By the light of the moon, which was then nearly down, this party observed the _Olga's_ two boats and the praam, which they described as "almost sinking with men," the boats keeping well out towards the reef, the praam at the moment apparently heading for the shore.

An extreme agitation seems to have reigned in the rifle-pits.

What were the newcomers?
What was their errand?
Were they Germans or Tamaseses?
Had they a mind to attack?
The praam was hailed in Samoan and did not answer.

It was proposed to fire upon her ere she drew near.

And at last, whether on his own suggestion or that of Seumanu, Klein hailed her in English, and in terms of unnecessary melodrama.