ritain were the
hereditary enemies of those who dwelt on Mano Island, and it was hateful
for them to see a ship anchor there, for then the Mano Islanders would
get axes and muskets and hoop-iron.

So, with Baringa, the chief, at their head, they all ran to the summit
of a high, grassy hill (known, by reason of a terrible deed once done
there in the olden times, as the Hill of Old Men's Groans), and sat down
to watch if the ship would send her boats ashore.

'Look!' said Baringa, fiercely, striking the ground with his heavy
jade-headed club, 'look, I see a boat putting out from the side. Who
among ye will come with me to the ship, so that I may sell my turtle
shell and pearl shell to the captain for muskets and powder and bullets?
Are these dogs of Mano to get such things from the ship, and then come
over here at night and slay and then cook us in their ovens? Hungry am I
for revenge; for 'tis now twelve moons since they stole my son from me,
and not one life have I had in return for his.'

But no one answered. Of what use was it, they thought, for Baringa to
think of his little son? He was but a boy after all, and had long since
gone down the throats of the men of Mano. Besides, the Mano people were
very strong and already had many guns.

So for an hour Baringa sat and chafed and watched; and then suddenly
he and those with him sprang up, for a sound like thunder came over to
them, and a cloud of white smoke curled up from the ship's side; she had
fired one of her big guns. Presently Baringa and his people saw that the
boat which had gone ashore was pulling back fast, and that some of the
crew who were sitting in the stern were firing their muskets at the Mano
people, who were pursuing the boat in six canoes. Twice again the ship
fired a big gun, and then the boat was safe, for the two twenty-four
pounders, loaded with grape-shot, smashed two of them to pieces when
they were less than a hundred yards from the ship.

Baringa shouted with savage joy. 'Come,' he cried, 'let us hasten to the
beach, and get quickly to the ship in our canoes; for now that the white
men have fought with these Mano dogs, the ship will come here to us and
anchor; for I, Baringa, am known to many white men.'

* * * * *

The name of the ship was the _Boadicea_. She was of about seven hundred
tons, and was bound to China from Port Jackson, but for four months had
remained among the islands of the New Hebrides