Her duty was to capsize the enemy’s boats by seizing the outriggers, or at least to try to do so.
Away sped the archery boats with just one wild hurrah! and to see the swiftness with which they bounded along to meet Kara-Kara’s fleet considerably astonished its sailors. They were still more astonished however, when, while still about two hundred yards distant, the archery boats divided into two lines, one skimming along each flank and pouring in a murderous fire of arrows.
It was evident the foe was taken aback. Men were being pierced through body and head, and falling dead in all quarters.
A side movement was made by the enemy with the view of crushing the venomous little archery boats. But Walda’s voice was now heard shouting, “Boro! Boro!” (back! back!) high over the din of the battle.
The enemy now saw the inutility of any flank movement, and once more advanced in lines, redoubling their efforts to reach the island.
King Googagoo’s barge got round and advanced in the rear, and then out came Harry with his fleet.
He took his time.
There was no need for hurry, it was to be a hand-to-hand engagement, and the longer that cloud of arrows fell on the foe the better. The more fatigued the enemy the more chance would Googagoo’s fleet have of coming off triumphant.
At last the hostile canoes met with a terrible rush.
By Harry’s orders the outriggers were to be cut away from Kara-Kara’s boats as soon as possible, and every effort made to capsize them. But above all were they to beware of getting their own double boats boarded and carried by storm.