The Samoans began immediately to withdraw; their movements were hastened by a sortie, and the remains of the landing- party brought on board.

This was an unfortunate movement; it gave an irremediable air of defeat to what might have been else claimed for a moderate success.

The blue-jackets numbered a hundred and forty all told; they were engaged separately and fought under the worst conditions, in the dark and among woods; their position in the house was scarce tenable; they lost in killed and wounded fifty-six,--forty per cent.; and their spirit to the end was above question.

Whether we think of the poor sailor lads, always so pleasantly behaved in times of peace, or whether we call to mind the behaviour of the two civilians, Haideln and Hufnagel, we can only regret that brave men should stand to be exposed upon so poor a quarrel, or lives cast away upon an enterprise so hopeless.
News of the affair reached Apia early, and Moors, always curious of these spectacles of war, was immediately in the saddle.

Near Matafangatele he met a Manono chief, whom he asked if there were any German dead.