The wind freshening we made good way, but still the flotilla of canoes was fast overtaking us.  The voices of the savages, as they shouted and shrieked at us, were wafted across the water; but they had not the effect of intimidating our friends.  "Ah, my boys, you'll shout to a different tune, I suspect, before long," exclaimed Ben, as he eyed them angrily.  At length, in spite of all the efforts of our friends, the savages got close up to us; and two men in the leading canoe, lifting their bows, were about to draw their arrows, when Cousin Silas exclaimed, "Now is the time, my lads; give it them."  We all fired.  The two savages dropped instantly, and one man in each of the next canoes went head foremost overboard.  The people in the following canoes hesitated for a minute what to do.  The delay gave us time to reload. Again we fired, while our people jumping up sent a flight of arrows among our enemies.  Shrieks, and cries, and groans, arose from the canoes, which all crowded thickly together like a flock of sheep, their people astonished and terrified at what had occurred.  Then they turned round, and all paddled back in evident confusion.  We shouted, and gave them a parting volley; but this time it was over their heads to hasten their movements.  We were preserved,--not one of us had received the slightest injury.  Away we glided, as fast as the wind and our paddles would carry us from the inhospitable island.