just take a
look fore and aft under her bottom, to make sure that she's clear
everywhere; and when I sing out `All clear!' will you and the rest
please jump aboard and stand by to cover me with your rifles and protect
me from a rush while I knock away the spur shores and launch the little
hooker? And you might drop a few ropes' ends over the sides, and
especially over the bows, for me to swing aboard by as soon as she
starts to run down the ways. And if them bronze-coloured skowbanks up
on the cliffs there tries to run in upon me with their spears while I'm
down under, give 'em toko; for if I'm hurted afore them spur shores is
knocked away, we may have a lot of trouble yet. Ah! blest if I didn't
think so," as Cunningham's shots cracked out thrice, and two natives
tumbled headlong down the face of the cliff, while a third hurriedly
scrambled back to cover; "they're guessin' that if they don't look sharp
we'll get away from 'em a'ter all, so please keep a keen eye on 'em,
sir."

"Ay, ay, Chips, we will," answered I. "Now, get along with your
inspection, man, as lively as you please, for I see signs of a movement
among them up there. Simpson," to the sailmaker, "jump aboard and lend
Mr Cunningham a hand to reload those guns; and when you have done that,
drop a few ropes' ends over the sides for Chips to climb aboard by."

By the time I had finished speaking the carpenter had crept in under the
schooner's bottom and was hastily yet carefully assuring himself that
the vessel's keel had been everywhere lifted clear of the keel blocks.
Less than three minutes sufficed him to complete his examination, when
he shouted the signal "All clear!" and immediately began to pound upon
the heels of the spur shores with his maul, while Murdock and I made a
dash for the ladder which afforded access to the schooner's deck. But
it was clear that the savages had by this time gained a tolerably
accurate conception of what we were about, and had begun to realise that
unless they acted at once we were likely to slip through their hands
after all; for no sooner did the boatswain and I jump for the ladder
than they set up a fierce yell, and about a hundred of them broke cover
and began to scramble down the cliff face, shouting encouragement to
each other as they swung or sprang from one projection to another,
tossing their spears and war clubs down to the beach beneath, in order
that they might have the use of both hands during their hurrie