e to the right and two to the left of
him.

Paddy was very much inclined to think all this precaution superfluous.
"What's the use of it, when we have only a set of ignorant niggers to
deal with?" he observed to Jack, as he pulled on. "Give way, lads." He
reached the beach--a light was struck. There was an abundance of dry
driftwood thrown up by gales on the shore. Some of it was speedily
collected, and they had succeeded in setting one boat in a blaze when,
from the suspicious bushes, there came a rattling shower of bullets, and
directly afterwards some fifty savages, with creeses in their hands,
dashed out towards them.

Two of the Englishmen had fallen, and Terence and the rest rushed to
their arms to defend themselves as best they could, though they could
not help looking round to see if the other boats were coming to their
assistance, when from either side so hot a fire was opened, with grape
and bullets, on the pirates, that before they reached the boats they
wished to defend, numbers were tumbled over, and the rest turned and
fled back into the cover. Before he could allow the boats to advance,
Mr Cherry had all the firearms again loaded. Meantime Terence
continued to set the boats on fire, and performed the work without
molestation.

The lieutenant then led the flotilla to a spot where there were no trees
or rocks to shelter an enemy, and leaving three men in each boat, he
landed with the rest and advanced to the top of a neighbouring hill.
There were no habitations in sight, and as it was agreed that it would
be worse than useless to follow the pirates, the party again embarked.

The wounds of the poor fellows who had been hit were bound up, and all
possible attention was paid to them. Notwithstanding this, soon after
the boats again shoved off, one of them died. It was impossible to keep
the body on board, and as landing was dangerous, a shot was fastened to
the feet, and with scant ceremony it was launched into the sea.

"Has Bill gone?" asked the other wounded man, with a faint voice, "I
wish as how he'd waited a bit before he slipped his cable, so that we
could have borne each other company; maybe, if I clap on more canvas, I
shall get up with him. Howsomdever, I shan't be long after him, and
that's a comfort."

For several hours the boats proceeded on, looking into every bay and
creek for signs of inhabitants, from whom they might obtain information.
At last some huts were seen, and the exp