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When
the
hour
of
midnight
approached
,
the
men
were
mustered
on
deck
,
the
cable
was
cut
,
and
the
muffled
sweeps
got
out
.
These
sweeps
were
immensely
large
oars
,
each
requiring
a
couple
of
men
to
work
it
.
In
a
few
minutes
we
entered
the
mouth
of
the
creek
,
which
was
indeed
the
mouth
of
a
small
river
,
and
took
about
half-an-hour
to
ascend
it
,
although
the
spot
where
we
intended
to
land
was
not
more
than
six
hundred
yards
from
the
mouth
,
because
there
was
a
slight
current
against
us
,
and
the
mangroves
which
narrowed
the
creek
impeded
the
rowers
in
some
places
.
Having
reached
the
spot
,
which
was
so
darkened
by
overhanging
trees
that
we
could
see
with
difficulty
,
a
small
kedge-anchor
attached
to
a
thin
line
was
let
softly
down
over
the
stern
.
"
Now
,
lads
,
"
whispered
the
captain
as
he
walked
along
the
line
of
men
,
who
were
all
armed
to
the
teeth
,
"
do
n't
be
in
a
hurry
,
aim
low
,
and
do
n't
waste
your
first
shots
.
"
He
then
pointed
to
the
boat
,
into
which
the
men
crowded
in
silence
.
There
was
no
room
to
row
;
but
oars
were
not
needed
,
as
a
slight
push
against
the
side
of
the
schooner
sent
the
boat
gliding
to
the
shore
.
"
There
's
no
need
of
leaving
two
in
the
boat
,
"
whispered
the
mate
as
the
men
stepped
out
;
"
we
shall
want
all
our
hands
.
Let
Ralph
stay
.
"
The
captain
assented
,
and
ordered
me
to
stand
in
readiness
with
the
boat-hook
,
to
shove
ashore
at
a
moment
's
notice
if
they
should
return
,
or
to
shove
off
if
any
of
the
savages
should
happen
to
approach
.
He
then
threw
his
carbine
into
the
hollow
of
his
arm
,
and
glided
through
the
bushes
,
followed
by
his
men
.
With
a
throbbing
heart
I
awaited
the
result
of
our
plan
.
I
knew
the
exact
locality
where
the
musket
was
placed
,
for
Bill
had
described
it
to
me
,
and
I
kept
my
straining
eyes
fixed
upon
the
spot
.
But
no
sound
came
,
and
I
began
to
fear
that
either
they
had
gone
in
another
direction
or
that
Bill
had
not
fixed
the
string
properly
.
Suddenly
I
heard
a
faint
click
,
and
observed
one
or
two
bright
sparks
among
the
bushes
.
My
heart
immediately
sank
within
me
,
for
I
knew
at
once
that
the
trigger
had
indeed
been
pulled
,
but
that
the
priming
had
not
caught
.
The
plan
,
therefore
,
had
utterly
failed
.
A
feeling
of
dread
now
began
to
creep
over
me
as
I
stood
in
the
boat
,
in
that
dark
,
silent
spot
,
awaiting
the
issue
of
this
murderous
expedition
.
I
shuddered
as
I
glanced
at
the
water
that
glided
past
like
a
dark
reptile
.
I
looked
back
at
the
schooner
;
but
her
hull
was
just
barely
visible
,
while
her
tapering
masts
were
lost
among
the
trees
which
overshadowed
her
.
Her
lower
sails
were
set
,
but
so
thick
was
the
gloom
that
they
were
quite
invisible
.
Suddenly
I
heard
a
shot
.
In
a
moment
a
thousand
voices
raised
a
yell
in
the
village
;
again
the
cry
rose
on
the
night
air
,
and
was
followed
by
broken
shouts
as
of
scattered
parties
of
men
bounding
into
the
woods
.
Then
I
heard
another
shout
,
loud
and
close
at
hand
;
it
was
the
voice
of
the
captain
cursing
the
man
who
had
fired
the
premature
shot
.
Then
came
the
order
,
"
Forward
!
"
followed
by
a
wild
hurrah
of
our
men
as
they
charged
the
savages
.
Shots
now
rang
in
quick
succession
,
and
at
last
a
loud
volley
startled
the
echoes
of
the
woods
.
It
was
followed
by
a
multitude
of
wild
shrieks
,
which
were
immediately
drowned
in
another
hurrah
from
the
men
,
the
distance
of
the
sound
proving
that
they
were
driving
their
enemies
before
them
towards
the
sea
.
While
I
was
listening
intently
to
these
sounds
,
which
were
now
mingled
in
confusion
,
I
was
startled
by
the
rustling
of
the
leaves
not
far
from
me
.
At
first
I
thought
it
was
a
party
of
savages
who
had
observed
the
schooner
,
but
I
was
speedily
undeceived
by
observing
a
body
of
natives
--
apparently
several
hundreds
,
as
far
as
I
could
guess
in
the
uncertain
light
--
bounding
through
the
woods
towards
the
scene
of
battle
.
I
saw
at
once
that
this
was
a
party
who
had
outflanked
our
men
,
and
would
speedily
attack
them
in
the
rear
.
And
so
it
turned
out
;
for
in
a
short
time
the
shouts
increased
tenfold
,
and
among
them
I
thought
I
heard
a
death-cry
uttered
by
voices
familiar
to
my
ear
.
At
length
the
tumult
of
battle
ceased
,
and
from
the
cries
of
exultation
that
now
arose
from
the
savages
,
I
felt
assured
that
our
men
had
been
conquered
.
I
was
immediately
thrown
into
dreadful
consternation
.
What
was
I
now
to
do
?
To
be
taken
by
the
savages
was
too
horrible
to
be
thought
of
;
to
flee
to
the
mountains
was
hopeless
,
as
I
should
soon
be
discovered
;
and
to
take
the
schooner
out
of
the
creek
without
assistance
was
impossible
.
I
resolved
,
however
,
to
make
the
attempt
,
as
being
my
only
hope
,
and
was
on
the
point
of
pushing
off
,
when
my
hand
was
stayed
and
my
blood
chilled
by
an
appalling
shriek
,
in
which
I
recognised
the
voice
of
one
of
the
crew
.
It
was
succeeded
by
a
shout
from
the
savages
.
Then
came
another
and
another
shriek
of
agony
,
making
my
ears
to
tingle
,
as
I
felt
convinced
they
were
murdering
the
pirate
crew
in
cold
blood
.
With
a
bursting
heart
and
my
brain
whirling
as
if
on
fire
,
I
seized
the
boat-hook
to
push
from
shore
when
a
man
sprang
from
the
bushes
.
