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 TECHNOLOGY IN AC TION™

Intermediate
C Programming
for the PIC
Microcontroller
Simplifying Embedded
Programming
—
Hubert Henry Ward
 Intermediate
C Programming
for the PIC
Microcontroller
Simplifying Embedded
Programming

Hubert Henry Ward

Intermediate C Programming for the PIC Microcontroller: Simplifying
Embedded Programming
Hubert Henry Ward
Leigh, UK

ISBN-13 (pbk): 978-1-4842-6067-8 ISBN-13 (electronic): 978-1-4842-6068-5

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-6068-5

Copyright © 2020 by Hubert Henry Ward

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Printed on acid-free paper
Table of Contents
About the Author���������������������������������������������������������������������������������ix

About the Technical Reviewer�������������������������������������������������������������xi

Introduction���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������xiii

Chapter 1: Creating a Header File���������������������������������������������������������1

Creating a Header File������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������2
Creating a Project in MPLABX��������������������������������������������������������������������������3
Including the Header File�������������������������������������������������������������������������������18
Creating the Project Source File��������������������������������������������������������������������19
Creating a Global Header File������������������������������������������������������������������������23
The PICSetUp.h Header File���������������������������������������������������������������������������26
Analysis of Listing 1-1�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������28
Synopsis��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������46
Answer to Exercise����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������46

Chapter 2: Controlling a Seven-­Segment Display�������������������������������47

Controlling a Seven-Segment Display�����������������������������������������������������������������47
Common Anode Seven-Segment Display������������������������������������������������������49
Common Cathode Seven-Segment Display���������������������������������������������������50
Controlling the Display with the PIC��������������������������������������������������������������52
The Seven-Segment Display Program�����������������������������������������������������������53
The Listing for the Seven-Segment Display Program������������������������������������57
The Analysis of Listing 2-1����������������������������������������������������������������������������59

iii
Table of Contents

Improving the Seven-Segment Display Program�������������������������������������������71

The Problem with the Program����������������������������������������������������������������������71
Arrays������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������72
Using Pointers�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������72
Analysis of The Pointer Example�������������������������������������������������������������������73
The Improved Program����������������������������������������������������������������������������������74
Synopsis��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������79
Answers to the Exercises������������������������������������������������������������������������������79

Chapter 3: The 24-Hour Clock�������������������������������������������������������������81

The Seven-Segment Display�������������������������������������������������������������������������������82
The Algorithm for the 24-Hour Clock Using Seven-Segment Displays���������������82
The Initialization of the PIC���������������������������������������������������������������������������������86
Analysis of Listing 3-1����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������93
A 24-Hour Clock with the LCD Display��������������������������������������������������������������104
Analysis of the Header File for the LCD�������������������������������������������������������121
The Analysis of Listing 3-2��������������������������������������������������������������������������133
Improvements for the 24-Hour Clock LCD Program������������������������������������145
Using Switch and Case Keywords���������������������������������������������������������������������147
Analysis of the New Subroutine������������������������������������������������������������������149
Synopsis������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������151

Chapter 4: Creating a Square Wave��������������������������������������������������153

Why Create a Square Wave?�����������������������������������������������������������������������������153
Musical Notes���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������154
The Speed of the Simple DC Motor�������������������������������������������������������������������156
Pulse Width Modulation������������������������������������������������������������������������������������156
Creating a Square Wave with the PWM Mode���������������������������������������������������158

iv
 Table of Contents

Creating a 500Hz Square Wave�������������������������������������������������������������������������162

The Mark Time or Duty Cycle����������������������������������������������������������������������������164
Analysis of Listing 4-1��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������166
Creating Two Square Wave Outputs������������������������������������������������������������������169
Setting the Speed of a DC Motor�����������������������������������������������������������������������172
Driving the Motor����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������175
Creating a Three-Speed DC Motor Program������������������������������������������������������176
Using a Variable Input Voltage to Change the Speed of a DC Motor�����������������179
Analysis of Listing 4-5��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������180
Creating a Musical Note������������������������������������������������������������������������������������186
Creating the Middle C Note�������������������������������������������������������������������������������187
Creating a Musical Keyboard����������������������������������������������������������������������������191
The Analysis Of Listing 4-7�������������������������������������������������������������������������������194
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������196
Answers to the Exercises����������������������������������������������������������������������������������196

Chapter 5: DC Motors������������������������������������������������������������������������199

The Stepper Motor��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������199
The Servo Motor������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������209
Using the CCPM to Produce the Pulse Train Signal�������������������������������������210
Controlling the Positions of the Servo Motor with a Variable Resistor��������212
Improving The Servo Motor Program�����������������������������������������������������������215
The Algorithm for the Improved Program����������������������������������������������������216
Summary�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������223
Solution to the Exercise�������������������������������������������������������������������������������224

v
Table of Contents

Chapter 6: Interrupts������������������������������������������������������������������������225
What Are Interrupts?�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������225
The Fetch and Execute Cycle����������������������������������������������������������������������������226
The Program Counter����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������226
The Sources of Interrupts���������������������������������������������������������������������������������230
The Process for a Simple Interrupt with No Priorities���������������������������������231
Setting Up the PIC to Respond to the Interrupts������������������������������������������232
The PIE1 Register����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������237
The Algorithm for the Interrupt Test Program����������������������������������������������239
Compiler Software Version Issue�����������������������������������������������������������������240
The Analysis of Listing 6-1��������������������������������������������������������������������������243
Using the Compare Function of the CCP Module����������������������������������������������251
The Algorithm for the Compare Function�����������������������������������������������������253
The Analysis Of Listing 6-2��������������������������������������������������������������������������256
Using Priority Enabled Interrupts����������������������������������������������������������������������260
The Algorithm for the High/Low Priority Program����������������������������������������260
Analysis of Listing 6-3���������������������������������������������������������������������������������265
Explanation of How the High/Low Priority Program Works��������������������������270
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������272

Chapter 7: Frequency Measurement and the EEPROM���������������������273

Using the Capture Function of the CCP�������������������������������������������������������������273
Setting the CCP to the Capture Mode����������������������������������������������������������������274
What the CCP Captures in the Capture Mode����������������������������������������������������274
The Algorithm for the Frequency Measurement Program���������������������������������276
Example Frequency Measurement��������������������������������������������������������������������278
The Program to Measure the 500Hz Square Wave��������������������������������������������280

vi
 Table of Contents

Analysis of Listing 7-1��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������283

Using the EEPROM Inside the 18f4525�������������������������������������������������������������296
Analysis of Listing 7-3��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������304
Simulation of the EEPROM Program Using MPLABX�����������������������������������������312
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������314

Appendix 1: Some Useful Definitions������������������������������������������������317

Appendix 2: Mathematical and Logic Operators�������������������������������319

Appendix 3: Keywords����������������������������������������������������������������������321

Appendix 4: Data Types��������������������������������������������������������������������323

Appendix 5: The ASCII Character Set������������������������������������������������325

 ppendix 6: Numbering Systems Within

A
Microprocessor-Based Systems�������������������������������������������������������327
B
 inary Numbers������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������328
Converting Decimal to Binary���������������������������������������������������������������������������328
Converting from Binary to Decimal�������������������������������������������������������������������329
Adding and Subtracting Binary Numbers����������������������������������������������������������331
Subtracting Binary Numbers�����������������������������������������������������������������������������332
The Hexadecimal Number System��������������������������������������������������������������������334

Appendix 7:���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������337

 ppendix 8: The Frequency and Wavelength of the

A
Main Musical Notes��������������������������������������������������������������������������339

Index�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������345

vii
About the Author
Hubert Henry Ward has nearly 25 years of experience as a college lecturer
delivering the BTEC, and now Pearson's, Higher National Certificate and
Higher Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Hubert has a
2.1 Honours Bachelor's Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Hubert has also worked as a consultant in embedded programming. His
work has established his expertise in the assembler and C programming
languages, within the MPLABX IDE from Microchip, as well as designing
electronic circuits and PCBs using ECAD software. Hubert was also the UK
technical expert in Mechatronics for three years, training the UK team and
taking them to the Skills Olympics in Seoul 2001, resulting in one of the
best outcomes to date for the UK in Mechatronics.

ix
About the Technical Reviewer
Sai Yamanoor is an embedded systems engineer working for an industrial
gases company in Buffalo, NY. His interests, deeply rooted in DIY and
open source hardware, include developing gadgets that aid behavior
modification. He has published two books with his brother, and in his
spare time, he likes to build things that improve quality of life. You can find
his project portfolio at http://saiyamanoor.com.

xi
Introduction
This book looks at some useful aspects of the PIC microcontroller. It
explains how to write programs in C so that you can use the PIC micro to
control a variety of electronics and DC motors. After reading this book, you
will be well on your way to becoming an embedded programmer using the
C programming language.

The Aims and Objectives of This Book

The main aim of this book is to introduce you to some useful applications
of programming PIC micros such as

• Creating header files

• Controlling seven-segment displays

• Using an LCD display with two lines of 16 characters

• Pulse width modulation

• Using driver ICs such as the ULN2004A

• Controlling DC motors, including stepper motors and

servo motors

• Using every aspect of the Capture, Compare and PWM,

CCP module in the PIC

• Using interrupts

• Writing to the EEPROM

xiii
Introduction

The Objectives of This Book

After reading through this book, you should be able to program the PIC
to use all of the above. You should have a good understanding of some of
the advance programming techniques for PIC micros. You should be able
to download your programs to your PIC in a practical situation where you
have the ability to design and build some useful projects.

The Prerequisites
There are none really, but understanding the C programming language
will be useful. However, I will explain how each program works as we go
through them.
Also, if you understand the binary and hexadecimal number systems,
it will be an advantage but there is a section in the Appendix that will help
you with that.
However, to get the full use out of this book, you will need to install the
following software:

• MPLABX, which is the IDE from Microchip. The version

in the book is MPLABX Version 5.25. However, any
version later than 2.20 is OK.

• A C compiler for the 8-bit micro. I use XC8 (V2.10)

but with some programs I use XC8 (V1.35) compiler
software. However, you should be aware that some of
the later compilers are missing some useful libraries.
This is why I sometimes use version 1.35.

All of these programs are freely available from the Microchip web site.

xiv
 Introduction

Another useful piece of software is a suitable ECAD (electronic

computer-aided design) software program that supports 8-bit micros.
The ECAD software I use is PROTEUS. However, it is not free, so as well as
showing you how to simulate the programs in PROTEUS, I will show you
how to use a suitable prototype board to run the programs in a practical
situation.
If you want to go down the practical route, you will need to purchase a
programming tool and a prototype board.
The tools I use are either the ICD3 can (Microchip has now moved
onto the ICD4 can) or the PICkit3 programmer to download the programs
from MPLABX to the PIC.
The prototype board I use is the picdem2 plus DEMO BOARD and
a prototype board from Matrix Multimedia (although Matrix no longer
produces the more versatile board that I use).
This book was written based around using MPLABX V5.25.
However, the principles of how to create projects and write programs
are transferable to earlier and later versions of MPLABX. There may be
some slight differences in the details, but they shouldn't cause too many
problems.
The PIC that this book is based around is the PIC18F4525. This is a
very versatile 8-bit micro that comes in a 40-pin dual-inline package. As
long as the PIC you want to use has the same firmware modules, then the
programs in the book can easily be used on other PIC micros with some
minor modifications. However, you should always refer to the data sheet
for the particular PIC you use because some of the SFRs (special function
registers) may differ. For example, the PIC18F4525 uses the ADCON0,
ADCON1, and ADCON2 SRFs to control the ADC module but the 16F88
uses the ANSEL, ADCON0, and ADCON1 registers.
Throughout the book, I include program listings and I go through an
analysis of any new instructions that the listings introduce. With respect to
the first listing, I will assume that all of the instructions are new to you, the
reader.

xv
Introduction

Before we move into the book for real, I think it will be useful to you if
I explained a bit about what MPLABX is. It is an industrial IDE created by
Microchip. The term IDE stands for integrated development environment.
It is actually a lot of programs collected together to create a programming
environment:

• There is an editor, which is slightly more than a simple

text editor. However, in my early days, I used to write
my programs in Notepad.

• There is also a compiler program that converts your

program instructions from C to the machine code that
all microprocessor-based systems use. In the very early
days of programming, the programmers used to write
in this machine code. This was a bit before my time,
although in my early days, I wrote all my programs
in assembler. Assembler is the closet language to the
actual machine code that all micros use.

• There is also a linker program that will bring together

any include files that we wish to use in our projects.

• As well as these programs, there are a range of

programs that we can use to help debug our programs
or simply simulate them.

So this IDE is a very large collection of programs that make our job of
writing code much more efficient. Yet it’s free; well, I use the free version,
which is not as efficient as the paid version but it is more than good
enough for us.
I therefore hope that you not only learn how to program the PIC micro
but you also enjoy going through my book and that you produce some
useful projects along the way.

xvi
CHAPTER 1

Creating a Header File

In an effort to reduce the amount of text in the program listings and reduce
the amount whereby I simply repeat myself, let’s create and use a series of
header files. Header files are used when your programs use the same series
of instructions in exactly the same way in all your projects and programs.
In this book, you will create three header files. The first will be
concerned with the configuration words you write for your projects.
The configuration words are used to configure how the PIC applies the
essential parameters of the PIC. They have to be written for every project
and program you create. Therefore, if you are going to write the same
configuration words for all of your projects, you should use a header file.
The second header file will be associated with setting up the PIC to
use the ports, the oscillator, the timers, etc. You will set them in exactly the
same way in all of your projects, so it’s useful to create a header file for this.
However, in some projects you may need to modify some of the settings, so
be careful when using this header file.
The third header file you will create will be used if your programs use
the LCD (liquid crystal display) in exactly the same way such that

• The LCD is always connected to PORTB.

• The LCD uses just four data lines instead of eight to

save I/O.

• The RS pin is always on Bit4 of PORTB and the E pin on

Bit5 of PORTB.

© Hubert Henry Ward 2020 1

H. H. Ward, Intermediate C Programming for the PIC Microcontroller,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-6068-5_1
Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

• The LCD always increments the cursor position after

each character has been displayed.

• The LCD always uses 2 lines of 16 characters.

• The actual characters are always on a 5 by 8 grid.

If this is all true, you should create a header file for the LCD.
These are the three header files you will create in this book. There are
many more examples of when you should create a header file. The process
of creating and using header files makes your program writing more
efficient.
Header files can be made available for all of your projects, like global
header files as opposed to local header files. Local header files are
available only to the project they were created in.
Also, you can split projects up so that different programmers can write
different sections of the programs and save them as header files to be used
in all projects by all of the company’s programmers.

Creating a Header File

Now that I have explained what header files are and why you would use
them, let’s create one. The first header file you will create will be for the
configuration words that you will use for most of the projects in this
book. It will also give me the chance to go through creating a project in
MPLABX for those readers who have never used MPLABX before. The
version I am using is MPLABX V5.25. It is one of the latest versions of the
IDE from Microchip. Microchip is always updating the software, but the
main concepts of creating a project and writing programs do not change.
You will be able to follow the process even if you have an earlier version of
MPLABX or a later version.

2
 Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

Creating a Project in MPLABX

Assuming you have downloaded both the MPLABX software and the XC8
(V2.10) compiler software or XC8 (V1.35), when you open the software, the
opening screen will look like Figure 1-1.

Figure 1-1. The opening screen in MPLABX

The project window on the left-hand side may not be shown. If you
want it shown, you should select the word Window from the top menu
bar. Click the word Projects, with the orange boxes in front of it, and the
window should appear. You may have to move the window about to get it
in the position shown.
Now, assuming you are ready to create a project, you should either
click the word File, in the main menu bar, and select New project, or click
the orange box with the small green cross on the second menu bar. This is
the second symbol from the left-hand side of the second menu bar.
When you have selected the Create project option, you should see the
window shown in Figure 1-2.

3
Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

Figure 1-2. The New Project window

Most of the projects you will create are Microchip Embedded and
Standalone. Therefore, make sure these two options are highlighted and
then click the Next button. The Select Device window should now be
visible, as shown in Figure 1-3.

4
 Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

Figure 1-3. The Select Device window

In this window, you can choose which PIC you want to use. Select the
Advanced 8-bit MCUs (PIC18) in the small box alongside Family, as shown
in Figure 1-3. Then, in the Device window, select the PIC18F4525. The result
is shown in Figure 1-3. To make these options visible, you need to click the
small downward pointing arrow in the respective box. The different options
should then become visible. If the device window is highlighted in blue, you
could simply type in the PIC number you want, such as PIC18F4525. Your
selected device should appear in the window below.
If you are using a different PIC, select it here.
Once you are happy with your selection, click the Next button.
The next window to appear is the Select Tool window. This is shown
in Figure 1-4. With this window you can select the programming tool you
want to use to download the program to your prototype board. There are a
range of tools you can use. I mainly use the ICD3 CAN or the PICkit3 tool.

5
Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

However, if I am only simulating the program, I use the simulator option.

Note that the MPLABX IDE comes with its own simulations for the PICs
you may use. It also has a wide range of tools that allow us to simulate
and test programs within MPLABX all without having a real PIC. You will
use the simulator in this project, so select the simulator option shown in
Figure 1-4.

Figure 1-4. The Select Tool window

Having selected the tool you want, click Next to move on to the next
window where you can select the compiler software you want to use,
assuming you have downloaded the appropriate compiler software (see
Figure 1-5).

6
 Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

Figure 1-5. The Select Compiler window

You should select the XC8(V2.10) compiler software, although with

some later projects you will use V1.35, as shown in Figure 1-5. Then click
Next to move to the Select Project Name and Folder window shown in
Figure 1-6.

7
Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

Figure 1-6. The Select Project Name and Folder window

In this window, you will specify the name of the project and where you
want to save it. The software will create a new directory on your computer
with the project name you create here. It is recommended that you don’t
use long-winded, complicated path names for the new folder so I normally
save all my projects on the root directory of my laptop.
I have suggested a project name for this new project as
advanceProject1. Note that I am using camelcase, where two words,
or more, are combined together. The first letter of the first word is in
lowercase and the first letters of any subsequent words are in uppercase. In
this way multiple words can be combined together to make one long word.
As you type the name for your project, you should see that the folder is
created on the root drive, or wherever you have specified it should be. The
folder name will have a .X added to it.
It will be in this new folder that all the files associated with the project
will be saved as well as some important subdirectories that are created.

8
 Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

Once you are happy with the naming of the project, simply click the
Finish button and the project will be created. The window will now go back
to the main window, as shown in Figure 1-7.

Figure 1-7. The main window with the project created

You should see the project window at the left-hand side of your screen,
as shown in Figure 1-7. Note that you may need to move the window about
to get it the same as that shown in Figure 1-7.
Now that you have the new project created, you need to create a
header file that you will use in all of your projects in this book.
To create the header file, right-click the subdirectory in the project tree
named Header Files. When you do this, the flyout menu will appear, as
shown in Figure 1-8.

9
Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

Figure 1-8. The flyout menu for the new header file

From that flyout menu, select New. From the second flyout menu,
select xc8_header.h, as shown in Figure 1-8.
The window shown in Figure 1-9 will appear.

10
 Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

Figure 1-9. The name and location for the new header file

All you need to do here is give the file a name. I have chosen the name
conFigInternalOscNoWDTNoLVP as it gives a good description of what I
want to do in this header file, which is set these three main parameters of
the configuration words. Note the configuration words specify how you
want to configure and so use the PIC.
The main concern is that PICs have a wide variety of primary oscillator
sources and you need to tell the PIC which one you will be using. The
oscillator is the device or circuit that provides a signal from which the
clock signal, the signal that synchronizes the operations of the PIC,
is derived. I prefer to use the internal oscillator block as the primary
oscillator source. This saves buying an oscillator crystal. It also saves two
inputs that would be used if I used an external oscillator. This is because I
would connect the external oscillator to the PIC via those two input pins,
normally RA6 and RA7.

11
Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

The second major item I change is to turn off the WDT, which is the
watch dog timer. This is a timer that will stop the micro if nothing has
happened for a set period of time. This is a facility that you don’t want in
these programs, so you must turn it off. Note that the WDT is mainly used
in continuous production lines. In that situation, the fact that nothing has
happened for a set time usually means something has gone wrong so it’s
best to turn everything off.
The third item to turn off is the low voltage programming (LVP)
function. The low voltage programming affects some of the bits on
PORTB. Therefore, to keep the bits on PORTB available for general I/O, I
normally turn off the LVP.
So this explains the header file’s cryptic name. You should always give
your header files a name that relates to how you want to use the file.
Once you have named the header file, click Finish and the newly
created header file will be inserted into the main editing window in
the software. However, Microchip automatically inserts an awful lot of
comments and instructions that, at your level of programming, you don’t
really need. Therefore, simply select all that stuff and delete it so that you
have an empty file ready for you to insert the code that you really want.
Now that you have a clean file, you can control what goes into it. The
first thing you should do is put some comments in along the following
lines:

• You should tell everyone that you wrote this code.

• You should say what PIC you wrote it for and when you
wrote it.

• You should explain what you are trying to do with it.

12
 Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

There are two types of comments in C programs, which are

• Single-line comments: They start with two forward

slashes (//). Anything on the same line after the two
forward slashes is ignored by the compiler as they are
simply comments. For example,

//these words are just comments

• Multiple lines of comments or a paragraph of

comments: This is text inserted between the following
symbols: /* */. For example,

/* Your comments are written in here */

So insert a paragraph of comments as shown in Figure 1-10.

Figure 1-10. The comments for the header file

You should insert your own comments into the editor similar to those
shown in Figure 1-10.
You will notice that I changed the colour of my comments to black and
bold size 14. This is to try and make them more visible than the default
grey.
If you want to change the colour, you can do so by selecting the word
Options from the drop-down menu that appears when you select the
Tools choice on the main menu bar. You will get the window shown in
Figure 1-­11.

13
Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

Figure 1-11. Changing the font and colours

Click the tag for Fonts and Colours and then select what you want to
change. Once you are happy with your choice, click OK. I changed the
colour of the comments to black, as shown in Figure 1-11.
Now you need to create the configuration words for your header file.
As this is something you must do for all your projects, Microchip has
developed a simple process for writing to the configuration words. This
can be achieved using a special window in the MPLABX IDE. To open this
window, click the word Window on the main menu bar and then select
Target Memory Views from the drop-down menu that appears. Then select
Configuration Bits from the slide-out menu that appears. This process is
shown in Figure 1-12.

14
 Chapter 1 Creating a Header File

Figure 1-12. Selecting the configuration bits

Once you have selected the configuration bits, your main window will
change to that shown in Figure 1-13.

Figure 1-13. The configuration bits

15
 Another Random Document on
Scribd Without Any Related Topics
"Not so," shouted one of his men. "I myself strolled in that direction,
and I tell you that no living man could descend the rock on the
farther side unless possessed of a long rope. They are here, above
us, and we shall come upon them crouching in the bushes and
whining for their lives."
"Then forward!" cried the leader. "Let us make an end of them, but
remember, they are not to die here. For the trouble which they have
given us in thus climbing, for the loss of our friends, we must
demand of them a price, and they shall pay it. Before they take their
last breath they shall be sad at the thought that they did not fall in
with our wishes when first we called to them. But let us not delay.
Follow me!"
This time with kriss in hand he came clambering up the steep slope,
with eyes watching eagerly for some movement to tell him of the
presence of the fugitives. But there was not so much as the tremble
of a leaf, while not & sound broke the silence. A minute passed, and
just as the Malay was about to call for a second halt, convinced that
the birds were flown, a figure suddenly erected itself before him,
and, half-hidden by an enormous bush, reared a boulder on high.
Ah! The Chinaman took aim at his man with the utmost calmness,
and then, ere the poor wretch could spring aside, or could shout in
his terror, the mass of stone caught him on the breast and bore him
backwards. A second and he was rolling and pitching on his way to
the bottom, and even while his comrades were wondering how it
had all happened, and were marvelling at the sight of the Chinaman,
the unfortunate leader came with a thud on the bank of the river,
and, rolling forward for all the world like a rabbit which had just
been shot, came to a halt with face buried in the mud and limbs
which were strangely contorted.
Once more it looked as though the attackers would lose heart and
fly for their lives. But, emboldened by the thought that they had at
length located the enemy, they suddenly plucked up their courage
and, urged on by one of their number possessed of more spirit than
his comrades, they came panting and struggling up the steep slope,
determined to reach the lair of the Chinaman and wreak their
vengeance upon him.
"A Chinaman!" shouted the one in advance. "We will swing him to
the highest branch by means of his tail of hair, and we will spend the
day and amuse ourselves by emptying our guns at his body. Fear
him not, for he has boulders alone to hit us with, and those we can
avoid by spreading out. Scatter at once, and be sure that none of
you advance directly beneath the spot."
Acting upon this advice, and warned by the fate which had so
suddenly and unexpectedly overtaken their leader, the surviving
Malays at once separated till wide intervals lay between them, and
then advanced upon the wall behind which Tyler and Li Sung were
crouching, at a pace which promised to bring them to close quarters
before many seconds had passed.
"One little moment," gasped Li Sung, peering at them over the
barrier. "China boy soon stop de little game. He pick out de man who
am in front, and he send him to join him brother. Watch de sling,
massa."
With deft hand and unerring eye, which showed that he had spent
many an hour in practising the use of his weapon, Li Sung stood
erect and leant over the wall. Round swung the sling till it churned
the air into a high-pitched whistle. Then, as the finger loosed one of
the strings, the band fell limply upon his wrist and hand, while the
stone which had lain in the pouch flew down the side of the rock as
if it had been fired from a gun, and, as in the former case, struck full
upon the forehead of the Malay who had taken it upon himself to
lead his comrades. Like an ox felled with the stroke of a pole-axe he
collapsed upon the moss-grown path, and then, with nothing there
to retain its position, the limp and lifeless body slid downwards,
toppled over, and, gathering way as it went, rolled over and over till
its further progress was arrested by the bank beneath.
"That should stop them," exclaimed Tyler as he watched the body
fall, "and it was a capital shot, Li Sung. I watched him, and feel sure
that the stone must have battered a hole in his skull. But wait. Will
they go after all, or are they determined to come closer to us?"
Once again it was a doubtful point whether the Malays would retire
on the death of their comrade, or whether they would push up the
face of the rock and come to hand-grips with those whom they were
attacking. Indeed, it wanted very little to cause their determination
to waver and send them down to the bank, or to infuse fresh
courage into their hearts and cause them to dash headlong at their
enemies. They paused, looked doubtfully at one another, and then
turned to watch the body of the man who had gone to the bank
below. Then one of them happened to cast a glance across the river,
as if to measure the distance in case he wished to make good his
escape. Instantly his eye fell upon the three sampans which were
being rowed across, and realizing that they must contain
companions and brothers-in-arms who were coming to help, he
shouted a few words to his comrades.
"They will jeer at us," he cried, attracting the attention of all to the
approaching boats. "When they learn that there are only two on this
rock, and that we have failed to take them, they will bid us return to
Rembas and mind the children and the flocks! We must capture and
kill these beggarly Chinamen. Who will follow me?"
For a moment he turned to stare at his brothers, and then, with
flashing kriss in his hand, and eyes fixed upon the low wall with its
covering of bush, he came clambering up towards it, ready to leap
the obstacle as soon as he was near enough, and slaughter those
who lay behind. As for the others, stung to the quick by the thought
that their companions of Rembas would jeer and laugh at them, they
turned with desperation to renew the assault, determined to die
there rather than be dishonoured.
"We need not fear them greatly," said Tyler quietly, as he watched
them ascending, "for the rock is very steep, and we are placed at a
great advantage. Remember that we may have to fight hard for our
lives later on, and for that reason deal gently with the ammunition. I
shall make use of these boulders as long as possible."
Standing behind the barricade each selected a missile, Li Sung
twirling his sling aloft and sending stone after stone at the Malays,
while Tyler rolled huge boulders down upon them. But the pirates
had learnt their lesson, and as they came they took advantage of
every bit of available cover. Each hollow and nook held an enemy,
crouching out of range of the stones and boulders, and with eye
following every movement of the defenders. Waiting till they had
need to select another missile, the figure would spring from the
patch of cover and dart to another favourable spot higher up. And
thus, with the cunning and stealth of an Indian, they came closer
and closer to the barrier, till it wanted only a short rush to come up
with it.
"Revolvers and rifles!" said Tyler, seeing that stones were of little
avail. "We shall be able to pick them off, and you will see how
quickly they will scamper to the bottom. Look! there is the man who
called to them to encourage them! He is watching you with the sling,
and when you have let the stone go he will make a rush. Now, I
have covered him with the revolver, so you can fire."
Grasping his master's meaning immediately, Li Sung slung the
missile at the Malay, and then snatched at the second revolver. As he
did so the pirate leapt to his feet, and judging that he was now
sufficiently near to reach the wall, and would be upon the enemy
before another stone could be fitted, he came directly up the slope,
discarding the boulders and rocks which lay there, and which would
have afforded him cover. Snap! The report of Tyler's weapon set the
echoes ringing, while the heavy bullet which his revolver carried hit
the man plump in the chest, bringing him to an abrupt halt. There
was a shout and a shriek as the pirate felt the blow, and then,
summoning all his remaining power, he swung his kriss back over his
shoulder, and taking rapid aim at the Chinaman above, sent the keen
blade of steel hissing towards him. Next moment he had tumbled
back upon the ground, where, clutching madly at moss and bush, he
slowly slid to the bottom. As for Tyler, he had expected the man to
fall dead at once, and started back as the kriss flew in his direction.
But it was hopeless to expect to escape it, and ere he had time to
dodge to either side the point of the blade struck upon his fore-arm,
and, pressed onward by the weight of the metal, perforated the
limb.
"First blood to the enemy," said Tyler quietly. "A flea-bite which will
do me no harm, but which will teach me to keep an eye upon their
weapons. It was quickly done, and proved an excellent shot, made
under the most unfavourable circumstances."
"It am a velly lucky escape, massa," cried Li Sung, darting to Tyler's
side and removing the kriss. "Li havee seen one fine man hit in de
body, and de blade go right through him, so dat he fallee dead.
Massa one velly quick, and if him not move one little piecee him
dead too. Wait there while China boy ties up de aim. Nothing to fear
from de pirate."
Tearing a shred of linen from his coat, Li Sung rapidly applied it as a
bandage to the arm, thereby arresting the flow of blood, which
threatened to be free. Then he pointed triumphantly to the bank
below, where the remaining Malays were gathered.
"Dey velly angry," he said with a little snigger, the nearest approach
to a laugh which this son of the East would indulge in. "Dey not
knowee what dey do, and dey fear deir friends and what dey say.
Velly soon Li and de massa have to fight plenty hard."
The prospect of hard knocks and a desperate encounter seemed to
please Li Sung, for he beamed upon Tyler as though this was the
happiest day in his life. "Li havee been in nasty place before dis wid
de massa, and he knowee dat allee turn out right. Massa Tyler bring
him allee de way through de jungle, he lead Chinee boy and de
Dyaks to Paddi, and den to Sarawak with de prahus. But dat am not
allee. Him save Li when de water nearly cover him, and now him lies
beside him servant and helps him to make de Malays run."
"Then you think that we shall be hotly engaged before very long,"
said Tyler, staring down at the pirates below. "It seems to me that
we are cornered, and that we shall be lucky if either of us see the
Dido and Sarawak again. Not that we are going to be beaten easily,
for we have a splendid position, and will make the most of it. During
the day we can beat our enemies off, but at nighttime it will be a
different matter. Then they will creep to the top like so many snakes,
and before we can deal with them they will rush upon us. We shall
have to go once the darkness falls, and it becomes a question as to
how the retreat is to be carried out."
"Plenty easy to creep down de rock in de dark till near de bottom,"
said Li Sung thoughtfully. "De Malays climb up de hill, and we go
down. Dey not knowee, and we not knowee. Dey rush to dis wall
with deir krisses in deir hands, and massa and him servant slip away
in de dark into de jungle. Who am to stop dem?"
"A splendid idea, and one which we will follow," exclaimed Tyler with
enthusiasm. "The matter had troubled me very much, and I was
wondering what we could do, for I am sure that to remain here once
night has come will be to lose our lives. But this is a plan which will
meet the case. They will crawl here in the hope of falling suddenly
upon us, and we will slip down. If we meet, all the worse for our
plan, though I fancy that in the confusion we could make good our
escape. If not, we gain our object, and they reach this lair to find
the birds gone. Pick up your rifle, Li, and let us teach the rogues that
it is death to come close to the rock."
Determined to keep the enemy as far away as possible till evening
fell, Tyler and his companion disposed themselves upon the ground,
and with their weapons resting upon the piled-up boulders took
steady aim at the pirates. As the three boats arrived, and were
drawn up on the bank, they sent two bullets amongst the assembled
natives, with the result that a couple tumbled on their faces, while
the remainder separated with cries of indignation and surprise. But
they were not permitted to enjoy more than a moment's peace, for
very shortly another shot rang out in the still air, and a huge Malay,
who seemed to occupy the post of chief, and about whom the men
had been gathered, gave vent to a shriek, and, plunging forward on
the edge of the river-bank, went splashing headlong into the water.
"A long shot, but I gave a little elevation, and aimed for the centre
of his shoulders," said Tyler to himself. "That will give us breathing-
space. Now, Li, I am hungry, and, as we always say in England that
a man fights better when he has had some food, we will open that
bag and see what there is to eat. We can keep a watch upon those
fellows as we have our meal, and can plant a shot amongst them
whenever necessary."
It was wonderful to see the calm manner in which the two sat down
to their meal, the Chinaman contenting himself with some rice which
they had had the forethought to have boiled before setting out on
their expedition, and Tyler directing his attention to some biscuit and
meat, which formed part of their store. Of water they had none, but
that mattered very little at the moment, for they had been chilled by
their upset in the river, and, though hot, the sun had done little
more than warm them, without inducing thirst. But the lack of
something with which to moisten their lips made retreat from the
rock all the more essential, and as they ate they discussed the
matter eagerly.
"It is our only chance," said Tyler thoughtfully. "To remain here till
to-morrow will mean certain ruin, for we should be parched with
thirst, and then again, our ammunition will not last long enough.
That is why I have suggested keeping the enemy at bay now, and
making good use of our weapons. But there is a point which we
have not considered. Once we are down below, which direction are
we to take? Are we to steal one of their boats or make into the
jungle?"
"The last, massa," said Li Sung. "Den, later on, we steal down upon
de bank, and we take one of de sampan and sail for Sarawak."
"And what about our orders?" demanded Tyler with some warmth.
"After coming all this way, and being almost drowned in the river, I
am not going back with my tail between my legs and with no
information to give. Not a bit of it. I shall stay near Rembas and do
my best to spy upon them. Then, if you like, I will drop down to the
mouth of the river and wait there for the expedition to arrive."
"Massa am de chief, and he say what we do," said Li Sung, with a
shrug of his ungainly shoulders and a look of resignation. "If him say
dat we go and be killed, Li havee to obey. But me not likee dis stay
in de river. Me plenty much afraid."
"Then you are a foolish fellow," exclaimed Tyler angrily, for he was
determined not to be thwarted in his attempt to learn tidings of the
pirates, and in what he considered a duty, for which he had had the
great honour to be specially selected. "If you don't like to stay, go
back by yourself, though I shall be sorry to lose you. I have firmly
made up my mind that I remain in the neighbourhood till I have
satisfied my curiosity. But watch those men below. Something seems
to have upset them."
At once both stared eagerly over their barricade, and saw with some
concern that the pirates had collected at such a distance that they
could not suffer loss from the bullets of the defenders. And there,
grouped about the one who was in command, they stared out into
the river with their eyes fixed upon a tiny object which was
approaching.
"A swift sampan, and one dat brings de orders and de news," said Li
Sung with the assurance of one who was well acquainted with the
facts. "De man who am chief in Rembas havee one of de long tubes
through which de white man lookee wid de eye, and he see allee dat
havee happened. He send to dem to say must take de Chinamen.
Well, we see to dat when de time come."
"We shall have something to say, I have no doubt," agreed Tyler,
"and we must not spare a man. It will be a case of rapid shooting
and loading. Here, let us arrange the ammunition in a handy form,
so that there will be no loss of time in sorting, and so that we can
ram a charge in without delay. Now, what is their next move?"
By now the narrow sampan which they had seen flying across the
river, propelled by a dozen lusty oarsmen, had reached the bank,
and had deposited there a Malay of forbidding appearance. That he
was a man of some consequence was evident, for they showed him
every deference, and, after listening to a short harangue which he
delivered, followed him with loud shouts towards the rock.
"He will lead them, and we shall have to fight," said Tyler with a
calmness which astonished himself. "Fire quickly, Li, and see that
you do not miss, for we want to show them that to approach the
rock is dangerous. Then they will put off the real attack till darkness
has fallen, and will aid us in our plan."
That strict orders had been received to capture the insolent
foreigners who had dared to come into the river Sarebus, and who
had suffered shipwreck there, was plainly to be seen, for now that
they had a new leader the pirates ran towards the rock with shouts
of exultation, and, unmindful of the warning which they had already
received, commenced to climb it in scattered knots and groups,
evidently with the intention of approaching the wall from many
quarters and so annihilating the defenders. But they had a couple of
marksmen to contend with, for Tyler had had sufficient practice by
now to make certain of his man, while the Chinaman's trained eye
only required the steadiness which his young leader constantly urged
upon him to enable him to hit the mark on every occasion.
"Not a shot to be thrown away, just remember that," exclaimed Tyler
sternly as the pirates came running along the bank. "Pick out your
man, follow him for a second, and then press the trigger gently."
Almost at once his own weapon snapped, and the man who ran just
behind the leader doubled up and rolled in a heap.
"A little high," said Tyler calmly, "but otherwise straight enough. We
will see what this will do."
Once more he brought the weapon to his shoulder, and was about to
press the trigger, when the Malay at whom he aimed disappeared in
a hollow and caused him to pick out another man. But Tyler was not
so easily to be put off, and conscious that a blow at the leader would
have far more effect than one at his followers, he watched till the
big Malay again made his appearance. His rifle snapped instantly,
and the pirate fell upon his face, where he lay without a move.
"A few more like that and they will run," shouted Tyler. "Pick off
those in advance, so that their comrades may see them fall. That will
make them afraid, and they will soon hang back and long for
shelter."
That his advice was good there could be no doubt, for nothing is
more demoralizing in such an engagement than for those who are
attacking in the open, and advancing up a hill, to suddenly find the
lifeless bodies of their comrades rushing past them, or to be swept
away and carried to the ground below by the weight of one tumbling
upon them. At once the prospect of a similar fate cools their ardour,
and if they be not filled with courage and determined upon victory
they are apt to retire in disorder. And so, neglecting those who
clambered in rear, Tyler and his companion fired as rapidly as
possible on those who were in the forefront, sending man after man
rolling to the bottom. Then, as the attackers clustered together on
the hill-side, attracted unconsciously by the thought of mutual
protection and aid, our hero suddenly relinquished his weapon, and,
with a shout to Li Sung to do the same, began to toss boulders
down upon the enemy. Nor did he have to continue long at the task,
for very soon the pirates turned with shrill cries of dismay and went
sliding to the bottom, where they took to their heels and did not
stop till they had put a safe distance between themselves and the
defenders.
"That will keep them quiet for a time, and if only they will remain
inactive till the darkness falls we shall be safe. Come, help me to
build up the wall again and gather a store of boulders."
Without taking the trouble to crouch, for they knew that the pirates
had seen them, Tyler and his companion set about the work, and
having accomplished it sat down to rest, waiting impatiently for the
night to come when they would put their plan to the test and do
their utmost to escape from a trap which might well prove
disastrous.
 CHAPTER XVII
Danger and Difficulty
Twice in succession did the collection of Malays and Dyaks who
composed the attacking force endeavour to overcome the gallant
defenders of the steep rock beside the bank of the river Sarebus.
And on each occasion the leader of the gang who had their quarters
in Rembas sat at his leisure before his hut on the opposite side of
the water, and with glass fixed to his eye watched the fighting with
interest.
"They are curs," he cried at last, when the final attempt to reach the
barricade above had been defeated, "and as a punishment I swear
that no help shall come to these dogs of mine till they have these
two strangers in their hands. Are they not two only, while my men
number twenty times as many? Then they shall stay till all are killed
or until they can bring me tidings of their success. But I will send
them a message to the effect that if they allow the enemy to escape
I shall vent my anger upon them. Yes, I will warn them that the
attempt must be made, and will say that if it prove too much for
them then they shall suffer."
With this resolution before him the leader of the Rembas pirates
despatched a boat to the farther bank, and with it one of his chief
men, with instructions to give his message and then return.
"You can say that no food or drink shall be sent till they have
captured these men, and that it will be better for them to die on the
side of the rock than to return here unsuccessful," said he, as the
man set out to do his bidding. "It is absurd to think that so many of
my men are defied by a couple of natives from China!"
"A messenger," said Tyler, who caught sight of the sampan as it shot
out into the stream. "Will it recall these men, or will it bring news
that reinforcements are to come?"
"Not dat, massa," answered Li Sung with assurance, accompanying
the remark with the customary shake of his head, as if to add
emphasis to his words. "Dese pirates tink dey knowee how to fight,
and de leader over deir say dat not a man comee to help till we
taken. He tell dem to takee plenty care unless we slip away. Dat all
he comee for."
"Then we shall have to be doubly cautious," said Tyler, "and I'm
going to set myself to work to think out the matter, for escape we
must. In an hour it will be dark, so that we can count upon that time
in which to make up our minds, and I think that we are not likely to
be disturbed. Unless, of course, the message which is coming to our
attackers rouses them to fury, and they throw themselves upon us
again. Now, how could we manage to get away?"
Throwing himself upon the ground he fixed his eyes upon the figures
of the enemy beneath, and watched them half listlessly while he
endeavoured to find a means whereby he and Li Sung could slip
from their retreat and get safely away.
"It must be done," he kept murmuring to himself. "For to-day this
has been the very best of havens, but to-morrow it will be
untenable, for thirst will be our greatest enemy, and up here we
have no means of satisfying it. So leave we must, at the risk of our
lives. By Jove!"
"Massa keepee plenty quiet," cried Li Sung at this moment, suddenly
pointing to the bank beneath. "De messenger havee come, and Li
tink dat some little game be played. What for dey light de torches?"
He asked the question with a puzzled expression on his face, and
pointed again with a long lean finger to some figures which could be
seen flitting about amongst the jungle. That they were the pirates
was perfectly clear, though for what reason they ran hither and
thither, while some of their number advanced with flaring bundles of
some material in their arms, was a matter of some difficulty to
determine.
"I have it!" exclaimed Tyler at last, having watched them carefully.
"They find that we are prepared to make a fight of it, and as you
have said, the message from the other side has made them
determined to try again before the darkness falls. They know that
we should shoot them down when they had gained the rock, and
that we have boulders ready for them, so they have thought of
another way of beating us. Some fellow amongst them has his wits
about him, for he has pointed out to them that though there is a
clear space round this rock, yet bushes crop out from one side
almost to the edge of the jungle which surrounds us. Those same
bushes are continuous with the ones by which the rock is clothed,
and there are sufficient here to roast us. Do you follow now?"
"And de men over deir?" demanded Li Sung thoughtfully, after
having maintained silence for more than a minute as he puzzled over
the matter.
"They have been cutting and collecting reeds and long, dry grass.
There is no difficulty about that, for beyond a day's rain we have had
very hot weather of late, and everything is dry. They have made the
grass and reeds into bundles, and you can see that they are running
forward with them and are tossing them down in a line from the
jungle. It will require very few indeed to reach the belt of dry bushes
which joins those upon the rock, and then—"
Tyler did not finish the sentence, but began to reach for his rifle, and
place a pile of ammunition close to his hand.
"We must stop them," he said sternly, "or else we shall be roasted
and smoked like pigs. Get your weapon, Li, and let them know that
we can reach them; for I tell you that if the bushes here are set
alight this place will be impossible. The flames will flare all round it,
and there are sufficient leaves about to cause the densest of smoke,
which would choke us."
That he had not overstated the case was abundantly clear to the
wily Chinaman, and once the latter's cunning mind had grasped the
meaning of the movement below, and he had become alive to the
danger of the situation, he set about the defence of the rock with
alacrity. Snatching at his rifle, he rested it upon a boulder, and
peered amongst the stones, awaiting an opportunity for a shot. As
for Tyler, his weapon spoke out almost instantly, and one of the
dusky figures which was loaded with a bundle of reeds fell forward
into the jungle, while those who were near at hand ran to a place of
shelter with a howl of dismay.
"One," said Tyler quietly, replacing the charge. "I can see that those
fellows are scared, and that they fear our guns. We have shown
them that when we fire we hit the mark as a rule, and it will be
disconcerting to them to discover that we have them still in range.
However, I have little doubt that one of their number will pluck up
courage before very long, and will make a dash forward. In that case
we shall be unable to stop him."
For half an hour the pirates hidden below in the jungle, or watching
the rock from a safe distance on the bank of the river, made no
further movement. Then a flaring light suddenly appeared amongst
the trees, attracting the attention of the defenders of the rock and
occupying all their thoughts.
"Some fellow about to make a rush," thought Tyler. "Keep your eye
on him, Li, and fire when you see him run. Ah, there he is moving,
but only to one side! In a few moments he will make up his mind to
risk it, and then there will be a rush, and we shall have to do as well
as we can."
Twice or three times was the blazing mass moved to a different part
of the jungle, on each occasion causing alarm to Tyler and his
companion, and making them think that the moment had arrived
when the man who had charge of it would summon all his courage,
and, determined to risk the bullets of the defenders, would dash out
into the open, with the object of crossing the narrow space which
stretched between the jungle and the straggling line of bushes which
extended from the base of the rock. With rifles at their shoulders,
and eyes glued to the sights, they watched, ready to pull the
triggers the instant they sighted the man. Then of a sudden each
gave vent to a startled cry, and, swinging round to the left, emptied
their weapons at the retreating figure of a man who had run out
from an entirely different point, and, safe in the thought that the
attention of the defenders was occupied in another direction, had
dashed at the bushes and flung a mass of blazing reeds upon them.
"Cleverly done, and the man deserves to escape," cried Tyler, seeing
that both he and Li Sung had missed the mark. "It was an artful
ruse, and we were taken in. It just shows that they have a fellow
down there who has sharp wits, for by attracting our notice to one
part of the jungle they made the task of setting the bush on fire
possible. But what are we to do? Sit still and be roasted or
smothered by the flames and smoke, or descend the rock and make
a fight of it?"
"That no savee us, massa," exclaimed Li Sung. "We dead all de
same, and de pirate takee de head. Li say stay here a little bittee
and see which way de wind blow. P'r'aps it send de fire along de
rock and not reach us."
"There is no use in thinking that that will happen," replied Tyler, "for
there is hardly any breeze just now, and once well alight the bushes
will burn up in this direction. What about the top? Surely by hanging
over the other side we might escape the heat and smoke."
As he spoke he turned and stared at the summit of the rock, which
cut clear and sharp across the sky, showing a thin ridge on the
farther side of which the mass fell away abruptly, forming a slope
which was so precipitous that no one could hope to retain a footing.
"If we could get over there we should be safe for a time," he said to
himself, "and the enemy could not reach us with the poor muskets
which they possess. We will wait and see how the fire goes, and
then, if necessary, we will retreat to the top. Now how could we
manage to retain a position there for a time? Our strength would
soon give way if we had to cling with our hands."
Unconsciously he asked the question aloud, and as if it had been
addressed to him the cunning Chinaman turned and answered it
without the slightest delay.
"Massa havee saved de China boy more dan once," he said in
grateful tones. "Him catchee Li Sung by de coat when him almost
smothered wid de water, and now him show how both keep away
from de fire. Li say dat we hang on de oder side easy. We take de
cloth from de waist and make him into a loop. Den we put de leg
into him and sit dere easy till de flames havee gone. He, he, he! We
not catched yet by a velly long way."
The prospect of dangling over the steep cliff seemed to afford this
son of the East the greatest satisfaction, for again he beamed upon
his young leader, while he whipped the cloth from about his waist,
and with a deft twist fashioned it into a loop. At the opposite end he
formed another, and then twisted the material on itself till it had the
appearance of a rope.
"Plenty fine and strong," he said, holding it up with pride. "De one
end hang on a rock or de stump of a bush, and de oder for de leg."
"I believe you have thought of the very thing," exclaimed Tyler in
delight. "With a sling like that we could sit all day long and never
tire. We will wait till the heat gets too great for us and then we will
retire. Get hold of your share of the ammunition and food while I
take mine. Now, how is the bonfire going."
He almost laughed as he spoke, but a moment later his face wore a
serious expression, for though but little time had elapsed since the
man below had so daringly set fire to the bushes, yet the hot sun
overhead had dried the wood till it was like tinder, and scarcely had
it felt the flame than it flared in all directions. Then, as if there had
been a train of powder laid beneath, the conflagration spread almost
as fast as a man could run, for all the world like the veldt fires in
Africa, and, sweeping along the straggling line, quickly reached the
base of the rock. And here, with abundant material before it upon
which to vent its power, the flame spread to either hand, and thence
came marching up the steep rock, fanned by a gentle breeze from
the river. Like an army in straggling array it swept the rock before it,
and halting here, falling back there for an instant as it met with a
bush of more succulent wood, which defied its power on account of
its moisture, it came staggering upwards, ever upwards, roaring as it
went, and sending forth dense masses of blinding, hot smoke. Very
quickly the bushes which grew just below the retreat in which Tyler
and the Chinaman had taken up their station were singed and
frizzled by the heat, while they themselves were driven backwards. A
minute and they were racing up the steep slope, madly eager to
escape from the fire and get to a safe distance.
"Here is a clear spot with only one strong bush growing," gasped
Tyler, as they reached the summit, halting at a spot which was clear
and bare of growth save for a solitary bush. "Out with your knife, Li,
and hack it down. That's the way. Leave enough to fasten our slings
to."
Desperately and in all haste did the Chinaman carry out the order,
for a hot wave fanned his cheek, and a cloud of smoke and sparks
told him that he had no time for delay. In a few minutes, therefore,
he had lopped off the greater part of the bush, leaving the base of it
alone. And to this, thrusting their slings over the gnarled and twisted
root till they were close to the ground, did the two suspend their
weight, hoping that it would not fail them and send them tumbling
to the ground beneath.
Meanwhile the pirates below had watched with eager eyes as the
fire advanced, and set up a babel of discordant shouts as they saw
the two figures above forced to retreat. With loud and discordant
yells they followed their course to the summit of the rock, and then,
as they watched and noted the methodical way in which the bush
was lopped off and the slings attached, a doubt, and fear that after
all they were to be beaten in this, their final attempt, assailed them.
With a shout of indignation and annoyance they raced through the
jungle to the back of the rock, and, arrived there, stared up at Tyler
and Li Sung, who swung easily at their posts, their weight supported
by the slings, while they prevented their bodies from swaying too
much by grasping the edge of the rock with their fingers. Instantly a
fusillade was opened in their direction, the bullets for the most part
falling short, or pattering harmlessly against the rock. A few,
however, struck with resounding thuds, warning Tyler that a blow
from one, while it would not penetrate perhaps, would be likely to
stun the one who was hit should it happen to come in contact with
his head.
"We must put a stop to that game," he said suddenly. "They seem to
have forgotten that we, too, are armed, and we must remind them.
Just place your hand on my shoulder to steady me, and I will give
them a shot. That's the way. Now I can lift my rifle without swinging
round and running the risk of toppling over."
That the precaution was very necessary both could see, for,
suspended as they were, with one leg thrust through the sling till the
latter gripped them about the thigh, the greater part of their weight
was above the point of support, and had it not been for the grip
which each had obtained on the edge of the rock they would have
run the danger of capsizing and slipping from the sling. It was a
matter of some difficulty, therefore, to make use of a weapon, but
with Li to help him Tyler contrived to get his rifle to his shoulder.
Then he calmly selected the nearest of the pirates, and just as the
latter was about to fire at him, he pressed the trigger and sent his
bullet into the man.
"See how they scamper away," he cried with a laugh, as the Malays
took to their heels. "We shall not be troubled again by their firing, I
fancy, and very soon darkness will hide them from our view. I
suppose that it is not possible to clamber down this side, for it has
suddenly struck me that the rock will be very hot on the farther
slope."
Both looked well about them before deciding upon the matter, and
searched the steep face upon which they hung with the hope that
they would be able to discover some ledge, a few projections
perhaps, which would afford a means by which they would be able
to reach the ground below. But a goat could not have hoped to
retain a footing there, for the rock might very well have been cut
with a knife, so smooth and unbroken was its surface, and so
precipitous was its slope. Therefore both gave up the idea, and at
once prepared to clamber over the ridge once more.
"We have been here a quarter of an hour, and at the rate at which
the flames were advancing I imagine that the fire will have burnt
itself out by now," said Tyler, as he attempted to peer over the top.
"How lucky for us that we had this place to retreat to, and that the
edge of the rock kept the heat and smoke away! But for that we
should have been stifled, and should have rolled in a helpless
condition to the bank below. But I fancy that there is very little
smoke now, and when I have waited ten minutes longer I shall hoist
myself up, and see what is happening. After that we can sit on the
very top and wait for the rock to cool."
The time he had mentioned having at length passed, Tyler hoisted
himself with all gentleness by means of the sling, and peered over
the summit of the ridge, to find that the farther side had been swept
clear of all bushes, and lay blackened and smoking below him. Here
and there a tiny flame still existed, feeding upon the underwood
beneath some mass of vegetation which had been of large
proportions. But for the most part the fire was gone, while the
smoke was disappearing every minute. Of the pirates there was no
sign at first, but as Tyler's head appeared over the top, they
emerged from the edge of the jungle and set up a shout of defiance.
"Aloft there!" called out the one who had now assumed the
leadership; "do not think that you will escape us, for we are
determined to capture you. Indeed, our lives are forfeited if we fail
to do so. Up to this you have kept us at bay, for your guns are good,
and can reach farther than ours, while the boulders and rocks
protect you. But men can climb in the dark, and seeing that we
cannot drive you to submission by means of a fire, we will close
upon you in the night. Think and dream of that. If you lie down and
sleep, or sit there watchful as a hawk, the end will still be the same,
for we shall creep silently upon you. When you feel most secure we
shall lay our hands upon you, and then, my friends, a time awaits
you in Rembas. We hear that the men of Sarawak are coming up,
and since that is the case we will kill you both with certain
ceremonies, so that luck may come to us. I who am one of the sea
Dyaks swear that this shall be your fate."
With a defiant wave of his hand the man disappeared in the forest,
and though Tyler stared after him, and watched the intervals
between the trees, he could see no one else. Then he turned to Li
Sung to gather the man's meaning, and afterwards directed his gaze
to the river.
"Evidently they mean to cut off escape in that direction," he said,
"for one of their sampans is taking up a position off the bank, and
will lie there during the night, moving slowly backwards and
forwards. Perhaps they expect us to steal down and capture one of
their boats, but they will be mistaken. And that reminds me. Come
up, Li Sung, and point out to me the spot where we hid the craft in
which we entered the river."
It wanted but a few seconds to enable the active Chinee to come to
his master's side, and at once he swung to the right and pointed
eagerly to the edge of the rock.
"Allee rightee," he exclaimed in a whisper. "De pirate below not find
him for sure, and de fire not go dat way. Massa can see dat dere am
no bushes till de ones dat hidee de boat, so allee velly fine. We
runnee away in him."
"Yes, and the sooner the better," said Tyler with unusual decision.
"We have to go. That is perfectly clear, for we shall be killed or
starved to death if we remain. Very well, then the question follows
as to when we shall go. Shall it be at once, when the darkness has
fallen, or shall it be during the night? My vote is given for an instant
start, for otherwise the pirates will discover the boat as they creep
this way; and then, again, they will rush us as we are preparing to
leave. Better go as soon as the night comes, so as to get away
before they can have surrounded the rock."
"And massa will choose de river and de boat?" asked Li Sung.
"Yes, the jungle is out of the question. It will be filled with scouts,
who will be at points all round the edge of the clearing."
"Den you say dat we sneak to de sampan and out into de river?"
"Yes, Li, but not at once. You may be sure that those fellows are
watching all round, and I think that to attempt to embark opposite
here will end in discovery. If we go to the right, or strike into the
jungle behind, the same will happen."
"Den massa says go de oder way?" demanded Li in amazement. "He
say go where all de pirates am now, and where dey arrive to attack
us?"
The proposition was, to say the least of it, a startling one, and yet
Tyler was not inclined to relinquish it. For he had had long to think
the matter over, and as he sat there looking down through the semi-
darkness which had now covered the land, he felt sure that an
attempt to leave the rock would be suspected. Indeed it was more
than likely that the threat which the Dyak leader had shouted to him
was merely meant to throw dust in his eyes, to make him think that
an attempt would be made to assault during the night. Instead of
doing that, however, the pirates would probably at once take up
commanding positions, and then, in the belief that the two
Chinamen would descend and slip into the darkness, would keep
their eyes alert and make every effort to take them. Would they
think to guard every spot alike? No. As Tyler considered the point he
felt sure that that part of the forest where they were at that moment
would be deserted, and that it was by that path that they must
escape.
"You see," he said, suddenly turning upon Li Sung, "they know that
we have seen them land, and that their boats are pulled up there.
They have been in that position ever since they came, and they will
reckon that we shall keep away from it as far as possible. Is that not
what others would do?"
For answer the Chinaman gently scratched the top of his head, for
though cunning he was no reasoner, and, to tell the truth, had he
been alone would have elected to go in the opposite direction to that
which his leader had suggested.
"Well," demanded Tyler, staring into his face eagerly, "what would a
man of your country do? What would you do?"
"Me go de oder way. Me slip into de forest and runnee for de life,"
gasped Li Sung.
"And that is what the majority of fellows would do. That is what the
pirates would do, and will expect of us. Then we take the road I
have pointed out, and if we are discovered—"
"Li Sung plenty knowee den," exclaimed his follower, snatching at his
knife and brandishing it in the air. "Li not care how he go, so long as
massa lead de way; but he can fight. He hate de pirate!"
"Then we will settle the matter, for it is already almost time to set
out."
For some thirty minutes the two crouched there on their perch,
discussing their plans and listening eagerly for sounds of the enemy.
Then, having tucked their revolvers into their belts, and swung their
rifles over their shoulders, they began to creep down the steep slope
of the rock, taking a line which would bring them to the spot where
they had hidden the boat. Soon slight sounds came to their ears,
and as they halted to listen each realized that the enemy was on
either hand and behind, and that the noise which they could hear
was made by the pirates as they stole through the forest to take up
their positions.
"They are preparing to catch us, but are not quite ready yet,"
whispered Tyler. "Then we will not waste a moment, for while they
move into position we will slip away."
Sweeping the ground before him with his hands ere he ventured to
take a step in advance, Tyler at length reached the foot of the rock,
and at once crept into the bushes which, owing to the fact that they
were growing far to one side, had escaped the conflagration. Ah,
there was the light river-boat! and in a trice the two silent figures
were bearing it away on their shoulders. Turning to that part of the
bank which had been occupied by the enemy they stole along in that
direction, their feet buried in the hot ashes left by the fire, which
effectually masked any sounds which might have been made. Soon a
belt of trees barred their progress, and at once dropping the boat
they grasped it with both hands and bore it along dangling at arm's-
length. A hundred yards were covered in absolute silence, and both
were beginning to think that fortune had befriended them and that
freedom was before them, when Tyler gave vent to a startled cry,
and of a sudden, as if the ground had been cut from beneath his
feet, disappeared from view.
"Quick, massa! Where am you?" demanded Li Sung eagerly, while a
shout in the forest told that Tyler's cry had been heard. "You
speakee plenty quick, and Li comee to helpee you."
"I'm down below in a hole of some sort," answered Tyler swiftly,
picking himself up and feeling about in the darkness. "I have got
into a trap of some sort, for I can feel a number of pointed bamboos
all about me, and was lucky to miss falling upon them and being
spiked. Lean down and haul me up quickly. Now up with the boat
again and run. This way to the river!"
Realizing the plight into which his master had fallen, Li Sung no
sooner heard what had happened than he threw himself upon his
face at the edge of the yawning pit into which Tyler had tumbled,
and, stretching out a hand, rapidly hoisted the latter out. Then both
grasped the boat once more and set off for the river at the fastest
pace. As for the pirates, they set the jungle ringing with their shouts,
and, uncertain what had happened, for the trap had not been of
their setting, but had been prepared for some old engagement now
long forgotten, they rushed hither and thither, calling to one another
to tell them where the enemy were.
"Into the water with her, and on board," said Tyler as they reached
the bank of the river and waded in. "Now, have you a paddle? Then
let every stroke tell."
There was no need for explanation, for both knew that they must
pull for their lives. Kneeling, therefore, in the bottom of the boat,
they each grasped a paddle with both hands and thrust the blade
deep into the river. Then the surface swirled behind them, the craft
gathered way, and ere a minute had passed they were shooting
along beneath the overhanging branches.
"Keep where we are," gasped Tyler as he laboured at his paddle. "It
is pitch dark in here, while outside the sharp eyes of the natives
would pick us out. Keep a good look-out, and be ready to push her
off in case we run into the bank."
That the latter was a likely occurrence was to be expected, for
beneath the leafy avenue even in brilliant daylight all was sombre
and clouded with gloom, while now that darkness had fallen and the
sun had disappeared the tunnel under the trees presented not a ray,
and indeed was buried in such obscurity that the two fugitives felt as
though hemmed in by it, as though they could actually feel the
darkness which surrounded them. But what could they do? Emerge
into the open, so as to escape the risk of plunging into the trunk of a
tree or running aground? That would be madness, for, as Tyler had
observed, the night outside was not so black that the eyes of the
Malays and sea Dyaks would fail to pierce it. And once they caught
even the faintest glimpse of the flying boat, a suspicion even that it
was paddling in that direction would bring them howling after it, and
then the fate of the two Chinamen would be sealed. Yes, in an
instant Tyler realized their precarious position; and though for the
moment he considered whether it would not be better to halt where
they were and lie still beneath the trees, he dismissed the idea next
second, feeling that were they to do so the pirates would soon
surround the spot, and, confident that they had cut off escape,
would remain patiently till morning came and allowed them to surge
down upon their daring enemies. Forward, therefore, and at all
speed, was the order, and, reckless of the consequences, they
plunged their paddles still deeper into the water till the bows of the
tiny river-boat hissed against the stream, and sent the foam
scudding on either side.
Hark! A shout, louder and more piercing than any which had
preceded it, suddenly burst from the forest behind them, while the
babel of voices came to an abrupt end. Then the cry was repeated,
and ere a second had passed an answering hail came from up and
down the river. Almost at the same moment the prow of the river-
boat dashed into a pile of drift-wood, and, running forward till half
her length was piled upon it, came to a halt, stranded there beneath
the tunnel of trees.
"Hop out and float her again," whispered Tyler calmly. "Now stand
still and listen. You heard the hail? Then did you catch those which
answered it?"
"Yes, massa. A shout came from up de river, and anoder from down
below. We am caught. We am prisoner at last, and when de day
comee again poor Li and him massa die. Dey lose de head, and
when de men comee from Sarawak and kill de pirate dey find dem
slung to de back of de Dyaks."
Many a time, no doubt, had the humble Chinee seen men of the race
which inhabited Borneo setting out upon an expedition to levy war
upon their neighbours, and time and again had he observed the fact
that all, or nearly all, of the warriors carried the heads of former
victims slung to their girdles, for that was their custom. No wonder,
therefore, as the prospect of imprisonment conjured up the scene
and brought it afresh to his memory, that he shivered there, and,
seeing that the end seemed so near, thought only of the worst. But
Tyler also had heard of the custom, and indeed had even seen it
with his own eyes. However, he was not the lad to be so easily
frightened, and moreover he recognized the fact that life was sweet,
and that to retain it now all his thoughts must be directed to escape,
and not to the consequences of capture.
"Silence!" he exclaimed in low but commanding tones, the firmness
of which caused the Chinaman to suddenly cease his whining. "We
are not caught yet, and even if we are, what will it matter to either
of us if our heads are taken and carried about, for we shall be dead?
Don't be foolish, for, as I have said, we are not taken yet. There is a
saying amongst my people which runs: 'First catch your bird, then
cook him'. Let the pirates lay hands on us, then, and it will be time
to moan about our fate. For the present it is our work to get away
from them, and for my part I mean to escape whatever the
difficulties. Now, get hold of the bows and lift. That's the way. Turn
to the left and scramble into the jungle."
Abashed by the lecture which he had received, and encouraged by
the bravery and calmness shown by his leader, Li Sung obediently
carried out the order, and, lifting the head of the boat, carried it
towards the bank. Tyler picked up the stern, and together they bore
their craft into the jungle close at hand, and deposited it silently
there.
"They shall have their patience tried," he said, as he threw himself
upon the ground. "No doubt that shout warned men who were
watching up and down the river, and now that they have been put
on their guard the others will embark and will scour every foot of the
water. If we had stayed on the drift-wood we should have been
discovered, for they will search with torches to help them. Now we
are hidden again, and can wait till the noise and the keenness of the
hunt have died down."
"Hush, massa! Li hear someting, and him tink he see a light too."
Whispering the words the faithful fellow stretched forth a warning
hand and touched Tyler on the sleeve. Then both stared through the
jungle, and made sure that they could hear faint sounds, as of
someone paddling, approaching close to them. As for the light, at
first it was difficult to determine whether Li Sung had been drawing
on his imagination, or whether he had actually seen one. But
presently a dull reflection on the water as it rippled beneath the
trees attracted their attention, and they became aware of the fact
that a distant flare, which was all but hidden by the leaves, was
illuminating the stream before them.
"Searching the part beneath the boughs," whispered Tyler; "and
over there are other torches. Lie still for your life, and do not make a
sound. But first get hold of your rifle."
Instantly each swung his weapon to the front, and brought the butt
to his shoulder. Then, prepared to fire if occasion should call for it,
they lay still as ghosts amongst the bushes, peering at the enemy. It
was a strange scene to look upon, and to Tyler as he lay there it
brought back memories of many a jolly day at home. For here was a
long, narrow native boat, drifting slowly down beneath the boughs,
with two men to send it along with an occasional stroke, while some
twenty others, all with the scantiest of clothing and with weapons
bared, stood or kneeled up and stared at the leaves, into the trees,
and amongst the bushes which lined the bank, hoping, with the aid
of the light cast from a torch which was thrust into a bed of clay in
the bows, that they would be able to find a trace of the fugitives for
whom they sought. Uncanny though the scene was, and in spite of
the fact that his life was at stake, Tyler's thoughts flew involuntarily
to a day of days which he had spent not so long ago with his school
comrades. There was a regatta, and at its end the boats had rowed
in procession through the darkness, sending up fireworks, while the
majority of the crew stood as well as the craft would permit and
called loudly to their friends upon the bank. At the head of each of
the craft had smoked and flared a torch of pine-wood which served
to lighten the scene. How similar it had been to this at which he was
now looking! For a moment he almost forgot the circumstances as
he recalled old friends, comrades in the days when he was a lad at
school, before the Dido had been thought of. Then with a start he
remembered his position at that moment, and at once his hand
tightened upon the stock of his weapon, while the fingers of his
other hand felt for the revolver which was thrust in his belt.
"If they find us, fire the rifle, then give them a few shots with the
revolver and fly. But we must take the boat, and must embark within
a few seconds."
He whispered the words in his companion's ear, and then watched to
see him nod. A second later the native boat drew opposite, and both
lay as if glued to the ground, scarcely daring to breathe lest the
sound should be heard. Then with feelings of relief they noted that
the craft was gradually passing beyond them, and were preparing to
turn and congratulate themselves on their good fortune, when one
of the natives gave vent to a cry of astonishment, while the boat
came to a sudden halt.
"Aground!" cried the man who was stationed in the bows, at once
springing over the side; "and—do my eyes deceive me, or is this the
mark of a second boat, perhaps the one in which the Chinamen
escaped? Remember, comrades, we know that it was by that means
that they left us, for they had hidden the craft which brought them
here, and their guns prevented us from finding her. What have you
others to say?"
He stood aside while his comrades splashed in the water and waded
towards him. Then the torch was snatched from its support and
brought to the spot, over which all bent eagerly.
As for Tyler and Li Sung, they almost trembled with apprehension,
and, believing that they were about to be discovered, brought their
weapons to bear upon the gathering of natives, and made ready to
discharge them and then run for their lives.
"It is your fancy, comrade," at length cried one of the pirates. "The
bows of our boat crashed upon the drift-wood here, as you can see
for yourself, for there is a deep furrow. Then you sprang overboard,
lightening the load and causing her to move again. There is nothing
in these signs, and I therefore urge you to press on. Remember, all
of you, that our lives are forfeit if the day dawns and still finds us
unsuccessful. Push on then, and let us not delay."
"As you will," grumbled the one who had at first raised the question,
and who had spent the time in staring into the jungle towards the
spot where Tyler lay. "Only if we lose them on account of the fact
that you will not take my warning, then it will be sad for all of us.
For me, Rembas shall not see me again, for to return would be to
die."
"Then, as we all love the lives which we lead, and desire to go back
to our homes, let us push on in all haste," cried his comrade. "Then
shall we be more sure of coming upon these rascals."
With a heave they lifted the craft from the obstruction and placed
her in deep water. Then they sprang aboard, and before the fugitives
could believe their eyes, their enemies were sweeping down the
stream, only the reflection of the light being there to show that they
actually existed.
"We will let them tire of the search," said Tyler, with a big sigh of
relief, "and then we will take to the water ourselves and make for
the lower reaches. For the present we will lie still and listen, for
others may come this way."
And so with ears straining for sounds which would warn them of the
near presence of the enemy, and with all their senses alert, they
waited in the forest for some three hours or more, not daring to stir
from their hiding-place. Then, judging that the keenness of the
search was over and that they might venture to take to the river,
they crept from the jungle, lifted their boat into the stream, and
embarked. A thrust of the foot and she was afloat, and a stroke of
the paddle directed her on her way. Then, with the current to carry
them, they let her drift silently through the night, being careful,
however, to keep her still beneath the overhanging boughs. At
length the latter came to an end, and the open river was before
them. At once they took to their paddles, and were urging their craft
into the centre of the Sarebus when a long, dark object which had
been lying in close to the bank shot out behind them and came
racing in their wake. Then a dusky figure in the front grasped at a
pole, at the end of which was attached a hook with which it was the
custom of the pirates of Borneo to tear their enemies from their
prahus, and, thrusting it out into the night, made a dash at the
unconscious figure of the rearmost of the two at the paddles. It
caught; the hook passed beneath his arm and became entangled in
his clothing.
"Back!" shouted the pirate. "Hold on your paddles!"
There was a startled cry of surprise, the guttural exclamation of a
Chinaman, and ere Tyler had time to think, he was over the side and
being dragged into the enemy's boat. Down came the shaft of the
pole upon his head, rendering him unconscious of the roughness
with which he was handled. Thrust here and there, hauled this way
and that, he was at length pushed into the stern and left to lie there,
while the pirates turned their attention to the remaining fugitive. But
of him there was not a sign. The darkness or the river had
swallowed him up.
 CHAPTER XVIII
A Narrow Escape
Swift indeed had been the misfortune which had fallen on Tyler and
his comrade as they escaped down the river Sarebus. So sudden and
unexpected, in fact, that the former hardly realized that he had been
caught by means of some instrument and was being dragged
through the water, while the boat in which he had been kneeling,
plying his paddle with all his might, swept on and away from him,
urged by the powerful arm of the Chinaman. As for the latter, until
the shout of the pirate who wielded the long pole and hook broke on
his ear, he had no suspicion that the enemy was at hand, for the hiss
of the water as it surged against the prow drowned all other sounds.
But the sudden call caused him to sit upright with a jerk and turn his
head, only to perceive the figure of his young master disappearing in
the darkness. A moment later he had shot away from the pursuers,
and, turning the craft with a dip of the paddle, lay still upon the
surface, while the latter, still plying their oars, swept away in
advance, searching there for the second of the gallant Chinamen
who had caused them so much suffering.
Ten minutes later Tyler regained consciousness, and would have
started to his feet had not a naked foot pressed him to the floor.
"What has happened?" he demanded in bewildered tones. "We were
running down-stream, and it began to look as though we were going
to give those fellows the slip. Then—Li Sung, you may not know it,
but you are standing on my chest, which is not very comfortable.
Just take your foot away and allow me to sit up."
"Lie still, you dog!" was the answer, in a language which he did not
understand, but which he knew must be Dyak. "Lie quiet where you
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