“No fear of that, my dear Selina; but they had better watch their motions to the last minute.”
During this conversation between Mr and Mrs Seagrave within the stockade, William and Ready were watching the motions of the savages, a large portion of whom had landed out of ten of the canoes, and the others were following their example as fast as they could, forcing their way through the reefs. The savages were all painted, with their war-cloaks and feathers on, and armed with spears and clubs, evidently having come with no peaceable intentions.
William, who had taken the telescope to examine them more minutely, said to Ready, “What a fierce, cruel set of wretches they appear to be; if they overpower us they will certainly kill us!”
“Of that there is no doubt, William; but we must fight hard, and not let them overpower us. Kill us they certainly will, and I am not sure that they may not eat us afterwards; but that is of little consequence.”
William replied in a determined tone, “I’ll fight as long as I have breath in my body; but, Ready, they are coming up as fast as they can.”
“Yes; we must wait no longer. Come, William.”
“I thought I saw another vessel under sail, out away by the garden point, Ready, just as we turned away.”
“Very likely, sir, a canoe which has separated from the others during the night. Come, quick, William, they have begun to yell.”
Another half-minute, and they arrived at the door of the stockade; they entered, shut the door, and then barricaded it with the cocoa-nut poles which they had fitted to the inner door-posts.