At his warning cry the crew leapt to their quarters.

The bow gun thundered out, and its flash gave the little band on the boat a momentary glimpse of a horde of painted enemies.

There was no time to reload the gun.

The canoes were all about the schooner, and yelling warriors were clambering over the stern and bow and swarming on the deck.

The crew discharged their muskets into the savages, and then seized spears and hatchets and rushed madly at them, striking and stabbing -- determined at least to sell their lives dearly.