enced all the
bitterness of death. But it was for a moment only. The weight suddenly
rolled from his chest, and, opening his eyes, he saw Roger pulling his
reeking blade from the savage's body. Then, dropping his sword, Roger
raised the musket to his shoulder and fired into the thick of the group
of natives.

With the report came a hearty English cheer as Leigh and a couple of
dozen well-armed sailors rushed round a bend in the beach.

"Lie down! lie down!" roared Leigh, and as the two lads flung themselves
to the floor of the cave, a storm of bullets whizzed over them that at
once accounted for ten of the savages.

Then out came the hangers, and the sailors charged the remaining
assailants, who turned resolutely to meet them, while Harry and Roger,
rising from the floor of the cave, dashed down on the rear, cutting and
slashing and thrusting with right good will, their strength renewed
somewhat by a sight of their own countrymen.

Thus taken in front and rear, the blacks, seized with sudden panic,
broke and fled, followed by another storm of shot from the sailors.

"Now," shouted Leigh, "make for the boats ere they return in
overwhelming numbers!"

In response to this order the English all went off along the beach at
the double, and soon reached the boats, which were not very far away.

They embarked forthwith, and were soon once more on board their
respective ships.

"Well, my boys," said Cavendish as the inseparables climbed the ship's
side, "this morning's adventure was not enough for you, it would appear,
so you must needs go and get yourselves into another mess. Now, mark my
words, you will some day get into a scrape, and one or the other of you
will fail to come out again alive!"

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THEY CAREEN THE SHIPS, ARE ATTACKED, AND DISCOVER THAT THEY ARE NOT THE
FIRST TO VISIT THE INLET.

It was by this time fast approaching evening, and too late to start
lightening the ships that day, since in the tropics the transition from
broad daylight to total darkness is extremely sudden, the light dying
away after sunset like the drawing of a curtain. The men, therefore,
immediately upon their arrival on board, were piped down to supper, and
ordered by their several officers to turn in early, as the next day
would be a long and arduous one for them.

There was no moon, and the figures of the various men on watch could be
but dimly discerned in the starlight, while the stars themselves,
reflec