With a fierce yell, they then pounced upon him, dragging him to the beach!
Feeling that there was not a moment to lose, the young man, by a sudden movement, disengaged himself from their clutches; then, picking up a spear, drove it through the body of one who had lifted his war-club to beat out the sailor's brains!
The other now aimed at Harry's head a furious blow, which must have killed him, had it taken effect.
Not so, however, for old Tom Turk, seeing his friend's peril, had sprang ashore, and picked up another spear, which he thrust through the back of the native!
The scream of the dark-skinned fellow, as, throwing up his arms, he fell backward, rang down the sky with startling distinctness, while his friends, hearing that scream, and eager for vengeance, came dashing on, yelling like a pack of wild hyenas!
With a single bound through the water, Turk and Harry now gained the raft, and were soon helping Brand, who had not even left his place, push the floating platform out to sea.
Luckily there was an outer current tending towards the reef, and which drew the raft rapidly along towards the rocks. This soon was reached, while the baffled yells of the savages continued pealing along the waters.
As the raft was drawn through an opening in the reef, and the party put out to sea, Turk again drew forth his beloved grog, and eyed it wistfully.
"Ay, ay, bless your eyes!" said he, "you are too good to grease the gullets of them blueskins."
"Put up your grog, Turk," said Harry, "we have more important matters to think of."