They were partisans; it lacked but a hair that they should be called belligerents; it were idle to try to deny they were the most dangerous of spies.

And yet these two now sailed across the bay and landed inside the Tamasese lines at Salelesi.

On the very beach they had another glimpse of the artlessness of Samoan war.

Hitherto the Tamasese fleet, being hardy and unencumbered, had made a fool of the huge floating forts upon the other side; and here they were toiling, not to produce another boat on their own pattern in which they had always enjoyed the advantage, but to make a new one the type of their enemies', of which they had now proved the uselessness for months.

It came on to rain as the Americans landed; and though none offered to oppose their coming ashore, none invited them to take shelter.