Stan Lynn Part 61

"Then we can't be ready for them this time, Stan," said Uncle Jeff.

"Never mind; put your paper away, and we'll prepare for our visitors.

We'll take it out again and finish it when they have gone."

The evil news was unexpected; there had been no warning giving time for preparation, and upon further inquiry it proved that the enemy were not coming slowly down the river, plundering villages on their way, but were making straight for the _hong_, bent upon revenge.

Every one there felt this, and knowing full well the mercilessness of the foe, all set to work in desperate earnest. There was no time for building up the outwork of chests and bales, but Stan declared that to be of no consequence, for all it did on the last occasion was to delay the enemy for a while, and when they did make a rush it did more harm than good, as it provided shelter for the attacking party, close up to the warehouse, from which they could a.s.sail in security, as well as supplying a platform from which to hurl the stink-pots.

"But it must have been a splendid place from which to fire," said Uncle Jeff.

"Yes, uncle; but it was horrible when the a.s.sault came, and I was in doubt as to whether we could all get in and close up the two doors."

"Oh yes, let it go," said Blunt glumly. "I hated the place. Didn't I get shot down there? Don't speak up for it, Mr Lynn. We can barricade all the lower windows and the doors, and be all shut in here safely before the enemy can land, while all our fighting can be done from the first floor, quite out of reach of their spears."

"I give up," said Uncle Jeff; and he worked hard with the rest in securing all the lower windows, and holding planks for the Chinese carpenters to screw up, before wedging up the windows with a lining of tea-chests.

The doors were blocked up as on the previous occasion; water-casks were got on to the upper floor, as well as placed in the lower, and an ample supply of the fire-quenching element brimmed them, as well as every bucket that could be obtained.

There was plenty of time for this, the labour that would have been bestowed upon the outwork being utilised here in strengthening the keep, as Uncle Jeff called it, and making it as secure as it was possible to be.

There was a curious look in Blunt's eyes as he opened the cartridge-boxes and placed a couple of them on tables and chests in the lower floor, as far apart as he could to be handy.

"I haven't forgotten my dreamy fancy about the stink-pots rolling down the stairs, Lynn," he said. "If one should come and by any strange accident fire one box, I'm not going to have that set off the rest."

"But suppose a burning pot did happen to fall into an open chest of cartridges," said Stan, "what would happen?"

"I never had the ill-fortune to be by when such an event occurred," said Blunt rather sarcastically, "but you may depend upon it something would."

"Well, I know that," cried Stan; "but what? Cartridges wouldn't go off like so much loose powder."

"Of course not."

"What I want to know is, would they go off one at a time?"

"There's only one way of knowing for certain, Lynn: stand by and watch."

"But the cartridges couldn't do much mischief unless one stood opposite to the bullet-ends."

"I shouldn't like to try, my lad. It seems to me that, according to how the cartridges are packed, one would have to undergo the fusillade of what would seem like so many tiny guns, each loaded with a conical bullet; and I think we shall spare no pains to keep fire away."

"How are you getting on here?" said Uncle Jeff, coming up, wiping his wet brow.

"Oh, pretty well, sir," replied Blunt. "I have been arranging the other cases ready for supplying the men's bandoliers when empty, and your nephew and I have been discussing what would be the consequences if a fire-pot came down into an open case."

"Never mind discussions now," said Uncle Jeff. "I want to know if there's anything more that I can do to strengthen the upper works."

"I'll come round with you now," said Blunt.

"Come along, then.--Come too, Stan, my lad.--But let us have a word with the lookout man."

They pa.s.sed out through the nearest doorway to hail the watch, which once more proved to be Wing, who this time was keenly on the alert, and ready to announce that the enemy were not yet in sight.

"What a change!" said Uncle Jeff as he paused upon the wharf to look round. The scene was the same as he had gazed upon when seated at the table with Stan making plans; but the river was deserted, every boat being hurried away in panic as soon as the coming danger was known.

The little party turned in again, noting that the planks and chests for s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g up and barricading the door through which they pa.s.sed were ready for use as soon as the necessity came. The other door had already been closed up, after the last window.

A visit then to the upper floor showed everything in readiness for receiving the attack, and nothing was left but to wait; while, the last shades of evening showing no sign of the approaching enemy, it was concluded that no attack need be expected till morning.

"They are bound to be some hours coming down after being sighted," said Blunt.

"Of course, with the river winding as it does; but we'll be ready all the same. I say, though, Blunt, is there any possibility of an attack being made from the sh.o.r.e?"

"I don't think so," was the reply; "but we'll be prepared all the same, every one sleeping with his arms by his side. But it would mean a tremendous march along dikes and through swampy paddy-fields. No, I do not think it is likely. The enemy are boatmen, and do not care to tramp."

"Then you can feel safe for some hours," said Uncle Jeff.

"Yes, quite safe till dawn."

"Then I vote for every one getting as good a sleep as possible before then, so that we may be in good fighting trim by the morning."

"Sleep, uncle!" cried Stan. "Who could possibly sleep at a time like this?"

"I could, and will if I have the chance. I want steady hands for aiming to-morrow."

"You had better sleep, sir," said Blunt. "Lynn here and I will divide the watch between us."

"No," said Uncle Jeff; "I don't mean to be left out in the cold. I shall divide the watch, taking one-third. You're weak, Blunt, so you and Stan go and lie down. In three hours I'll wake Stan, and he shall have his three hours' watch and then come and rouse you. Then you ought to be fresher and stronger. There! no arguing; I'm going to be master over this. You send all the fellows off but two to keep watch with me, and do so at once."

Uncle Jeff's tones endorsed his words, being masterful in the extreme.

Very shortly after the great building was silent as could be, and the only sounds that broke the night were the cries of distant wild birds, the splas.h.i.+ngs of feeding fish, and the steady tramp of the chief watcher. His big burly figure loomed up as he walked to and fro along the paved wharf, his two companions preferring to pa.s.s their time whispering together, straining their eyes for any dark, shadowy vessel that might come stealing down the river, the subject of their discussion being the desperate fight through which they had gone so short a time before, while they wondered what would have happened by that time the next night.

The three hours pa.s.sed away, and to the minute Uncle Jeff sent his companions to rouse Stan and the two men who were to take their places.

Three more hours pa.s.sed, and in turn Stan sent one man to rouse up the two next sentries and went himself to awaken Blunt.

"Yes, Lynn; all right. Hah! I've had such a sleep. What of the night?"

"All calm and still. It's getting misty now, though, and a bit chilly."

"That means a greatcoat for this poor weak invalid. There! turn in and have another sleep till breakfast-time."

Stan did not stop to enter into any discussion, but the moment he had seen the manager take his place with his followers he threw himself upon the rough couch so lately vacated, and dropped asleep at once.

The next minute he was awake again, or so it seemed to him, to find Blunt's hand upon his arm.

"Up with you," he said, "and help to rouse the rest. Every man is to go to his station without a sound."

"Are the enemy upon us, then?"

"No," said Blunt shortly. "You said it was misty, and that has gone on, till the river is covered by a white fog so dense that it looks as if you could cut it. You can see nothing half-a-dozen yards away, and I was wondering whether it would disperse when the sun rose, when Wing came close up behind me. 'See, misteh?' he whispered, and he pointed down the river into the thick white fog. 'No,' I said. 'What is it?'