s were handed to them. We all now stood at our
posts anxiously watching for the approach of the enemy. At length we
saw some dark-skinned faces appearing amid the brushwood, and directly
afterwards some thirty or more wild-looking savages rushed through it
and began to ascend the hill. They stopped for an instant on seeing the
formidable preparations made for their reception, while, of course, they
could not tell how many people were within the stockades ready to fire
on them. At length one of their chiefs apparently came to the front,
and waving his curved sword, seemed to urge them to follow him. On he
came, a humpbacked savage-looking fellow. Even at that distance I
fancied I could distinguish his hideous features. More than once he
went back, and seemed shouting to his followers to keep up with him; and
with wonderful agility, considering his form, he toiled up the hill.

"Mr Hooker, you are the best shot among us, please to pick off that
fellow," said Mr Thudicumb. "If it were not for him, I do not think
the fellows would have come on."

The hunchback still continued to advance, his long arms and claw-like
fingers assisting him up the steeper places. Again he stopped and
appeared to be swearing at his men for not coming faster. He was now
within range. I could not help looking on one side to watch Mr Hooker
as he stood perfectly calm with his musket covering the pirate chief.
Little did the man think that a musket in the hands of an unerring shot
was pointed at him. The pirates, finding no opposition as yet, now came
on more readily, and soon another body of an equal number appeared
behind them, coming from the woods. I could by this time clearly see
the countenance of the pirate. He was an old man, with two or more ugly
gashes about the face, showing that he had not followed his profession
with impunity. The pirates, uttering fierce cries, were now rushing on.

"I must stop that fellow's career, at all events," said Mr Hooker,
levelling his piece. He fired. The old pirate stood up for an instant
on a rock which he had just reached, waving his sword above his head,
and then fell backwards over the men who were coming up behind him. The
Frau instantly seized the gun, and began reloading it. The pirates, who
had been quickly advancing, now appeared to waver.

"If we had a dozen more fellows with us, we would quickly sally out and
put them to flight!" exclaimed Mr Thudicumb.

"But as we are only