H. Bedford-Jones

“ It grew rapidly; a moment later Stone realized that it came not from the water, but from the little promontory upon which stood the pavilion. The flicker increased—the flame became a fire, cunningly builded against rocks, so that behind it was nothing visible, yet the water before and around it was plainly lighted.
“Damned clever beggar!” muttered Stone, as he struck out for the beacon.
It was the work of Tan Tock, of course. Somehow the yellow steward had won back to the pavilion—either in the boat, or else by abandoning the boat. ”

“ Just at the verge of the torch-light, ten feet farther would have carried Stone safely past the danger; but he wasted no time on “ifs.” His fist smashed home on a brown face, and before the nearer Malays could come up Stone dived and was off again.
This time he expended his last ounce of staying power before coming up—and when he broke into the air again he was beyond sight of the wharves. Careless if he were seen by the swimmers, so that he could reach the pavilion and his weapons, he struck out in a swift and steady “crawl” down the shore-line. ”

“ He had already solved in mind his chief problem—to get aboard the proa. Once he was there he could let matters take their course. Stone was a man who solved one puzzle at a time and left the rest to Providence.
Working swiftly, he tore loose vine after vine from the knotted tangles around him—great, piled shreds of wood, thick-leaved, and with lesser vines bound them so that they would not lightly drift apart. ”

“ The American started. But the other continued speaking.
“It is in your mind to take this boat and go away with the white woman? This you cannot do, tuan.”
“No?” Stone glanced at the little man. “You think I cannot kill you?”
“Oh, I am mortal, tuan!” Tan Tock chuckled. “But, remember, I, too, have a revolver, and a single shout or shot would bring these men about your heels. You might kill me, but a hundred of them would swim after you, and you could not escape with the boat.”
The American gazed at the figure of the little steward for a long moment. ”

“ Stone leaped up again, the numbing power of the blow broken upon his resilient spirit. “No! I’ll play the game to the end, by the Lord—I’ll be the raja, right enough! Let them only give me a chance!”
He parted the vines, cautiously, and settled himself to watch events. Had he but wakened a half-hour earlier!
Plainly, the proa had just arrived; as plainly, Tan Tock had signaled to her from the promontory. Another boat was setting off toward the great wharves farther along the shore of the island, where Benbow and the castaways awaited rescue. ”

“ A circle of the great wharf around the stairs had been cleared of vines and creepers, and was now lighted by a dozen fires. The Malays, by far the most numerous, had taken possession of the water-casks and bags of biscuit, and doled out a stingy portion to the sullen Chinese. This had not been peacefully adjusted, for every man had knife or kris, and not a few of the pilgrims from Mecca bore pistols ”