The women appeared stretching their hands to heaven in ardent gratitude.
“What about those ruffians?” Fritz enquired.
“They’re running!” replied Jack, who had just slid down the flag-staff.
“Yes, they’re running!” John Block added. “And if they don’t clear jolly quick, we’ll help them along with our last four-pounders.”
And indeed, surprised by the detonations ringing from the north, scared by the sight of the ship coming round the point, the savages had fled to the point where their canoes were lying. They clambered into them, shoved off hard and paddled vigorously in the direction of Cape East.
The boatswain and Jack went back into the hangar and trained the two guns upon them; and three canoes, cut in half, went to the bottom.
Just as the ship, coming under full sail into the arm of the sea, was off Shark’s Island, she joined her heavy guns to those of the battery. Most of the pirogues failed to escape the rain of shot and shell, and only two succeeded in vanishing behind the cape, never to return.
“Just as the ship was off Shark’s Island, she joined with her heavy guns.”