As he went, he spoke and even jested with the Samoans, and they answered in good part.

One fellow was leaping, yelling, and tossing his axe in the air, after the way of an excited islander.

"_Faimalosi_! go it!" said Hufnagel, and the fellow laughed and redoubled his exertions.

As soon as the boats entered the lagoon, fire was again opened from the woods.

The fifty blue-jackets jumped overboard, hove down the boats to be a shield, and dragged them towards the landing-place.