Through the hawse-pipe coil after coil of cable flew, and the barque swung head to wind. Before she had lost all way, both boats were lowered, manned by strong armed crews, and, braving all subsequent rebuke, Jack Clewlin promptly took a seat beside the second mate.
'You should not have come, boy,' the latter said.
'I can mind the boat, sir,' Jack returned.
With right goodwill the men lay back on their oars, and cheers greeted the almost surrounded Germans. Directly the boats struck the beach all hands jumped ashore, and immediately arranged themselves into watches under the respective leaders.
Mr. Sennit dashed toward the right wing of the foe, and with his men the second mate rushed toward the opposite extremity, both parties firing as rapidly as their weapons could be reloaded. The yelling cannibals speedily wavered, and sought cover among the adjacent scrub and trees. But the Germans were still vigorously assailed by a centre knot of the foe, whereupon both British watches united, and pouring in an almost continuous volley of lead speedily relieved the situation. The savages suddenly retreated, but not before they had carried off the whole of their dead and wounded.
So closely had Jack Clewlin followed the fortunes of his friends on shore that the approach of further assistance was not noticed. For the brig, on seeing her consort shorten sail and bear up for the island, immediately followed, and sent men to the rescue.
Perhaps it was their timely arrival which ended the fray. At anyrate, the savages were not again seen, but several of their spears were secured as trophies of the struggle.
On hasty examination it was discovered that the Germans had suffered serious loss. Four of them were found dead among the scrub, while six others had been more or less severely wounded. What the uninjured had dreaded more than the spears were the short pieces of bent and blackened wood, known as 'boomerangs,' for when those were thrown with force the result was astonishing. They could easily kill any small animal or bird without losing momentum, and would return to the point of discharge. Two of the men had been killed by them, but in those cases the weapons lost further power on striking such heavy obstacles.
A recall signal on the 'Alert' attracted attention.
'All aboard!' Mr. Sennit sang out. 'We can do no more, and must not lose the fair wind.'