a number of men; for had the
savages attacked while the men were at work on the ships, the latter
would have been taken at a serious disadvantage, and the loss would have
been very heavy.

As the first canoe made its appearance round the point, a perfect
pandemonium of savage and ear-splitting yells arose from the bush, and a
loud noise of crashing and crackling announced that the enemy there were
coming along at their utmost speed. The outcry was answered from
seaward as the canoes came pouring into the inlet.

"Now, stand steady, lads!" shouted the captain. "As they come in upon
us give them a round from the guns, and load again if you have time;
then a volley from the muskets; and after that we must trust to our good
swords. But keep cool, and do not throw away a shot."

As he finished speaking the enemy burst from the bush like a swarm of
angry bees, and charged at full speed at the little band of white men
opposed to them; whereupon a perfect storm of grape-shot, old nails,
rusty bolts, pieces of scrap-iron, and even stones, with which the
cannon had been hastily loaded, went hissing through their close ranks;
and, from the piercing screams and yells of agony that at once arose
from them, the execution must have been terrible. Yet they poured out,
checked only for a moment.

"Fire again!" roared the captain; and the muskets crashed out in a
rattling volley, the bullets mowing the natives down in swathes.

This second discharge checked them and caused them to waver; but a tall
man, gaily bedecked with feathers, instantly sprang from the ranks, and,
haranguing them, called to his comrades to follow him, he himself
leading the charge.

They soon reached the guns, and, leaping over them before they could
again be loaded, were at once among the English, who had now to fight
for dear life.

Howling with fury, they stabbed and slashed and struck with spear and
club; and from the other side of the little circle came a shower of
well-placed arrows, and many a brave seaman fell writhing his life out
on the sand, which by this time was assuming a sinister crimson hue.

Roger and Harry, each armed with an excellent sword borrowed from the
ship's armoury, were here, there, and everywhere, but always together,
doing much execution, and repeatedly saving each other's lives.

Cavendish, in the front of his men, swept his long blade from side to
side, and as it fell, flashing meteor-like in the brilliant sunshine,
th