while he led the other along
the cabin to the stern-port. Meantime, the savages had all clambered on
board, and were shrieking and shouting in the most fearful manner,
crowding down into the hold, as we could judge by the sounds which
reached us, and handing up the rich treasures they found there.

"No time to be lost," said Pearson, hauling up the boat. He went to the
locker, and collected all the provisions he could find. "Jump in, Tom
and Jack," he said. "Now for the fire-arms." He handed them in, and
told us to place them along the thwarts, ready for use. "Now, Green,"
he said in a low voice, "jump in." We three were now in the boat, which
was hidden under the counter from those on deck. He struck a light, and
placed it to the slow match, and, having ascertained that it was
burning, slipped after us into the boat, in which the mast was
fortunately stepped.

"Jack, do you take the helm, and steer directly for the mouth of the
harbour," he said, cutting the painter and seizing an oar. Tom and
Green did the same, and pulled away lustily. We had already got several
fathoms from the vessel before we were perceived. The sail had been
placed ready for hoisting. It was run up and sheeted home. The savages
were about to jump into one of the canoes, and chase us, but three
muskets pointed towards them made them hesitate. We were rapidly
slipping away from the doomed brig. We could see the savages dancing
and leaping on deck, their shouts and yells coming over the water
towards us.

"They will dance to another tune soon," muttered Pearson between his
teeth.

He and the other two had again taken to the oars. Even now a flight of
arrows might have reached us, but fortunately the savages had not
brought their bows with them, and probably that was the chief reason why
they had not ventured to pursue us. They well knew that several of
their number would have been shot down with our bullets had they made
the attempt. Still we could see some of the chiefs apparently trying to
persuade their warriors to follow us, and we knew that though we might
fight till all our ammunition was expended, we should at last be
overwhelmed by numbers.

Our chance of ultimate escape seemed small indeed. "They will not
come," said Pearson. "See!" We had got half-a-mile or more from the
brig, when a deep thundering sound reached our ears. It seemed as if
the whole vessel was lifted out of the water, while up into the air shot