Sandokan: The Tigers of Mompracem (The Sandokan Series Book 1)

by Emilio Salgari

  “But, Sandokan, have you given thought to what would happen to Mompracem without the Tiger of Malaysia? With you leading our men it could continue to rule these waves. There’s still much to be done, many battles to wage against those who murdered your family and those you loved. At a word from you, thousands of Malays and Dyaks would flock to swell the ranks of the Tigers of Mompracem. Hang up your sword, and it all comes to an end.”

  “I’ve given that a lot of thought, Yanez.”

  “And what did your heart tell you?”

  “It bled with sorrow.”

  “And yet, you’d relinquish your power for the love of that woman?”

  “I love her, Yanez. I wish I’d never become the Tiger of Malaysia.”

  Deeply moved by his friend’s words, Sandokan sat down upon a cannon mount and buried his face in his hands, attempting, or so it seemed, to smother the thoughts tormenting him. Yanez studied him in silence for a while, then began to pace along the bridge, shaking his head repeatedly.

  In the meantime, the three ships slowly made their way towards the east, barely driven forward by a weak breeze. The crew - impatient to a man- calculated the distance with each passing metre, adding jib sails, small trysails and studding sails, attempting to harness the wind. The prahus began to slow as the dark clouds advanced on the horizon. However, the situation would not last for long. Towards nine, the wind picked up, blowing violently from the south, heralding the coming storm.

  The crews welcomed the strong wind with cries of joy, unafraid of the impending hurricane. Only the Portuguese began to grow uneasy and requested the ships reduce sail, but Sandokan adamantly refused. He was anxious to reach Labuan, the distance from his beloved being almost unbearable.

  The next day the sea grew restless. Large waves raced over the waters, roaring menacingly, making the prahus pitch and roll as they continued their advance. Enormous black clouds darted across the sky, their thick dark masses blotting out the sun. At night, the wind grew twice as strong, threatening to snap the masts if the crews did not reef the sails.

  At the sight of that sea and sky any other seafarer would have immediately headed to the nearest island for shelter, but Sandokan, now only seventy or eighty miles from Labuan, did not want to waste a single minute, preferring to sacrifice one of his ships rather than seek refuge.

  “Sandokan,” said Yanez, visibly nervous, “Be careful, we’re running a great risk.”

  “What are you afraid of, brother?” asked the Tiger.

  “This hurricane could sink us all.”

  “Our ships are solid enough.”

  “This is going to get worse. Much worse. Tremendously worse.”

  “I’m not afraid of a little wind, Yanez. We can easily make Labuan; it isn’t very far. Can you still see the other ships?”

  “I think there’s one just south of us. It’s too dark to see anything that’s more than a hundred metres away.”

  “If they get lost, they’ll know where to find us.”

  “They could just as easily sink, Sandokan.”

  “I’m not retreating, Yanez.”

  “Be careful, little brother.”

  A blinding flash of lightning slashed through the darkness, lighting the sea to the horizon and filling the air with the roar of thunder. Sandokan sprang to his feet, looked bravely at the clouds, then stretched his arms towards the south and said, “Come fight with me hurricane, I dare you.”

  He crossed the bridge and took the wheel as his men began to prepare for the oncoming storm. They battened down the hatches, secured the cannons and muskets - arms they could not lose, no matter the cost - covered the lifeboats, and strengthened the rigging, tripling the cables.

  The first squalls were advancing from the south, pushing mountains of water forward with destructive force. Even with minimal sails, the prahu began to fly towards the east with the speed of an arrow, skilfully keeping ahead of the elements, without straying a degree from her course, thanks to Sandokan’s steady hand.

  The calm lasted for half an hour, broken only by the crash of thunder and the roar of the sea, but at about eleven, the hurricane suddenly erupted in all its terrible majesty.

  Whipped by the wind, dark black clouds raced across the sky, at times swooping to touch the waves as they fled towards the north.

  Pitching wildly, the prahu continued to advance, hurtling into troughs, climbing up foaming swells, as the sea began to rage. Her masts shook and her sails rattled with such force it seemed they would soon be torn away. But still Sandokan would not yield.

  Hands fixed to the tiller, his long hair blowing in the wind, the Tiger of Malaysia remained undaunted, keeping his ship on course for Labuan, determined to brave nature’s fury.

  His men were just as bold. Clinging to the rigging, they scanned those turbulent waters, ready to execute the most dangerous manoeuvres, heedless of the peril.

  Meanwhile, the hurricane grew stronger, attempting or so it seemed, to smash the ship that dared defy it. Thunder rumbled darkly, enormous swells towered about her, attacking with deafening roars, the wind howling through her rigging as the sea broke over her sides.

  The prahu fought desperately, battling to hold her ground, fending off the waves as they attempted to drag her northward. Rearing like a mad horse, she plunged through those mountains of water, shaking from bow to stern, at times listing so badly the crew feared she would capsize.

  That stubborn defiance could not last much longer. The hurricane was growing ever more violent and they would soon be forced to surrender to that raging sea, a fate that had perhaps befallen the other prahus, for the two ships had long since vanished from sight.

  Aware of the folly of fighting on so stubbornly, Yanez was heading for the stern to beg Sandokan to change course, when the sound of a distant blast reached his ears. Seconds later a cannonball whistled over the deck and blunted the foresail. A cry of rage exploded aboard the prahu, for no one expected an enemy attack in the midst of such a storm. Sandokan gave the tiller to one of his men and rushed to the bow to try and spot the daring attacker.

  “Ah!” he exclaimed. “A cruiser!”

  The ship that had fired that cannonball with such great accuracy was indeed a large steamer. The British flag flew from her gaff, her pennant fluttered atop her mainmast.

  “What’s she doing out here in this storm?” Sandokan wondered. “Is she patrolling the coasts of Labuan or has she come from a nearby island?”

  “We’ve got to tack about, Sandokan,” said Yanez, coming to his side.

  “Tack about?”

  “Yes, little brother. That ship suspects we’re pirates heading for Labuan.”

  A second shot rang out from the steamer’s deck and another cannonball whistled through the prahu’s rigging. The pirates ran to their cannons, ready to respond, but Sandokan quickly put up a restraining hand. Retaliation was unnecessary. Hampered by her weight, the great ship could barely remain afloat, and though she fought desperately against the waves attacking her bow, she was slowly being dragged northward. Within minutes she was out of range, her artillery no longer a threat.

  “It’s too bad she found us in the middle of this storm,” said Sandokan sullenly. “She would have been a fine catch.”

  “It’s better this way, little brother,” said Yanez. “May the devil take her and drag her to the bottom of the sea.”

  “What was she doing on open water while every other ship was seeking shelter? We must be closer to Labuan than we thought.”

  “Yes, it appears so.”

  “Can you make out anything ahead of us?”

  “Nothing but mountains of water.”

  “And yet my heart’s racing, Yanez.”

  “Hearts can often be mistaken.”

  “Not mine. Ah!”

  “What did you see?”

  “A dark mass out there, towards the east. A flash of lightning made it visible just now.”

  “But even if that were Labuan, it would be impossible to land in su
ch weather.”

  “We’ll land, Yanez, even if I have to smash my ship into a thousand pieces.”

  At that very moment a Malay crewman cried out from atop the mainmast, “Land off the bow!”

  Sandokan howled in delight. “Labuan! Labuan!” he exclaimed. “Give me the tiller.”

  He walked across the deck, barely noticing the waves crashing down upon his every step, took the tiller in hand and pointed the prahu east. As the ship approached the coast, the sea appeared to double its fury, as if attempting to block a landing at all costs. Mountainous waves swelled about them, the wind surging violently as it broke against the island.

  Sandokan refused to yield, and with his eyes fixed on the east, advanced without fear, the lightning flashes guiding him forward. Soon, he found himself just a few leagues from the coast.

  “Careful, Sandokan,” said Yanez, drawing up beside him.

  “There’s no need to worry, brother.”

  “Watch out for the reefs.”

  “I’ll avoid them.”

  “Any shelter around here?”

  “You’ll see.”

  The island was no more than two cable lengths away, her dim outline looming before them, waves crashing furiously upon her shores. Sandokan studied the coast for a moment then tacked to port with a hard pull on the tiller.

  “Hold on!” he yelled to the pirates clinging to the rigging.

  Driving the prahu forward with enough recklessness to make the hair of even the most experienced seafarer stand on end, he sailed through a narrow channel between two large cliffs and entered a small but deep bay that connected to a river. The waters were churning violently in that little refuge, threatening to sink the prahu if she remained there much longer. She would have been better off facing the ire of the open sea than attempting to land on those wave-swept beaches.

  “It’s no use, Sandokan,” said Yanez. “She won’t withstand this pressure much longer.”

  “You’re a good swimmer, aren’t you?” asked Sandokan.

  “As good as any of our Malays.”

  “You aren’t afraid of the waves?”

  “No.”

  “Then we’re going ashore.”

  “How?”

  Instead of replying, Sandokan turned to one of his men and said, “Paranoa, take the tiller.”

  The Dyak quickly came to relieve his captain.

  “What are your orders?” he asked.

  “Keep her against the wind,” replied Sandokan. “Try to avoid the sandbars.”

  “She’ll be in good hands, Tiger of Malaysia.”

  Sandokan then turned towards his men and said, “Prepare the launch and secure it on the bulwark. As soon as the waves sweep the deck, let it go.”

  At that command, the pirates exchanged anxious looks, not fully understanding the Tiger of Malaysia’s intentions. An attempt to reach shore in a launch would have been sheer folly, the tumultuous waves making the effort almost suicidal, yet they hurried to obey without objection, without once asking for an explanation. They secured the launch on the starboard bulwark, after having first supplied it, as per Sandokan’s orders, with carbines, ammunition and supplies.

  When all was ready, the Tiger of Malaysia approached Yanez and said, “Get in the launch, brother.”

  “Pardon?”

  “We’re going ashore.”

  “We’ll shatter every bone in our bodies, Sandokan.”

  “Bah!… Get in, Yanez.”

  “You’ve gone mad, little brother.”

  Instead of replying, Sandokan picked up his friend and put him in the launch, then jumped in himself. A mammoth wave was heading towards the bay, roaring menacingly as it approached.

  “Paranoa!” replied Sandokan, “Get ready to tack about.”

  “Where should I go?” asked the Dyak.

  “Head north, use the trysail only. Once the storm subsides, come back to the bay.”

  “Yes, Captain, and you?”

  “Yanez and I are going ashore.”

  “You’ll get yourselves killed!”

  “Silence! Ready to cast off! Here it comes!”

  The enormous wave thundered through the channel and roared into the bay, barrelling towards the prahu. It was upon her in an instant, bathing her in a cloud of foam.

  “Cast off!” yelled Sandokan.

  The launch was released and immediately swept away, carrying off its two brave passengers. Almost simultaneously, the prahu, taking advantage of the backwash, tacked and sailed off, disappearing behind the cliffs.

  “Row, Yanez,” said Sandokan, grabbing an oar. “We’ll land on Labuan despite the storm.”

  “This is madness!” exclaimed the Portuguese.

  “Row!”

  “What if we crash into a reef?”

  “Quiet! Keep your eyes on the waves!”

  Pitching wildly as she fought the backwash, the launch advanced towards the shore, which fortunately had a gentle slope and was free of rocks. A second wave carried her forward a hundred metres, bucking and tossing her among the foam. Suddenly she struck something hard and the two brave men watched helplessly as the keel gave way beneath their feet.

  “Sandokan!” shouted Yanez, as water gushed in through the opening.

  “Hold on!”

  His voice was smothered by a second tremendous blow.

  Caught by an enormous wave, the launch reared up, shot past the shore and crashed against a tree, hurling the two pirates to the ground. Sandokan, having fallen into a pile of leaves and branches, sprang to his feet, quickly gathering the carbines and ammunition. Another wave rushed towards the shore, caught hold of the launch and swept it towards the bay, swiftly sinking what was left of it.

  “Lovers! To hell with the lot of them,” cried Yanez, his limbs shaking as he rose to his feet. “Only a mad fool would have attempted such a thing.”

  “Ah, so you’re still alive?” laughed Sandokan.

  “Were you hoping otherwise?”

  “I would never have forgiven myself, Yanez. Look! Our prahu!”

  “What? Didn’t she head off?”

  The ship passed before the mouth of the bay once again, flying by with the speed of an arrow.

  “Such loyal men,” said Sandokan. “Before sailing off they wanted to ensure we hadn’t drowned.”

  He unfastened his red silk sash and unfurled it in the wind. An instant later a shot rang out from the deck of the ship.

  “They saw us,” said Yanez. “Let’s hope they manage to stay alive.”

  The prahu tacked and headed north. Yanez and Sandokan remained on the beach until they could no longer see her then ran for shelter in the forest, trying to escape the pelting rain.

  “Where are we going, Sandokan?” asked Yanez.

  “I have no idea.”

  “You don’t know where we are?”

  “It’s impossible to tell with this weather. I think we’re pretty close to the brook though.”

  “What brook would that be?”

  “The one we used as our hideout after we battled the cruiser.”

  “Is it near Lord James’ villa?”

  “Just a few miles from it.”

  “So we have to find the brook then.”

  “That’s right, Yanez.”

  “All right then, come tomorrow, we’ll scour the coast.”

  “Tomorrow?!” exclaimed Sandokan. “I can’t sit around here for that many hours. There’s fire in my veins. You do realize we’re on Labuan, home to my Marianna?”

  “Do you think the fact we’re on an island that’s crawling with Red Coats has somehow escaped me?”

  “Then you can understand my impatience.”

  “Not at all, Sandokan. By Jupiter! I’m still spinning from that ride of ours and now, despite this blasted hurricane, you want to go for a stroll? I’ll say it again: you’ve gone mad, little brother.”

  “Time is precious, Yanez. Don’t you remember what the corporal said?”

  “Perfectly, Sandokan.”
>
  “Lord James could run off to Victoria at any moment.”

  “He won’t do it in this infernal weather.”

  “Don’t joke, Yanez.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it, Sandokan. Let’s discuss things, little brother. You want to go to the villa? And do what?”

  “To see her at least,” sighed Sandokan.

  “And commit some daring act of madness, no doubt.”

  “No.”

  “Come now! I know you much too well. You’ve got to remain calm, little brother. The villa’s probably packed with soldiers, we can’t face them alone. Best to wait for the prahus to return before we act.”

  “If you knew what being here is doing to me,” Sandokan exclaimed hoarsely.

  “I can imagine, but I won’t allow you to do anything rash, especially if it could cost you your life. You want to go to the villa and see if Marianna is still there? We’ll go, but only after the hurricane has subsided. The darkness and the rain would prevent us from getting our bearings and finding that brook. We’ll set off tomorrow, once the sun comes out. For now, let’s find some shelter.”

  “And I’ll have to wait until tomorrow?”

  “Dawn is only three hours away.”

  “An eternity!”

  “Three hours, Sandokan! In the meantime, the waves will settle, the wind will die down, and the prahus will have the opportunity to make their way back here. Come, we’ll go sit under that areca, those enormous leaves should provide excellent shelter. It’s a good place to wait for dawn.”

  Though he could not fault Yanez’ logic, Sandokan was hesitant to take his advice. Still hoping to convince him to depart, he kept his eyes fixed upon his friend for a little while longer, then gave up and, with a heavy sigh, sat down at the base of the tree.

  The hurricane continued to rage tremendously, wind roaring through the jungle, the rain pounding the canopy. From among the openings in the surrounding trees, the two pirates could see the waves crashing angrily against the shore. Watching them grow ever larger, Yanez’ thoughts turned to his men.