was amiss; so I crowds all sail upon
the craft, and steers as straight as she would go for the p'int. Whilst
I was running down towards it I fancied I heard a shout, though I
couldn't be sure, but you may depend upon it I was now pretty anxious to
get round the p'int, and see where you was and what was going on. As
soon as I cleared it, I sees you and dearie hurryin' towards the beach,
as though somethin' was amiss, but what it was I couldn't at first make
out, until I see'd the blackies jump out of the bushes, and then I
knowed at once what a reg'lar fix you was in. I see'd ye fire at 'em,
lad, and bring 'em up with a round turn, and my fingers was just all of
a itch to be alongside of ye with one of them same revolvin' rifles in
my fist, though I'm, a'ter all, no great matter of a shot. Well, I
see'd ye run, and I see'd the little lady here step into the canoe and
lie down; and then in course I knowed what you was after, so I shapes a
course accordin'. You knows what foller'd, lad, but you don't know, and
I can't tell ye, what I felt when I saw ye struck down almost within
reach of my arm, and dragged away by them incarnate devils. It seemed
to me as though every mother's son of 'em was fighting for the first
blow at ye, and I gave ye fairly up for lost, sartain. But there warn't
much time for thinkin', for some of 'em started to launch their canoes
at once't in chase of dearie here, and I only had jist time to sheer
alongside and take the craft in tow, when they was afloat and a'ter us.
I stood away to the south'ard, hardly knowing what I was doin', and soon
ran away from 'em hand over hand. I was getting little miss here out of
the canoe into the boat the best way I could, for she'd fainted, when
the idee comes into my old head that if I could but entice the whole lot
of 'em to chase me, I might lead 'em far enough away to give 'em the
slip and run back and get your body--for I never doubted but what you
was dead. So I goes for'ard and lets run the main-halliards, and down
comes the sail, accidental like. The niggers gives a shout as soon as
they sees this, and I hauls my wind as though I couldn't go no further
to leeward without my mainsail; and, sure enough, the trick answered to
perfection, for the whole posse of 'em comes scurryin' down to the
beach, launches their canoes, and shoves off, paddling like mad to the
south'ard, to cut me off. `All right, my hearties, go it,' says I;
`but,' says I, `you have