Ralph Denham's Adventures in Burma: A Tale of the Burmese Jungle Read online

  Produced by Matthias Grammel, sp1nd and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Thisfile was produced from images generously made availableby The Internet Archive)

  RALPH DENHAM'S ADVENTURES IN BURMA

  A groan burst from the white lips of the men as theseething ruin that had been their home for so many weeks disappearedslowly from view (_p. 43_).]

  RALPH DENHAM'S ADVENTURES IN BURMA

  _A TALE OF THE BURMESE JUNGLE_

  BY G. NORWAY

  AUTHOR OF "TREGARTHEN," "A DANGEROUS CONSPIRATOR," "LOSS OF JOHN HUMBLE," ETC.

  decoration]

  LONDON SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & CO., LTD.

  PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY PURNELL AND SONS PAULTON, SOMERSET, ENGLAND

  CONTENTS

  CHAP. PAGE I. RALPH STARTS UPON HIS VOYAGE 7 II. A GALE 19 III. FIRE AT SEA 33 IV. THE RAFT 44 V. ADRIFT ON THE OCEAN 52 VI. THE DENHAMS AT HOME 60 VII. MOULMEIN 69 VIII. KIRKE ESCAPES 78 IX. NEWS FROM RALPH 87 X. THE LEOPARD 96 XI. WHAT BEFELL KIRKE AFTER HIS ESCAPE 104 XII. THE KAREN VILLAGE 113 XIII. THE MAN-EATER 122 XIV. TATTOOING 132 XV. THE OLD MEN'S FAITH 141 XVI. BIG GAME 149 XVII. THE JUNGLE FIRE 157 XVIII. THE DACOIT'S HEAD 166 XIX. LOST IN THE JUNGLE 175 XX. JUNGLE THIEVES 184 XXI. THE RAPIDS 196 XXII. KIRKE AND DENHAM MEET 204 XXIII. FIGHT WITH DACOITS 213 XXIV. THE DACOITS BURN THE VILLAGE 222 XXV. DESPERATION 229 XXVI. SUNSHINE'S HEROISM 239 XXVII. CONCLUSION 248

  RALPH DENHAM'S ADVENTURES IN BURMA

  CHAPTER I

  RALPH STARTS UPON HIS VOYAGE

  Mrs. Denham sat in her parlour, a two years old baby boy asleep upon herlap, and an anxious, mournful expression upon her face. She wore thedress of a widow,--a dress so new in its folds that it was evidently buta short time since the Dread Messenger had paused at her threshold tobear away its master and bread-winner.

  The room was a shabby one; the fire but a handful of dusty ashes; rainfell without in the dreary street; it was growing dusk, and asoul-depressing cry of "Want chee-e-ep? Do ye want chee-e-eps?" aroseever and anon, as the ragged Irish chip boy wandered up and down.

  It was a street of cheap houses in the suburbs of Liverpool, where themisery of poor gentility is perhaps more without alloy than in any othertown.

  But the door burst open, and a bright-faced, rosy, blue-eyed boyentered, with the freshness of out-of-doors upon him.

  "All alone, mother?" said he. "Where's Agnes? Where are the little ones?Why, what a scurvy fire you have! let me cheer it up a little."

  He began piling lumps of coal upon the embers in a scientific manner, towhich a blaze quickly responded; when he swept up the hearth, anduttered an exclamation of satisfaction as he bent to kiss his mother'sface.

  "It requires a man to make up a fire," said he. "Where are all theothers?"

  "Agnes is giving the little ones their tea in the kitchen," replied Mrs.Denham. "I asked her to keep them out of the way for a while, because Iwant to talk to you, Ralph dear."

  "All right, mother mine, fire away," said the boy, throwing himself downon the hearthrug, and resting one arm upon her knee.

  "Ralph dear," resumed she, "your uncle Sam has come home; he has beenhere this afternoon."

  "Uncle Sam? How jolly! When did the _Pelican_ come in, mother? I did notknow that she was even off Holyhead."

  "The _Pelican_ was docked last night, dear, upon the evening tide," saidshe; "and your uncle has been here a long time this afternoon."

  "Was he not very sorry to hear about father?" asked Ralph in a lowvoice.

  "Yes, dear; but he was prepared for the news by my last letter. He is avery kind brother; he has been giving my affairs his carefulconsideration all the way home, and has already offered some prospect ofhelp; but this depends upon you, Ralph."

  "Upon _me_, mother? I would be so proud to help. You may reckon upon me;but what can I do?"

  "What it is a bitter pill for me to swallow, my boy, yet it would besuch a help that I do not know how to refuse it."

  "What is it, mother?"

  "It is for you to go out to Burma, dear. When my last letter reachedhim, and he knew of your father's hopeless state of health, Uncle Samsecured for you the chance of a situation in a rice firm in Rangoon. Hesays that there would be a salary at once, upon which you could livewith care, and which would soon improve into something much better, andinto a position from which, in a few years, you might help one of yourbrothers. It is not in the house of Herford Brothers,--I wish itwere,--but, as he sails for them, he will often see you, and bring ushome news of you. It would not be as if you went to quite a strangeplace, where you would know nobody; and, Ralph, it would be an immenserelief even to have your keep off my hands just at present. Dear Agnesmaintains herself by her teaching; Lisa's scholarship provides for hereducation; and if you, my darling boy, were not here we might double upcloser and spare another room for a second lodger, which would be agreat help to me. But I do not know how to part with you, Ralph, myboy,--my dear, dear boy!"

  The poor lady bent her face down upon the curly, tousled head at herknee, and wept sorrowfully.

  Ralph passed his arm round her neck in silence, for tumultuous emotionchoked him, and he could not speak at first. There had been a time, notso long before, when he would have been wild with delight at the thoughtof leaving school, going abroad, seeing new countries, beingindependent. But recent events had sobered his spirits and made him morethoughtful.

  He pondered the scheme now without excitement or selfish pleasure; hetried to think whether it would be well for his mother were he to leaveher. It seemed to him that it would be so.

  "Mother," said he, "it is not as if Agnes were not older than I. Agnesis seventeen, and a companion to you, while I am not old enough to takefather's place with Jack and Reggie. They would not attend to me norobey me."

  "No, dear."

  "Then when father was dying he bade me do my best to help you, and Ipromised that I would. If this is the best for you, mother, I _must_ doit."

  There was a manly ring in his voice as he said this, echoing so plainlythe sound of the voice that was gone, that his mother almost felt as ifit were her husband speaking to her in her son.

  They sat silent for a long time, hand clasped in hand; then the sleepingchild awoke, and recalled Mrs. Denham to her busy life.

  "Uncle Sam is coming back to supper, and wants to talk to you aboutthis," said she.

  "I will go out for a walk, to think it all over, if you don't mind,mother; I will come in again by supper time," said the boy.

  "Do, dear; it is not a plan that should be carried out in a hurry," saidshe. And Ralph took up his cap and went out.

  He strolled aimlessly up one street, down another, his hands in
hispockets and eyes fixed on the ground; then, with sudden determination,he changed his purposeless steps towards the town, and steadily pursuedhis road to meet his uncle.

  So rapidly did he walk now, that he reached the lodging to which CaptainRogers always repaired when on shore just as he was emerging from thedoor.

  "Halloa, my son!" called out the sailor in Cornish accents, "whither sofast?"

  "I came to meet you, uncle. Mother has been telling me of your plan forme, and I wanted to talk to you about it while we could be alone."

  "Ay, that's right. Men can settle things between themselves better thanwhen there is a lot of soft-hearted women by, to cry over the Lord knowswhat. You are 'most a man now, Ralph. How you have grown since I've beenaway! How old are you now?"

  "Fifteen, uncle. Fifteen and a half."

  "Too old to be lopping about at your mother's apron strings. Old enoughto be of some use and good, are you not?"

  "Is this plan of use, uncle? Do you really think it would be good formother?"

  "Well, sonnie, to speak the plain truth I don't see no other way inwhich you are half as likely to keep off her hands. They are fullenough, Ralph, without a great hearty fellow like you to be eating herout of house and home."

  "That is so, uncle."

  "I think that the Herfords would give you a free voyage out. I believethat I could work it so that they would. If they will, you cost hernothing more from this time. Agnes is a sensible maid, she can lookafter your mother better than you can. I will pay her rent for her, andtake Jack to sea with me as soon as he is old enough; and then with alodger or two, and the bit of money that she has, she may do fairlywell. Be a man, Ralph, and do your part."

  "I will, uncle, God helping me."

  "Well said. But now, look here, there must be no chopping and changing;no crying out that you are homesick, or don't like it, and want to comeback again. If you make up your mind to go, there must be some expenseincurred for your outfit; and I'll not help unless you give me your wordof honour that this shall be _all_ that you mean to cost us. If I launchyou, you must sail away on your own account, and make the best ofmatters however they may turn out. Do you understand me?"

  "Yes, uncle. Is it necessary to give my answer now, this evening, or mayI sleep upon it?"

  "I don't mind your sleeping upon it, as you call it, but I must haveyour answer almost at once, because I must see Mr. Herford about yourpassage, and your kit must be got ready."

  "I will tell you to-morrow, uncle."

  "Mind you do. Mr. Herford goes from home at the end of the week, and Idon't know how long he may be away. It would hurry everything up tooclosely to wait till he returns, when all the _Pelican's_ cargo will bein course of loading, and everything else to settle."

  Captain Rogers had intended to make the evening pleasant to his sisterand her young folks, but fate was too strong for him on that occasion.Mrs. Denham's eyes were full of tears, and she kept silence as the onlyway to prevent their overflow. Agnes was little better, and therepressed agitation of their elders checked all the younger ones'chatter.

  He went away early; but Ralph would not talk to any of them even whenhis uncle had left them. He went to his room, and spent the night inthinking, thinking, thinking; trying to make out what his father wouldhave wished,--what was best for his mother,--where his strongest dutylay.

  At last he took to prayer; and, for the first time in his young life,really sought help and counsel from his Father in heaven. Such seekingis never unanswered; he slept, woke up clear in his mind as to what heought to do, and told his uncle that he would go.

  "You decide rightly," said his uncle. "People cannot very often do justwhat they would like best. If I could, I would have got you a start inlife nearer home, so that your mother might keep you to be a comfort toher; but she will not mind so much when you are once gone, and you willsooner be of real use to her and to your brothers in this way than inany other which any of us can command. But, remember, you must take lifeas it comes, and work hard for yourself once you are started."

  "I will, uncle, God helping me."

  "Well said, my boy."

  After that, all was hurry to prepare him for this important change inhis life; his mother cried incessantly; his sister Agnes went about withred eyes, which could scarcely see the stitches that she set in hisclothes; his uncle drove him about hither and thither; there was no timeto think until the adieux were all made, and they had been towed out ofdock.

  The _Pelican of the North_ was a barque-rigged, three-masted vessel,laden with coal for Moulmein; and the day was bright when she droppeddown the river Mersey. The crew were in good spirits, for the weather,which had been extremely dull and wet for some weeks, cleared upsuddenly on the day of sailing. The chilly wind had veered into a balmyquarter, the drenching rain ceased, the sun broke out, and all thelittle tossing waves seemed to be dancing with joy to see its beamssparkling upon their crests. Great masses of clouds were driving away,farther and farther, overhead, losing their heavy grey colour, and fastbecoming soft and snowy white; while the flocks of seagulls, swoopingabout upon widespread pinions high in the air, might be imagined to befleecy morsels detached from them on their course, so pure and silverywas their plumage.

  Ralph stood by the capstan, looking back to the fort and lighthouse onthe New Brighton Point with mixed feelings.

  He had never been farther away from home than this before; he was nowsetting off for an unknown life in a new country, among strangers, tomake his own way as best he could.

  He was pleased with his independence, with the thought that he was thushelping his mother; but he had not imagined how love for his home wouldtug at his heart-strings. It was not until he had felt his mother'sfarewell kiss, and heard her choked voice blessing him for the lasttime; it was not until his dearly-loved companion-sister Agnes hadsobbed her good-bye on his shoulder; not till he had put the pretty babyback into his nurse's arms, and thought what a great boy he would bebefore he should, in all probability, see him again,--that he realisedhow far away he was going, and going alone.

  But Ralph owned plenty of pluck; he meant to be brave, and to get on inhis new career, so he gulped down these thoughts, and turned to brighterconsiderations.

  His uncle had secured for him a free passage out to Rangoon by enteringhim as apprentice upon the ship's books.

  This is an arrangement occasionally made, by favour, in merchant shipsnot registered for carrying passengers. The so-called apprentice wouldhold rather an anomalous position, being expected to do a little lightwork, particularly while in port, but messing with the captain at sea.

  A hardy lad would have little of which to complain in the light of thegreat pecuniary advantage to himself, but it would depend largely uponhis own tact, and also much upon the characters of the regularapprentices and the mates, as to whether he were, or were not,thoroughly comfortable upon a long voyage.

  Captain Rogers had another passenger upon this occasion, a Mr.Gilchrist.

  Mr. Augustus Herford, the head of the firm of Herford Brothers, to whichthe _Pelican of the North_ belonged, was devoted to his garden; andorchids were his reigning hobby. The craze for these flowers was thenin its infancy, many varieties being unknown at that time which havesince become common. Burma was comparatively little explored, nor wereits forests and jungles haunted by collectors as they have been of lateyears.

  Mr. Gilchrist was a self-made man, an enthusiast in his profession asgardener, but more capable than rich. He had educated himself, studiedat Kew, mastered much of the science of horticulture,--but lackedcapital, and wanted to marry. When, therefore, Mr. Augustus Herfordoffered him advantageous terms if he would go to Burma and collectorchids for him, he accepted the commission with eagerness, knowing wellthat, if he succeeded, his prosperity upon his return would be assured.

  Mr. Herford was rich; he spared no expense over microscopes, books,collecting boxes, and all the properties for the expedition, and gavehim a free passage out.

  The _Pelican of th
e North_ was bound for Moulmein with coal,--would thengo to Rangoon in ballast, and return laden with rice. She was towed asfar as to the floating lightship; there the steam-tug cast off, and thevoyage was fairly begun.

  By that time Mr. Gilchrist was down upon his marrow-bones, most horriblysick. He was a delicate man, and suffered terribly. Ralph was also ill,but his uncle encouraged him to struggle against the malady, and theother apprentices ridiculed him so unmercifully as a land-lubber, thathe made every effort to keep up, and this with good effect, for he wassoon upon his feet again, with a furious appetite even for salt junk andfat pork.

  Then, in his good-nature, feeling heartily for a fellow-sufferer, hebegan to wait upon Mr. Gilchrist, nursing him and tending him well.

  It would have been better for this gentleman had he possessed the samestrong reasons for exertion as his young companion; he would perhapshave suffered less. As it was, he was ill for nearly a fortnight; and,the weather being uncertain, Captain Rogers and the mates were glad tobe relieved from the necessity of attending upon him, having quiteenough to do with sailing the ship.

  By degrees Mr. Gilchrist recovered; and, grateful for Ralph's care ofhim, he then lent him books, talked to him about them, encouraging himto learn many things and improve himself.

  Captain Rogers was pleased that his nephew should receive such noticefrom so clever a man. He had not much education himself outside of hisown business, but was shrewd, and entertained a great respect for whathe called "book learning."

  "It is very kind of you, Gilchrist," said he one evening, sitting withhis passenger over their coffee,--"It is very kind of you toindoctrinate that lad as you are doing. It has been hard upon him to becast upon his beam ends so early in life. His father was a well-readman, and might have given him good schooling had he lived, but my poorsister could not afford it when she was left with so many of them."

  "It is an amusement," replied Mr. Gilchrist. "It helps me to pass thetime pleasantly, I assure you. I like the boy much, he is veryintelligent."

  "He is a good sort of fellow," said the captain. "I hope he will get on.But we must be careful not to set him up too much, so as to make theother apprentices jealous of him. I have my doubts of that Kirke. I hateyour gentlemen apprentices; they are always more trouble than profit.That one is not worth his salt."

  "Is he a gentleman's son, then?"

  "Aye. His father is a friend of my boss; the lad is sent to sea becausethey can do nothing with him at home, but I wish they had put him in anyother ship than this one."

  "Is it usual for a gentleman to send his son to sea in the merchantservice?" asked Mr. Gilchrist.

  "I wish it either were more usual or less," replied the captain. "I hatehaving them. It always means stupidity, idleness or scampishness; and,whichever it may be, they are no good. If a lad cannot keep his ownnatural position in life it does not prevent him from having big ideasof himself after coming down to another; and if he gets into uglyscrapes as a gentleman, he will get into uglier ones when the restraintupon him is less."

  "You have much experience in boys and men, Rogers."

  "Ah! I have--with a certain class of boys and men. Now and then onefinds a lad who can work with his hands when he cannot with his head,and who tries to do his best; but good seamen need to use their brainsas well as other folks if they are to get on. Such youngsters come to ustoo late. Their friends don't send them until they have tried everythingelse and failed. The hardships of our life fall five times as heavilyupon them as upon a lad who belongs to a hardier class and has begunearlier. Kirke is not one of that sort; I misdoubt me but what therewill be trouble with him before this voyage is over."

  "Well, the weather seems to have taken up a better humour at last. Weseem to have got out of that circle of squalls through which we havebeen making our way."

  "Yes," said the captain. "We are coming in for a quieter season, if itonly lasts. I wish the voyage was over, though. My wife took up asuperstitious notion that we should have trouble over it. She had adream or something which impressed her with that idea; and though Ilaughed at her, I cannot forget it altogether. Do you believe inwarnings and presentiments?"

  "I suppose there are few men who could say with truth that theydisbelieve in them entirely, but I have seen so many come to nought thatI do not entertain much faith in them."

  "Ah! well," said the captain, finishing his cup, and rising to leave thecabin, "I suppose I am an old fool to heed such things. I don't seewhere mischief is to crop up unless through that lad, and he may turnout better than I fear. Good-night, Mr. Gilchrist."

  "Good-night."