one morning, as I was
walking on the sea-shore meditating on the affairs of state, I observed
a large fleet of canoes pulling towards the island; I ran back to the
palace to tell the king, and sent messengers in every direction to warn
the people. All was now hurry, and confusion, and dismay. The first
thing they did was to tumble the peace counsellors into the sea with
lumps of coral round their necks, and they then set to work to string
their bows and to point their arrows and their spears. All the generals
had plans of their own; some proposed letting the enemy land, while they
defended the king's palace; some to meet him half-way, others to
capitulate, while I collected as many men as I could and marched them
down to the beach. I had my musket and ammunition concealed in a bush
for a last effort, should the day be against us. The king came out in
his best dress, and harangued his army to the following effect:--

"`We much fine fellows--much brave--much good; de enemy great
blackguard--much coward--much bad--much beast; shoot arrow, kill
plenty.'

"On this the army cheered and waved their spears and bows. We reached
the beach but just in time to receive the enemy, who were mightily
disappointed, expecting to land without any trouble, and to make a fine
feast of our carcases. On seeing us they set up a terrific shout, in
the hopes of frightening us away, but it was no go, and then they began
to pepper us with their arrows, which came as thick as hail about our
ears. Under cover of this shower they pulled into the beach. Our
warriors were brave, but they were long unaccustomed to fighting, and
many were killed and driven back by the enemy. I trembled for my
father-in-law's throne, when I considered that the time had arrived to
bring my musket into play. The first fire astonished them not a little,
but when they found that this patent thunder-maker (as they called it)
knocked over two or three fellows every time it spoke, they thought it
was high time to turn tail and be off. As soon as the enemy began to
retreat, the mob came forward in crowds to attack them, shrieking and
swearing, and abusing them like pickpockets, though they had, while
there was any danger, kept carefully out of the way. I continued firing
on the retreating foe as long as they continued in sight, for my gun
could carry farther than any other in existence. It was made under my
own directions, and was a very extraordinary weapon. If