through the reef.
Scarcely had we got a couple of hundred yards off before the savages
reached the shore. They instantly fitted their arrows to their bows;
but I, seizing my rifle, made signs that if they let fly I would fire in
return. They understood the hint, and ran off along the beach to a spot
where a number of their canoes were hauled up. The leading one, with
only three men in her, came dashing close after us through the surf.
One held his bow ready to shoot, the rest had placed their weapons at
the bottom. The other canoes contained more savages, and followed close
after their leader. This made us redouble our efforts to escape. We
darted through the passage just as a dozen canoes or more left the
shore. We had a terribly short start of them, and they paddled nearly
twice as fast as we could.

"Shall I fire and give notice to the ship?" I asked Mr Brand. I was
sitting in the bow of the canoe facing forward.

"Yes, yes, Harry, fire," he answered. "They will hear us on board by
this time." I took one of the muskets and fired in the air. Directly
after, we saw the ship crowding more sail, and standing directly for us.

"I thought so all along, and now I'm certain of it," exclaimed Ben,
almost jumping up in his seat. "I know that starboard topmast
studden-sail, and no mistake. She's the _Triton_! Hurrah! hurrah!"

"You're right, Ben," said Mr Brand. "I felt sure also that she was the
_Triton_, but still was afraid my hopes might have in some way have
deceived me. But give way, give way, or the savages will be up to us
before we are alongside her." The caution was not unnecessary, for the
canoes of the savages had already got within range of our rifles.

"Couldn't you bring down a few of the niggers, sir?" asked Ben. "It
will only serve them right, and mayhap will stop their way a little."

"No, no; never shed blood as long as it can be avoided," answered Cousin
Silas. "These very savages who are now seeking our lives may ere long
be shown the light of truth, and be converted and live. See, I believe
they have already made us out on board the _Triton_. They are firing to
frighten off the savages."

As he spoke, three guns were fired in quick succession from the
_Triton_. The noise and smoke, to which the savages were evidently
unaccustomed, made them desist paddling. We redoubled our efforts, and
shot ahead. After a little hesitation, the savages once more pressed on
after us, but hap