they
almost reached to the holes between the palisades, through which they
pointed their muskets; and as the savages contrived to slope them down
from the stockade to the ground, it was evident that they meant to mount
up and take them by escalade. At last, it appeared as if all the
faggots had been placed, and the savages retired farther back, to where
the cocoa-nut trees were still standing.

"They have gone away, father," said William; "but they will come again,
and I fear it is all over with us."

"I fear so too, my boy," replied Mr Seagrave; "they are only retreating
to arrange for a general assault, and they now will be able to gain an
entrance. I almost wish that they had fired the faggots; we might have
escaped as Ready pointed out to us, but now I fear we have no chance."

"Don't say a word to my mother," said William; "let us defend ourselves
to the last, and if we are overpowered it is the will of God."

"I should like to take a farewell embrace of your dear mother," said Mr
Seagrave; "but, no; it will be weakness just now. Here they come,
William, in a swarm. Well, God bless you, my boy; we shall all, I
trust, meet in Heaven!"

The whole body of savages were now advancing from the cocoa-nut wood in
a solid mass; they raised a yell, which struck terror into the hearts of
Mrs Seagrave and Juno, yet they flinched not. The savages were again
within fifty yards of them, when the fire was opened upon them; the fire
was answered by loud yells, and the savages had already reached to the
bottom of the sloping pile of faggots, when the yells and the reports of
the muskets were drowned by a much louder report, followed by the
crackling and breaking of the cocoa-nut trees, which made both parties
start with surprise; another and another followed, the ground was
ploughed up, and the savages fell in numbers.

"It must be the cannon of a ship, father," said William; "we are saved--
we are saved!"

"It can be nothing else; we are saved, and by a miracle!" replied Mr
Seagrave in utter astonishment.

The savages paused in the advance, quite stupefied; again, again, again,
the report of the loud guns boomed through the air, and the round-shot
and grape came whizzing and tearing through the cocoa-nut grove; at this
last broadside, the savages turned, and fled towards their canoes: not
one was left to be seen.

"We are saved!" cried Mr Seagrave, leaping off the plank and embracing
his wife, who sank down on her