the Malays, swarming up, striving to force their way up through
the embrasures, or to climb the sandbags; but as fast as they did
so, they were cut down or bayoneted by its defenders. Those trying
to land at other points were impeded by the bushes, and numbers
were killed; but they pressed on so furiously that at last Mr.
Ferguson, who had been moving backwards and forwards along the
line, thought it best to call the men in, and in a minute or two
the whole party were collected in the little fort, and ranged along
the sides.

With furious yells the Malays came on, and although swept by volleys
of musketry reached the bamboos, which they strove in vain to pluck
up or climb. In the meantime the eighteen pounders had never ceased
their fire, the sailors working them steadily, regardless of the
fight that was going on on either flank. Here the little brass guns
did good service; each time they were fired the recoil sent them
tumbling from the top of the sandbags, only, however, to be seized,
sponged, and loaded, by the four sailors in charge of each, and then
lifted to their place again, crammed with bullets to the muzzle, in
readiness to check the next charge of the Malays. Suddenly their
yells redoubled, and were answered by similar shouts from the
forest.

"The rajah's troops have come up," the first lieutenant said to
the marine officer; "our position is getting serious. Do you think
that we could make our way back to the boats without great loss?
We have sunk two of their craft, have badly damaged the others,
and inflicted very heavy loss on them."

"It would be a very risky operation; but it might be done, Ferguson.