“Never mind the remainder,” cried Mr Paget. “The water will be dearly purchased if we wait to allow these savages to overtake us. Shove off, shove off!”
Captain Westerway was on deck, surprised to see the boat coming back. Willy was standing near him. They observed Mr Paget making signs to them. “He is telling us to get under way, sir,” he observed.
“So I believe he is,” exclaimed the captain. “Mr Windy, turn the hands up and make sail.”
The people, who were below, jumped on deck, wondering what was the matter. The boat was quickly alongside; those in her leaped on board, and she was hoisted in.
“Shall we weigh the anchor?” asked Windy.
“Not if we wish to escape from the savages’ canoes,” said Mr Paget. “Captain Westerway, these people are not to be trifled with.”
“We will slip the cable, then,” said the captain. “It is better to lose that than be cut off, as several vessels have been, by these people.”
The headsails quickly filled, the wind blew out
of the harbour; the after-sails were set, and the “Young Crusader” glided rapidly towards the ocean. As she got into the middle of the harbour, the cove in which the canoes lay opened out, and a large number of savages were seen in the act of launching them. They were soon afloat, and, filled with men, made chase after the schooner. Of their hostile intentions there could now be no longer any doubt. On they came, paddling at a rapid rate over the smooth surface of the water. All the sail the schooner could carry was set; but still it was too evident that the canoes, unless the wind freshened greatly, would overtake her. The few fire-arms on board the schooner would avail but little against the vastly superior numbers of the savages. The wind increased; still the canoes were gaining ground. Had the captain waited to weigh the anchor, the “Young Crusader” would to a certainty have been captured; even now there appeared little probability of her escaping.