said,
loose, so the boy proceeded to secure it afresh.

Having finished his job to his satisfaction, he prepared to descend from
aloft, but, before doing so, cast his eyes round the scene, and nearly
fell out of the main-top in his alarm; for there, coming round a point
half a mile away, and concealed as yet from those on the beach by a low
point, was a large fleet of canoes filled with natives, who were
doubtless hoping to come upon the beached vessels unawares. They would
certainly have done so had it not been for the fortunate circumstance of
Roger being sent aloft.

He threw another glance to seaward, to see if he could count the canoes,
and found that there must be quite a hundred of them; then he took a
survey of the brushwood inland, and found that his suspicions as to
savages being present there were only too true. At his greater
elevation he found himself looking down upon quite a horde of them armed
with spears, bows and arrows, and clubs. They were advancing slowly
through the bush, and their stealthy movement forward had occasioned the
swaying to and fro of the foliage that Roger first, and Harry
afterwards, had observed.

Roger could not tell whether or not the natives had seen him, and were
aware that they were discovered, but hurried down from the main-top with
such speed that, when he had reached the last ratline of the rigging, he
lost his footing and fell on his back on the sand at the very feet of
Cavendish.

Fortunately for him the sand was soft, and he was not much hurt, though
a good deal shaken. Pulling himself together, he got on his feet and at
once told Cavendish what he had seen.

There was no time to lose; a boat was promptly sent away with messengers
to the two vessels afloat, the _Good Adventure_ and the _Elizabeth_, to
warn them to be in readiness; and the trumpet sounded for the men to
cease work and muster. Arms were hurriedly served out; men were
stationed at the guns, which the captain was now very glad he had loaded
and arranged according to Harry's advice; and very soon they were as
ready for the attack as was possible in the short time at their
disposal.

Meanwhile the two vessels afloat had lifted their anchors, and were
standing closer in, the better to defend their now helpless consorts.

It was evident that the natives in the bush were waiting for their
friends in the canoes to approach closer before they attacked, and this
hesitation saved the English the loss of