The Schooner Attacked: A Desperate Fight.

Then, to their horror, the yacht's people saw a flotilla of war-canoes sweep round the point and dash towards them under the impulse of scores of paddles. The canoes were packed with savages yelling their fighting cries, and there was a hideous bellow and roar from conch-shells, the war-trumpets of the Solomons.

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Webster was in command of the yacht. It was a fearful moment, when he suddenly realised that the guns were not loaded. Out with your muskets, ye Wanderers, all hands! The first weapons to hand were snatched up. Tomahawks, pikes, guns, pistols—not a second to lose, for the warriors arc already boarding the schooner. Some of them climbed on board, plying spears and clubs, and showers of arrows flew from the canoe crews. Several natives were killed on the deck; after a desperate fight the other boarders were hurled back into their canoes. Fortunately they boarded on only one side. Had they attacked on both sides of the schooner simultaneously the Wanderers would all have been slaughtered. By this time the long Tom and the other guns had been loaded, and charges of grapeshot were fired into the canoes. Webster, who had shot down two natives on the deck, took charge of the long Tom and laid and fired it. Some canoes were sunk or shattered, and others drew off. It was probably the first time those savages had encountered artillery.

The shore was bombarded, and then the Wanderer's largest boat was lowered, and with a strong armed crew and a two-pounder gun in the bow, Webster landed and searched vainly for his missing friend.

The Wanderers scoured all the shore and burned the native villages. Boyd's sword belt was found, and part of the skull of the native sailor with him, but that was all. Without a doubt the bodies of both men had been carried off for a cannibal feast.