heard,
and large numbers of the savage natives were seen rushing down from
among the trees to the beach. When they found that the canoe had moved
from the rocks, they yelled and shouted more fiercely than ever.

"Give way, lads! give way!" cried the stranger; "there is a narrow place
where they may catch us if we are not smart."

Neither the English seamen nor the natives required any urging, but
paddled away as hard as they could. They saw the savages indeed, their
figures standing out against the sky, as they hurried along over the
rocks, shouting, and leaping, and brandishing their spears. Before the
canoe had got far, a shower of spears and darts fell among the party on
board; but, thrown from a distance, not much injury was done, and they
were only stimulated to increased exertion. Alone, they could not, in
the dark, have found their way out through the passage in the reefs; the
young man, however, seemed confident that he knew the right course to
steer. Not a word was spoken; each man paddled as hard as he could.
Gradually the rocks were left behind, and the last passage between the
reefs was seen; beyond was the open sea. The shouts and shrieks of the
savages became fainter and fainter. They either had not had time to
launch their canoes, or were afraid to attack the large double canoe in
them. In a short time Mr Manners and his companions were in safety.

Once more a course was steered for Samoa. All were thankful for their
narrow and providential escape, and did not fail to express their
gratitude to the young Englishman who had been the means of preserving
their lives. He, however, seemed unwilling to talk on the subject.

"Nothing particular, sir, to thank me for," he answered. "Less said
about it the better, according to my notion."

It was fortunate that they had economised their small stock of water and
provisions, as they had been unable to replenish them at the island from
which they had just escaped. It was necessary to be even still more
careful than before, because it might be some time before they could
reach any other island where they could obtain what they required.

Most of the English seamen were loud in their threats of vengeance
against the savages, for their treacherous conduct.

"If we ever reach the old Ajax, we would like to get her to go back and
blow the fellows to pieces," said one.

"No, no; that is not the way to treat them," observed Marco, when he
understood wha