. There was no answer for a moment, and then it came in the
shape of a dozen pistol shots.

Ned dropped down behind a clump of bushes and waited for an instant,
resolved to know what was going on at the boat before advancing. Then
the boys from the camp came running up, asking questions, and all made a
rush for the boat.

When they came within sight of the spot where she lay, they saw that she
was moving out into the bay, and that Pat was standing by the engine
whirling the fly-wheel. On the shore were a score of Filipinos, standing
with guns turned toward the boat.

The boys saw Ned and Frank spring forward, saw them hesitate an instant,
and then drop to the ground. The _Manhattan_ swung out into the bay with
engines snapping and propeller churning the smooth waters.

"Whoop--ee!" shouted Pat from the deck.

"Got her off all right!" shouted Jimmie. "Nobody hurt!"

"Straight to the Northwest," shouted Ned, "and keep your rockets going!"

"I wish we had been able to get on board," Frank said, regretfully, as
the _Manhattan_ showed a clean pair of heels out of the bay. "I saw Jack
on her."

"The boys on board have their instructions," Ned said, "and now we may
as well be getting out of range of these little brown men! If Pat and
the others hadn't been on their guard the boat would have been
captured."

The moon was rising now, almost at full, and brought the natives,
standing on the beach, out in full relief. They were well armed, and
seemed very angry at the turn matters had taken. They had evidently been
sent out to capture the boat, and were not pleased at the report they
would now be obliged to make.

They stood looking out at the fast receding boat for only a moment
before opening fire on her. Directly, however, the _Manhattan_ was out
of range, and then they turned their attention to Ned's party, which,
being hidden by the thicket, might not have been discovered at that time
only for the instructions shouted out by Ned as the boat slid away.

Knowing that he would be between two fires if a battle opened, Ned made
no show of resistance when the natives approached him with leveled guns.
There was a great bustle between the Tusks now, showing that the cargo
of the schooner, whatever it was, was being landed, and it was natural
to suppose that there existed an understanding between the crew and the
men on the island.

"Don't try to shoot!" a voice said in good English. "My men have you
covered."

"Who a