It widened suddenly, and as the launch dashed through, a shower
of balls tore up the water round her; while at the same moment a
great tree fell across the creek, completely barring their retreat,
and narrowly shaving the stern of the midshipmen's boat, which was
the last in the line. Fortunately the launch had escaped serious
injury, and with a shout of "Treachery," Lieutenant Hopkins drew
his pistol to put a ball through the head of their guide, but as
he did so, the man sprang overboard and dived towards the shore.
"Row, men; we have all our work cut out for us. There are three
prahus ahead; steer for the center one, coxswain."
With a cheer the men bent to their oars, and dashed at the .prahu
which, as was evident by patches of plank freshly fastened to her
side, was one of those that had before escaped them.
"Follow me," the lieutenant shouted to the boat behind; "we must
take them one by one." The three boats dashed at the pirate craft,
which was crowded with men, regardless of the fire from the other
two vessels. The launch steered for her stem, the first cutter
for her bow, while the midshipmen swept round her, and boarded her
on the opposite side. A furious contest took place on her deck,
the Malays being so confused by being assailed at three points
simultaneously that the midshipmen's party were enabled to gain a
footing with but very slight resistance.
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