry held up his hand, and passed the word down in
a whisper that just ahead the creek widened into a broad sheet of
water. The lieutenant stopped the gig by holding up his hand, passed
the order for the men to lay in their oars noiselessly, and told
the coxswain to keep in well under the bushes on the left hand
side; then he made his way forward, and joined Harry, telling the
men to pull the boat forward by means of the branches overhead
which were well within reach, but to avoid breaking even a twig.
In a minute or two the bow of the boat arrived at the end of the
screen of bushes, and a low exclamation broke from the lieutenant
and Harry simultaneously; they were looking out on to an almost
circular pool some two hundred yards in diameter. In the center
were moored six prahus. Two of them lay broadside on to the creek,
the other four were in a line behind these, and it seemed that their
broadsides were directed to the opposite side of the pool, for the
other two boats were in the way of their firing at the creek. They
were long, low vessels, rowing some twenty oars on each side. Each
carried a number of small brass guns, and they were evidently full
of men, for numbers could be seen on deck, and boats were passing
to and fro between them and a small village at the edge of the
pool.
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