This short but spirited appeal had its full effect upon the hearts to whom it was addressed.  It was answered by three wild hurras, which were taken up by the piquets and outposts, and resounded through the woods.  The British cheer struck the savages with terror; they no doubt thought it preceded an attack, and they were observed making signals with lights to some of their tribe behind the islet.

The night passed undisturbed, and daylight discovered the pirates in the same position, their force increased by ten proahs, making their number at least six hundred men.  The situation of Captain Maxwell and his party became hourly more critical; the provisions could not last long—­something must be done—­some plan must be decided on.  They had but little choice; they must either make a dash at the pirates, and seize their boats, with the certainty of being all butchered should they not succeed,—­and the odds were fearfully against them,—­or they must maintain their present position, in the hope that aid might be sent from Java, in time to save them from a scarcely less horrible fate—­the lingering death of famine.

Under these depressing circumstances, the spirits of the men never for a moment seemed to flag.  True ‘hearts of oak,’ their courage increased with their difficulties, and the prevailing desire amongst them was, to rush upon the enemy and get possession of their boats, or perish in the attempt.

But for this day, at least, they were ordered to remain passive; perhaps in coming to this decision, the wise and brave commander of the party may have remembered another captain who was ’in a great strait,’ and who said, ’Let us fall now into the hands of the Lord, for His mercies are great, and let me not fall into the hand of man,’ The decision, then, was to wait; and the hours rolled on till afternoon, when an officer ascended one of the loftiest trees, and thence he thought he descried a sail at a great distance.  The joyful news seemed too good to be true.

A signal-man was sent up with a telescope, to sweep the horizon.  The eager and intense anxiety that pervaded the little band, until he could report his observations, may be better imagined than described.  At last, he announced that the object was indeed a brig, or a ship, standing towards the island under all sail.  The joy was unbounded and overpowering.  Men felt as if awaking from some horrible dream; and, doubtless, many an honest heart was uplifted in thankfulness to the Almighty, for the mercy vouchsafed in delivering them from what had appeared, a few minutes before, to be certain destruction.

There remains little more to be told; the vessel proved to be the Ternate, which Lord Amherst had sent to their assistance.  The pirates took to flight as soon as they discovered the ship, but not before they had received a volley from the Alceste’s people, unfortunately without effect.

It was not till Friday, the 7th of March, that all were embarked on board the Ternate.  They arrived safely at Batavia on the 9th, and were most kindly received by Lord Amherst, who converted his table into a general mess for the officers, as well as the embassy; comfortable quarters were also provided for the men; and in their present enjoyment they all soon forgot the hardships they had suffered.