Then he roused the crew, and in less than two
hours afterwards they rowed alongside the Serpent. The captain was
greatly pleased with Mr. Ferguson's report.
"It is unlucky about that bar in the creek, otherwise we might have
taken the ship right into the pool, and fought it out with them
there. Still, it may be that this will be the best in the end, for
we could hardly have counted upon sinking the whole of them, and
once past us they would have been off like the wind; and though we
might have followed some of them, the others would have made off,
some one way and some another, whereas, by laying the vessel across
the mouth of the creek, we have a good chance of catching them
all as they come down. There is no doubt a lot more fellows have
arrived to help the rajah; we can see that there are a great many
more about on the shore than there have been before. I think things
will come to a crisis before many hours have passed. We have made
out that men keep coming and going behind that row of six huts
facing the river, and I should not be surprised if they are not
hard at work establishing a battery there."
Presently two Malays, whom they recognized as belonging to the
rajah's council, advanced to the edge of the shore, which was but
some fifty yards away.
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