"
CHAPTER X.
The next two days passed quietly. The lads were both a great deal
better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be
the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would
seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst
they could but be cut down in attempting it. No chance, however,
presented itself. Two Malays always squatted near them, and their
eyes followed every movement.
"Some time tomorrow the messenger will return," Harry said. "It
is clear to me that our only chance is to escape before morning.
Those fellows will be watchful till the night is nearly over. Now,
I propose that, just before the first gleam of daylight, we throw
ourselves upon them suddenly, seize their krises, and cut them
down, then leap on shore, and dash into the jungle. The night will
be as dark as pitch, what with there being no moon and with the
mist from the swamps. At any rate, we might get out of sight before
the Malays knew what had happened. We could either go straight into
the jungle and crawl into the thick bushes, and lie there until
morning, and then make our start, or, what would, I think, be even
better, take to the water, wade along under the bank till we reach
one of those sampans fifty yards away, get in, and manage to paddle
it noiselessly across to the opposite side, lift the craft out of
the water, and hide it among the bushes, and then be off.
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