do them no harm. The canoes were now so
near that I could distinguish their character. Though small compared
with those of Fiji and Tonga, the leading ones were double, with a
platform in the centre, on which stood a number of men gesticulating
violently, and flourishing spears and clubs, while others sat on either
side working broad-bladed paddles almost upright at a rapid rate. I
could have picked off some of the warriors, but was unwilling to
commence hostilities. I looked round, and was thankful to see that
Harry's boat was getting near the schooner. In a few minutes he and his
companions would be on board. Before then, however, my boat would be on
a line with the canoes, and a shot fired from the vessel might strike
her. Just as this idea occurred to me there came a flash and a loud
report, and as I looked astern to see the effect produced by the shot, I
saw that the canoes were thrown into considerable confusion. The
leading one had been struck, and the platform knocked to pieces. The
warriors were tumbling overboard, while the other canoes, coming up,
were running into the wreck and into each other. Whether any one had
been killed I could not see. Dick and the rest of my crew shouted as
they saw what had happened.

"Give way, lads, give way," I cried out. "We may get on board now and
defend the vessel, if the savages venture to attack us."

We had got almost up to the schooner, and Harry had put the ladies on
board her before the savages had recovered from their alarm, the
warriors and crew of the wreck having got on board the other canoes.
Notwithstanding the effect of Tom's shot, they seemed bent on attacking
us, and once more came paddling on.

"We must show the savages that we are not afraid of them," cried Harry,
turning his boat's head towards the canoes, and standing up with a
musket in his hand. He had obtained two from the vessel. I imitated
his example, and all hands raised a loud, ringing cheer, which no sooner
did the savages hear than they ceased paddling, and when we, firing our
muskets, dashed forward, they fairly turned tail, or rather backing
away, went off in all directions. A few more musket shots fired over
their heads increased their speed.

"I told you, Mr Ned, that you'd find the small arms of use," said Tom,
when we got on board. "They ain't accustomed to big guns, and don't
know what a round shot can do."

"It was your round shot, however, which stopped them when the