'Wake up, you
fools!' I said; 'there is something moving.' Again I heard the low grating
sound.

"'Did you hear that?' I asked.

"The men were wide awake now.

"'Yes, sir, I heard a noise; but I don't know what it was.'

"'They are launching their canoes,' I said. 'I will call the first
officer.'

"I went aft. Purvis woke directly I touched him.

"'I fancy they are launching their canoes,' I said. 'I have twice heard a
grating sound.'

"He was up in a moment. We stood listening intently for some minutes.
There was certainly a movement on shore, but it was difficult to say of
what kind. It was just a low confused murmur.

"'You are right,' the mate said presently; 'look at the water.'

"For a moment I scarcely understood him; then I saw what he meant. It had
been as smooth as oil before; it was no longer so, but it was broken with
tiny ripples as if disturbed by the faintest possible breeze.

"'These ripples must be made by launching the canoes,' he went on. 'A
strong body of men might carry them almost noiselessly down that sandy
beach and put them in the water without making a splash, but the stir made
in wading and in lowering them down, however quietly, would break up this
glassy surface, and the ripples once started would run out here. Anyhow we
will get the men out. Tell them to come noiselessly. We will serve out the
arms and ammunition to them, but we won't load the guns till we have
something more to go upon. It may be some time before they attack. I think
it is likely enough that they will wait until they hear the boats--which I
have no doubt they have sent for--coming up, before they make a move.'

"'Shall I wake the skipper?'

"'Certainly not. As likely as not he would blow us all up and send the men
back to their bunks again. He has made up his mind that there is no
danger, and the obstinate beggar would risk our having all our throats cut
rather than own there was any ground for alarm.'

"I went into the forecastle and roused the men, warning them to muster as
quietly as possible. Half an hour passed without the slightest sound being
heard. Then the men fidgeted and whispered together, and were evidently of
opinion that they had been turned out on a false alarm.

"'Hush, men!' Purvis said sharply, 'I can hear something.'

"You could have heard a pin drop in a moment, and I believe every man held
his breath. There was a sort of quiver in the air rather than a sound, and
Watkins the boatswa