s people
in the boat at such a short range that it is marvellous that any one
escaped.

"Before they were able to pull out of range, the captain, third mate,
and one of the seamen were mortally wounded, and two others and
Mrs. Marston also were hit Then the mutineers, evidently bent on the
slaughter of the whole party, began to lower away one of the heavy
quarter-boats, but although she was actually put in the water the
villains changed their minds for some reason, and the longboat was not
pursued."

"Ah!" said Frewen, "I expect they were afraid to leave the ship in case
a breeze sprang up."

"So Villari says. However, they then began firing round shot at the
longboat from the two nine-pounders on the quarter-deck--the _Esmeralda_
is armed with six guns--but made such bad practice that after half a
dozen shots had been fired they gave up the attempt.

"The ship at this time was in the Straits of Manono, and the boat was
headed for the nearest land, which was Samatau--the four unwounded men
keeping to the oars most manfully, only taking short spells every hour.
As darkness came on they saw the lights of Samatau village, and came
on without fear, for they knew that the natives of Samoa, though very
warlike, were hospitable and friendly to Europeans. During the night the
third mate and the badly wounded A.B. died, and poor Marston, who had
never spoken since he had been first struck down, lay as you saw him a
little while ago, without the slightest sign of returning consciousness.
Villari, however, began to improve, and weak as he was, yet contrived
to show one of the men how to dress Mrs. Marston's wound in a more
efficient manner. He _is_ a plucky little fellow.

"The boat would have reached here much sooner, only that Villari and his
people could not find the passage through the reef, and several times
struck on coral patches.

"Well, that is the whole of the story--and a very dreadful one it is
too. I do feel so for that poor little woman. Her heart is breaking."

"Ay, indeed," said Frewen, "poor thing! She seems hardly more than a
girl."

"However, please God, we shall get her husband's ship back," and
Raymond's dark eyes sparkled. "Ah! here comes the chief. He will not
fail us. He is one of the most renowned fighters in Samoa, is he not,
Randall?"

CHAPTER VI

Malie, the supreme chief of the district, was indeed, as Raymond said,
one of the most renowned fighters, not only on Upoln, but in all Sam