At length all the wounded were distributed between five of the canoes. Then Mr. McKay made signs for the rest of the natives to embark, keeping the other five canoes on the beach, and within an hour of the explosion the sorry remnant of the invaders was paddling back towards the island of Ahii.
CHAPTER XIX
THE PRISONER'S ESCAPE
"Do you think they will ever return?" asked Terence.
"I think they have had enough," replied Mr. McKay. "They've had a lesson."
"And so have we," added Ellerton, dolefully regarding the fragments of the storehouse and the shattered line of rails.
"And our boat; how shall we be able to leave the island now?" asked Andy.
"Perhaps the damage done to that is not so great as we imagine. With the help of these canoes we may be able to raise her. But we'll go into that question later. At present I feel as if I could enjoy a good square meal."
So back to the dwelling-house they went, where Quexo, who had been quaking all the time, was reassured.