114 SPORT, TRAVEL, AND ADVENTURE 



with considerable strategic intelligence, had climbed up 

 on to the reef, nearly fifty yards away from the front 

 attack, and now, single-handed, came rushing down 

 on the enemy. It was impossible to distinguish one 

 from the other in this fighting mass ; but, however 

 it happened, our warrior suddenly disappeared into deep 

 water on the outer side of the reef and we saw him 

 no more. And now two of the enemy lay apparently 

 dead on the rocks, one survivor standing alone. To 

 shoot him would have been as easy as hitting a hay- 

 stack, but fair play and admiration of his pluck with- 

 held a single barrel from being raised against him. 

 He remained fearlessly looking at our men for a 

 moment, his bronze-black body glistening with per- 

 spiration, his club resting on his shoulder, and no 

 doubt he thought his last moment had come, with 

 more than fifty rifles not a hundred yards off. Then 

 he suddenly whisked round, plunged into the sea out- 

 side the reef, swam for a short distance, climbed it 

 again, no doubt thinking he was out of range, and 

 finally made a dash for the beach and the safety of 

 the jungle. Some bluejackets went off to the reef 

 and picked up the clubs and bows fallen from the 

 natives, and rolled their dead bodies into the sea. 



The muster-roll was then called to go on board, 

 but three were missing a mate, Tupper, a nephei 

 of the melancholy poet of that name, and two blui 

 jackets. So a search was made, and there, by tl 

 side of the path leading through the dense jungl 

 to the still blazing village, Tupiper's body was foun< 

 stripped naked, with the head battered out of a] 

 recognition. It was clear that he had been slain hard) 

 ten minutes before, and that the natives must hai 



