tly to launch them, and finish
the treacherous work that they had begun.

For a few moments I felt paralysed, but recovering myself I made a sign
to Ebo, hoisted the great sail to its fullest height, and as the boat
careened over I hurried aft to the tiller and the sail began slowly to
fill, and our boat to move gently through the water.

But never had it moved so slowly before, for the breeze was very light,
and it seemed as if the savages must get their canoes launched, and have
paddled out to us before we could get up any speed.

They saw this, and kept on shouting and working with all their might,
moving first one canoe and then the other to the edge of the water,
launching them, springing in, and the next moment the air was black with
paddles.

Again an instant and the sea was foaming with their vigorous strokes.

But for the fact that the canoes were very large and heavy and took time
to get well in motion, we must have been overtaken, for the wind seemed
to be playing with our sail, one moment filling it out, the next letting
it flap idly as the boat rose and fell upon the waves.

Seeing that I could do no more I fastened the tiller with a piece of
cord and rapidly reloaded the guns, Ebo picking up his spear, and, to my
horror, beginning to shout at and deride the savages.

It would have made little difference, I suppose, for the blacks would
have killed us without mercy had they overhauled us, and that they
seemed certain to do, for they were paddling steadily and well, their
blades being plunged into the water with the greatest regularity, making
it foam and sparkle as they swept along.

So fast did they seem to come, uttering in chorus a sort of war-cry at
each plunge of the paddles, that I wondered why they did not overhaul
us, so slowly did we seem to move, and at last, as they got their canoes
in full swing, they came on hand over hand, getting so near that the men
in the bows made ready their spears to hurl, and I raised my gun,
meaning to make as brave an end as I could.

I was too much excited to feel frightened now. I suppose there was not
time, all my thoughts being turned upon the acts of the savages, one of
whom now threw a spear, which fell short.

I took aim at him, but did not fire, thinking that I would reserve the
shot till we were in greater danger, and hoping that a couple of
well-directed charges might have the effect of deterring them from
further pursuit. But still on they came