, on Oneaka, two hundred armed
and naked savages were sitting awaiting the arrival of Corton and his
warriors from Kuria. A little apart from the muttering, excited
natives, and seated together, were the man Deschard and the two other
beachcombers, Pedro and Tamu.

As Corton and his men filed across the gravelled pathway that led to the
_maniapa_ Deschard, followed by the two other white men, at once came
out, and the former, with a fierce curse, demanded of Corton what had
kept him.

"Couldn't manage to get them ashore," answered the other, sulkily. Then
he proceeded to impart the information he had gained as to the ship, her
crew, and armament.

"Nine men and one native boy!" said Deschard, contemptuously. He was a
tall, lean-looking, black-bearded man, with even a more terrifying and
savage appearance than any of his ruffianly partners in crime, tattooed
as he was from the back of his neck to his heels in broad, perpendicular
lines. As he fixed his keen eyes upon the countenance of Corton his
white teeth showed in a cruel smile through his tangled, unkempt
moustache.

Calling out the leading chiefs of the cutting-out party, the four
desperadoes consulted with them upon their plan of action for the attack
upon the brigantine, and then arranged for each man's work and share o
the plunder. The white men were to have the ship, but everything that
was of value to the natives and not necessary to the working of the ship
was to be given to the natives. The muskets, powder, and ball were to be
evenly divided between the whites and their allies.

Six of the native chiefs then swore by the names of their deified
ancestors to faithfully observe the murderous compact. After the ship
was taken they were to help the white men if the ship had anchored to
get her under way again.

It was the intention of Deschard and his mates to make for the East
Indies, where they would have no trouble in selling the ship to one of
the native potentates of that archipelago.

*****

At daylight the brigantine, which had been kept under easy sail during
the night, was seen to be about four miles from the land, and standing
in. Shortly after, two or three canoes, with only a few men in each, put
off from the beach at Oneaka and paddled out leisurely towards the ship.
When about a mile or so from the shore they ceased paddling, and the
captain of the brigantine saw by his glass that they were engaged in
fishing.

This was merely a device