On Grevsmuhl's wharf, a light showed them a crowd of German blue-jackets clustered, and a hail was heard.

"Stop the singing so that we may hear what is said," said one of the chiefs in the _taumualua_.

The song ceased; the hail was heard again, "_Au mai le fana_--bring the gun"; and the natives report themselves to have replied in the affirmative, and declare that they had begun to back the boat.

It is perhaps not needful to believe them.

A volley at least was fired from the wharf, at about fifty yards' range and with a very ill direction, one bullet whistling over Pelly's head on board the _Lizard_.