Meanwhile, a gray-headed old chief stood calmly at the tiller, endeavoring to steer the vessel shoreward.  But not managing the helm aright, the brigantine, now gliding apace through the water, only made more way toward the outlet.  Seeing which, the ringleaders, six or eight in number, ran to help the old graybeard at the helm.  But it was a black hour for them.  Of a sudden, while they were handling the tiller, three muskets were rapidly discharged upon them from the cabin skylight.  Two of the savages dropped dead.  The old steersman, clutching wildly at the helm, fell over it, mortally wounded; and in a wild panic at seeing their leaders thus unaccountably slain, the rest of the natives leaped overboard and made for the shore.

Hearing the slashing, Samoa flew on deck; and beholding the foresail set, and the brigantine heading right out to sea, he cried out to Annatoo, still aloft, to descend to the topsail-yard, and loose the canvas there.  His command was obeyed.  Annatoo deserved a gold medal for what she did that day.  Hastening down the rigging, after loosing the topsail, she strained away at the sheets; in which operation she was assisted by Samoa, who snatched an instant from the helm.

The foresail and fore-topsail were now tolerably well set; and as the craft drew seaward, the breeze freshened.  And well that it did; for, recovered from their alarm, the savages were now in hot pursuit; some in canoes, and some swimming as before.  But soon the main-topsail was given to the breeze, which still freshening, came from over the quarter.  And with this brave show of canvas, the Parki made gallantly for the outlet; and loud shouted Samoa as she shot by the reef, and parted the long swells without.  Against these, the savages could not swim.  And at that turn of the tide, paddling a canoe therein was almost equally difficult.  But the fugitives were not yet safe.  In full chase now came in sight the whale-boat manned by the Cholos, and four or five Islanders.  Whereat, making no doubt, that all the whites who left the vessel that morning had been massacred through the treachery of the half-breeds; and that the capture of the brigantine had been premeditated; Samoa now saw no other resource than to point his craft dead away from the land.

Now on came the devils buckling to their oars.  Meantime Annatoo was still busy aloft, loosing the smaller sails—­t’gallants and royals, which she managed partially to set.

The strong breeze from astern now filling the ill-set sails, they bellied, and rocked in the air, like balloons, while, from the novel strain upon it, every spar quivered and sprung.  And thus, like a frightened gull fleeing from sea-hawks, the little Parki swooped along, and bravely breasted the brine.