Among Malay Pirates | Page 8

negroes in some important particulars. To them our supremacy
would be an unmixed blessing; their products would reach the coast
untaxed, and they would obtain all European goods at vastly cheaper
rates. A minor benefit to be obtained by our supremacy is that our
sportsmen would certainly speedily diminish the number of wild beasts
that at 'present are a scourge to cultivators; the tigers would be killed
down, the elephants captured and utilized, and the poor people would
not see their plantations ravaged, but would be able to travel through
their forests without the constant danger of being carried off by tigers
and panthers, and possibly be able to cross their rivers without the risk
of being snapped up by alligators; though, doubtless, it would take
some time before this would be brought about."
"And when do you think that we shall be going up the river, Doctor?"
"That I cannot say. The Captain has been expecting orders ever since
we came here, six weeks ago; but possibly something may have been
learned of Sehi's characteristics, and there may be doubts as to the
expediency of taking under our protection a chief whose conduct
appears to be anything but satisfactory. On the other hand, it may be

considered that by so doing we may establish some sort of influence
over the surrounding tribes, and so make a step towards promoting
trade and putting a stop to these tribal wars, that are the curse of the
country."
"It would be an awful sell if they were to change their minds," Harry
exclaimed.
"I should be sorry myself, Parkhurst, for you know I am a collector. But
I can tell you that you won't find it all sport and pleasure. You will have
no cool sea breezes; there will be occasion for continual watchfulness,
and perhaps long boat expeditions up sluggish streams, in an
atmosphere laden with moisture and miasma."
"One expects some drawbacks, Doctor."
"You will find a good many, I can tell you, youngster. Still, I hope we
shall go up; and I think that we shall do so, for it will be the Captain's
report that will help the authorities to decide whether to appoint a
Resident there or not."
A fortnight later a small dispatch boat steamed in and the news soon
spread through the ship that the Serpent was to ascend the river on the
following day. All was at once bustle and animation. Sailors like
anything for a change, and all were impatient at the long delay that had
occurred.

CHAPTER III.
The gunboat was a large one, and carried two midshipmen besides
Parkhurst and Balderson, who were, however, their seniors. The mess
consisted of the four lads, a master's mate, the doctor's assistant, and
the paymaster's clerk. In the gun room were the three lieutenants, the
doctor, the lieutenant of the marines, and the chief engineer. The crew
consisted of a hundred and fifty seamen and forty marines; the Serpent
having a somewhat strong complement. She had been sent out specially

for service in the rivers, being of lighter draught than usual, with
unusually airy and spacious decks, and so was well fitted for the work.
The conversation in the junior mess of the Serpent was very lively that
evening. The vessel since her arrival on the station had made two runs
between Singapore and Penang, but those on board had seen but little
of the country, and were delighted at the thought of a possibility of
active service, and the talk was all of boat expeditions, attacks from
piratical prahus, of the merits of the bayonet and rifle opposed to kris
and spear, and of sporting expeditions in which elephants, tigers, and
other wild beasts were to fall victims of their prowess.
"You will find that you won't get much of that," the mate, who was
president of the mess, said, after listening to their anticipations of sport.
"I have been on the west coast of Africa and know what it is poking
about in muddy creeks in boats, tramping through the jungle, knee deep
in mud, half the crew down with fever, and the rest worn out with work
and heat. I can tell you it is not all fun, as you youngsters seem to think,
but downright hard work."
"Ah, well! any amount of work is better than standing here doing
nothing," Dick said cheerfully, for the mate was known as a proverbial
grumbler. He had been unfortunate, and, as is usually the case, his
misfortunes were in some degree due to himself, for he was fond of
liquor, and although, when on board, he took no more than his share, he
was often somewhat unsteady in his speech when he returned from a
run ashore; and although the matter was not grave