By killing the Dyak leader he would have deprived the enemy of the dominating influence in this campaign of revenge.

When the main body, already much perturbed by the unseen and intangible agencies which opened fire at them in the wood, arrived in Prospect Park to find only the dead bodies of their chief and his small force, their consternation could be turned into mad panic by a vigorous bombardment from the rock.
Probably, in less than an hour after their landing, the whole tribe would have rushed pell-mell to the boats, cursing the folly which led them to this devil-haunted island.

But it serves no good purpose to say what might have been.

As it was the Dyaks, silent now and moving with the utmost caution, passed the well, and were about to approach the cave when one of them saw the house.
Instantly they changed their tactics.

Retreating hastily to the shade of the opposite cliff they seemed to await the coming of reinforcements.