s, who must have heard the firing and were
standing up with their muskets ready for service, no one was to be seen.
His great object was now to prevent the enemy getting between him and
the water. Continuing his retreat, he ordered his men to reload and
fire as rapidly as they could, and then to push on for the boats. From
the courage and hostility of the people, he doubted very much that they
were Papuans, and was convinced that they were Malays who had taken
possession of that part of the country. One thing was certain, that
they must have had constant intercourse with white men to have obtained
so large a supply of firearms and powder.

Not seeing Tom and Desmond, nor any of the men who accompanied them, he
began to fear that they must have been cut off by another party of the
natives. He determined, however, on reaching the boats, should the
enemy advance, to shove off to a distance, and there await the possible
reappearance of the midshipmen, or, should they not return, to go off to
the ship for reinforcements, and if they had escaped with their lives,
to endeavour to rescue them.

It was a serious question, however, whether he should succeed in
reaching the boats. He called on his men to fight to the last, and to
sell their lives dearly. A hearty cheer was the reply, and the seamen
fired a well-directed volley, which knocked over several of their
enemies; but before they could reload, the natives were upon them, and a
hand-to-hand fight ensued. Animated by the voice of their officer, they
got their bayonets fixed and charged the enemy. Two poor fellows had
dropped, shot through the heart. Besides those already wounded, another
close to Mr Norman had his brains knocked out. The survivors making a
desperate effort, finally succeeded in reaching the boats.

Scarcely, however, had they got on board than the enemy regaining
courage rushed down upon them, and not without a severe struggle did
they manage to shove off, so many being wounded that it was with the
greatest difficulty they could man the oars. Scarcely had Mr Norman
taken his seat in the stern sheets than he sank down fainting. He
recovered somewhat as the boats got beyond the reach of shot from the
shore; and although he wished to put himself and the other wounded men
under the care of the surgeon, he felt a great unwillingness to pull off
without having ascertained the fate of the midshipmen.

"Did any one see them?" he asked.

"No, sir," a