, as a loud yell from one voice was
heard, and followed by a burst from the whole party. Then the paddles
were plunged into the water on both sides, making it foam and sparkle in
the bright light of the star, the canoes began to move very slowly, and
Captain Bradleigh turned to the yacht's owner--

"They mean mischief, sir. I'm afraid we must fire."

"Only as a last resource," said Sir John.

"If we wait for a last resource, sir," said the captain sternly, "it may
be too late. My lads could sink one of the canoes now, and that might
check the advance. The guns are useless if we let them come to close
quarters."

"But I am dreadfully averse to what may prove wholesale slaughter," said
Sir John.

"So am I, sir," said the captain dryly. "It is for you to decide."

Jack stood quivering with excitement, and wondered what Sir John would
say. But he said nothing, for all at once, as the canoes were coming on
faster and faster in the bright light shed by the star, and the little
crews of the two bright guns laid them ready for the shots they expected
to hear ordered from moment to moment, the strange silence on board was
broken by the clear loud _ting_ of a hammer upon a gong close to where
the principals stood.

"At last!" cried the captain; and before Jack could utter the question
upon his lips as to what that stroke meant, order after order was
delivered in quick succession.

At the first the cable was slipped. At the second, the star, which was
vividly lighting up the approaching canoes, suddenly went out, leaving
everything in darkness, for there was not another light visible on
board. And at the third, a peculiar vibration made the slight yacht
quiver from stem to stern, for the engine was in motion under a good
head of steam, and the propeller revolved slowly in reverse, so that the
yacht moved astern as fast as the canoes approached.

This went on for a few minutes, with captain and mate standing by the
wheel, and the former suddenly turned to Sir John.

"I can't keep this up in the dark, sir," he said. "Perhaps we had
better give them a shot or two."

"Why not keep on retreating?"

"Because at any moment we may retreat on to a sharp coral rock, and be
at their mercy."

"Try everything first."

"I will, sir," said the captain; and suddenly changing his tactics, the
order was given, the light flashed out again, and the canoes were made
out four times the distance away, the men paddling with all