that I had.

"Then stand by, and when I gives the word just you press the trigger,
sir, please. Wait a bit; I don't--Ah! there he is--fire!"

On the instant I pressed the trigger, and as the smoke cleared away I
thought I saw a slight momentary disturbance of the foliage about the
spot at which I had aimed, and then all was still again.

"You got him, sir, as sure as eggs is young chickens!" exclaimed
Murdock, still peering through the glass. "Or, if you didn't actooaly
get him," he amended, "you give him a scare that he won't forget in a
blue moon. Shall I just slip up there, Mr Temple, and see if I can
find anything?"

"Certainly not," I replied severely. "We cannot afford to take any
risks. Besides, what does it matter? No, you remain here, reload that
gun, keep the glass, maintain a bright lookout, and if you see any
savages attempting to sneak down upon the beach, shoot without
hesitation. What I am chiefly afraid of is that they will muster up
there in force, and attempt to overwhelm us with a rush. I am going
below to lend the others a hand."

I found Cunningham, Parsons, and Simpson all working at high pressure
under the bows; for they had of course heard the shot, and did not need
to be told that it indicated the presence of the enemy, though whether
in force or only in the form of a scout none of us could tell. But the
fact that even one of the savages had already made his way across to our
side of the island was spur enough to our energies, and now we worked as
probably none of us had ever worked before, in an endeavour to complete
the cradle, wedge up, and launch the schooner before the enemy should
muster courage enough to charge home upon us. If such a thing as that
last should happen--and it would only mean the loss of a few lives by
the savages--nothing could possibly save us.

I had been down on the beach about five minutes when a slight hissing
sound reached my ear, and the next moment a long, triple-barbed, and
exceedingly formidable-looking spear struck the sand and remained
quivering there within about ten feet of us, and at the same instant
Murdock shouted from above:

"Mr Temple--Mr Temple, sir, I wish you'd come up here and take my
place. They're musterin' up there on top o' the cliff--I can see 'em
movin' about among the bushes--and I ain't ne'er a good enough shot for
the job you've told me off for. If I shoots and misses once or twice
they'll rush us, as sure as you'm aliv