Presently the boatswain, whose duty it was to keep one of the night-watches, came quietly in to make a report.
“There are no signs yet, sir. The forest is quiet enough, except for the birds and beasts. It is very bright now. If they do come, we will have light enough to give ’em fits.”
“I hope they will, then,” replied the captain; “I sincerely trust that tall native wasn’t a-gammoning us.”
“I feel sure enough he wasn’t, sir.”
“Hark!” cried the captain.
It was the sentry’s hail. Next moment his rifle rang out on the night air. It seemed to be caught up by the echoes of the forest, and the sound multiplied indefinitely, but there was instant evidence that this was no echo.
A long line of fire swept across the forest shore, and bullets rattled through the rigging or on the vessel’s sides.
The attack was about to commence.
Guns were speedily run out in the direction from which the volley had come, and just by way of showing the enemy that the Niobe was prepared, two loaded with shrapnel were fired.
The yell of rage and pain that rang through the forest, told plainly enough that some of the savages had bitten the dust. The battle had begun.