savages to the ground howling with pain, from a crushing blow upon
the wrist, and he now hastened to meet this more formidable foe. But he
was too late to prevent him from getting into the tree, and he had
already gained a footing upon the horizontal branches, when Browne
reached the spot. Atollo was without any weapon, and this was a
disadvantage that might have rendered all his strength and address
unavailing, had not the foliage and the lesser branches of the tree,
interfered with the swing of the long and heavy weapon of his adversary,
and the footing being too insecure to permit it to be used with full
effect. As Browne steadied himself and drew back for a sweeping blow,
Atollo shook the boughs upon which he stood, so violently, as greatly to
break the force of the stroke, which he received upon his arm, and
rushing upon him before he could recover his weapon, he wrested it from
his grasp, and hurled him to the ground, where he was instantly seized
and secured by those below.

While Atollo, armed with Browne's club, advanced upon Max and Arthur,
who were nearest him, several of his followers, taking advantage of the
diversion thus effected, succeeded in ascending also, and in a few
moments they were making their way towards us from all sides. Leaving
them to complete what he had so well begun, Atollo hastened towards the
spot where Johnny and Eiulo were endeavouring to conceal themselves
among the foliage. Though now outnumbered, and hopeless of success, we
continued a desperate resistance. The ferocity of our adversaries was
excited to the highest pitch. There was scarcely one of them who had
not received some injury in the attack, sufficiently severe to
exasperate, without disabling him. We had used our clubs with such
vigour and resolution in opposing their attempts at climbing, that every
second man at least, had a crushed hand or a bruised head, and all had
received more or less hard blows. Smarting with pain, and exulting in
the prospect of speedy and ample revenge, they pressed upon us with
yells and cries that showed that there was no mercy for us if taken.
But even at that trying moment our courage did out fail or falter. We
stood together near the centre of the tree, where the branches were
strong and the footing firm. Only a part of our assailants had weapons,
and, perceiving the utter desperation with which we fought, they drew
back a little distance until clubs could be passed up from below,