eadlong, leaving the opening clear once more.

"Did--I hit him?" said Panton, faintly.

"Yes, he went down at once. Quick, load again. Another will be up
directly."

He was quite right, but Panton did not stir; he lay back senseless, the
recoil of the fired piece having sent so agonising a pang through him
too that he turned sick and fainted dead away; and this just as a couple
more spear-armed savages dragged themselves up and began to climb
through. In fact, one was dimly seen half in before Oliver could shake
off his feeling of lethargy and steady the gun for another shot.

The report sounded deafening in the confined cabin, filling it far more
with smoke, which Oliver lay trying hard to penetrate as he wondered at
the silence which had now fallen.

The window was open and no enemy was to be seen as the smoke slowly rose
and floated out through the door, carried by the current of air which
set in through the window, and as there was no fresh alarm the young
naturalist lay listening, till all at once steps were heard, and the
mate's voice saluted him,--

"Well, how's the wound? Hear all our noise and firing?"

"Yes," said Oliver, slowly, "I heard."

"But, hallo! what's the meaning of this? I thought that dead-light was
put up? and what! Guns?"

Oliver told him what had happened, and the mate caught his hand.

"And we were so much taken up by our own firing that we did not hear a
sound of yours?"

"Have you beaten them off?" asked Oliver.

"Yes, they've drawn back for the time," replied the mate. "Then if you
two had not helped in the defence of the brig, they would have got in?"

"I suppose so," said Oliver; "but, pray see to Mr Panton."

The request was necessary, and it was some time before he recovered
sufficiently to answer when spoken to, then falling into a sleep that
was broken by feverish dreams.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

THE SCOUTING PARTY.

Mr Rimmer felt great unwillingness for anyone to leave the brig, but at
the end of forty-eight hours, during which no sign whatever had been
seen of the enemy, he felt that some investigations must be made to see
whether they had left the island or were lurking somewhere near, in one
of the patches of forest, waiting for an opportunity to take the
occupants of the brig at a disadvantage.

"And we know what the consequences would be, gentlemen, if they did."

These words were spoken in the cabin where, in spite of their injuries,
both Oliver