But never a boat was there left on board the Vulture to take them on shore, when they should dare to make the venture, as dare they must, or die!
Canoes with armed natives came towards them, but kept aloof, making many threatening gestures. It was evidently their intention to board at night, and so the one swivel-gun which the Vulture possessed was loaded to her adamantine lips, and kept in readiness, and so were all the small-arms.
It was long past midnight, however, before anything occurred. The stars were burning very brightly, specially the Southern Cross, when suddenly Ralph gave warning voice. A fleet of dug-outs was approaching, although nothing could be seen distinctly, and the gun was immediately pointed in its direction.
First the savages were warned off: they only came on faster. A rifle fired into their midst had merely the effect of stopping their progress for a moment. In a few minutes they would be swarming up the sides, knives in hand, and murder in their fierce and fearful eyes.
It is hard to have to take the lives of even savages, but needs must now, and so the gun gave voice. It was fired into their very midst, its canister-shot doing dreadful damage, as the yells of the foe fully testified. There were loud shrieks and groans, and speedily all that was left of the dark fleet retreated shorewards. But just as speedily the gun was now loaded, and once more discharged with deadly effect.
The natives had probably never heard a gun fired before, nor ever seen the face of a white man.
Presently, when all was still, a rasping on the ship’s side told that a canoe was rubbing against her, and Johnnie himself ventured down. There was no one in it, and the paddles were gone. But a large calabash of pure water was found. How glorious! God had not forgotten these shipwrecked wanderers after all, and the savages who had come off thirsting for blood had brought life instead.
Ralph kept watch. The others slumbered on deck, with the exception of Peggy, who was hard and fast asleep on the cabin sofa.
Morning revealed another marvel.
The tide had risen and floated the Vulture off the reef and into a creek!