But his sillier comrades followed his example; a harmless volley warned the boats what they might expect; and they drew back and passed outside the reef for the passage of the Fuisa.

Here they came under the fire of the right wing of the Mataafas on the river-bank.

The beach, raked east and west, appeared to them no place to land on.

And they hung off in the deep water of the lagoon inside the barrier reef, feebly fusillading the pilot house.
Between four and five, the Fabeata regiment (or folk of that village) on the Mataafa left, which had been under arms all day, fell to be withdrawn for rest and food; the Siumu regiment, which should have relieved it, was not ready or not notified in time; and the Tamaseses, gallantly profiting by the mismanagement, recovered the most of the ground in their proper right.

It was not for long.