Then we will at once land a very strong
party, land also two twenty-four pounders, and drag them to the
pool. We might hope to do so without any opposition, for the Malays
would no doubt be gathered at the edge of the forest near the town
to repel any attack we might make from there, and before morning
we might have the guns in position. I should take a hundred empty
sacks. These you would fill with earth when you get near the pool,
and form a battery with them behind the screen of bushes; then,
when you are ready, you will cut down the bushes and open fire."
"I don't see why that should not succeed, sir. Of course the most
difficult part of the operation is dragging the guns. These native
paths are only broad enough for men in single file."
"Yes, that is the difficulty. We could not employ axes to cut down
the trees, and to saw them down would be an interminable work. I
think, Mr. Ferguson, we should have to carry them."
"I doubt if we could carry a twenty-four pounder, sir; but we might
carry an eighteen. They have bamboos of almost any length here,
and if we were to lash an eighteen pounder between two of them,
I should say that ten men each side ought to able to carry them,
while as many more might take the gun carriage."
"We will get some bamboos today, Mr.
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