y were
nearly up with us; and I hope that they won't forget the lesson they
have learned to-day," I answered. I need not say that Mary and Fanny
looked very thankful when they saw us safe on board.

We anxiously watched the savages, for we could not be certain of their
intentions. They might rally and renew the attack, if not in the
daytime, during the night, when we should be unable to see them till
they were close upon us. Our hope therefore was that the wind would
again spring up, and that we should be able to get to sea before
darkness set in. In vain, however, we waited for a breeze. The canoes
meantime had disappeared behind the nearest island; but we could not
ascertain whether they had gone on to the further-off islands or were
still in our neighbourhood. In the latter case they might come suddenly
upon us, and it would be necessary to keep a very watchful look-out to
avoid being taken by surprise. I volunteered to go on shore and
ascertain where they were, by making my way through the wood across the
island, till I reached some point whence I could obtain a view over the
water on the north side; but Harry would not allow me to run the risk,
for had I been discovered I should in all probability have been put to
death. He, however, took one of the boats, and surveyed the whole of
the channel through which we should have to pass to get to sea, that,
should a breeze spring up during the night, we might get out without
fear of running on the reef. By the time he returned on board evening
was drawing on. He had directed Tom to fire a gun as a signal should
the canoes appear, but not one was seen before it became so dark that we
could scarcely distinguish the outline even of the nearest island. Mary
and Fanny having recovered from their alarm, for they had naturally been
much frightened, were seated in the well-lighted cabin, with Nat, at
tea, when Harry and I joined them. We had left old Tom and Dick in
charge of the watch on deck, consisting of Tom Tubb the New Zealander,
and Jacky Pott the Sandwich Islander, with two other men. The guns were
loaded, the muskets arranged against the companion-hatch, and the cable
was hove short, so that we might speedily trip the anchor and make sail
should the wished-for breeze spring up. We almost forgot, as we were
enjoying our comfortable meal in our cozy cabin, that not far off were
hordes of howling savages; that we had to find our way between coral
reefs, and mi