Dr. Horsley was also to
accompany them. Some cartridges were made up with powder and musket
bullets for two of the brass guns captured, in order that, if the
Malays succeeded in landing, they might meet with a hot reception.
It was decided that no carriages should be taken for them, but that
they should be simply laid on the sandbags.
The party on shore had kept up a fire all day at the forest. The
yells of defiance which at times rose showed that the Malays were
in great force all round its edge. Towards evening all on shore
returned to the ship. As soon as it became absolutely dark, the
anchor chain was unshackled, and a buoy being attached to the end,
it was noiselessly lowered into the water. Then the screw began to
revolve, and the vessel gradually backed down the river. All lights
had been extinguished, and no sound from the forest showed that the
movement had been observed. A mile lower down the ship was turned,
the screw began to revolve more rapidly, and at half speed she ran
down to the junction of the two branches of the river, and steamed
up the other arm until within half a mile or so of the village at
the mouth of the creek. Then a light anchor was let go, the boats
were lowered, and the landing party took their places in them; the
oars were all muffled, and keeping close to the right bank of the
river, they rowed up until past the village, and then crossing,
entered the mouth of the creek, and rowed up it until they reached
the spot where the landing had been effected on the previous night.
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