246 NIMROB OF THE SEA; OR, 



the movements of the tell-tale compass in the cabin, and 

 this awakened a new hope. 



At this moment the deck sky-light became obsom'ed. On 

 looking up, the men discovered a face peering through the 

 glass. "That's for you !" exclaimed the mate, as he fired 

 his musket through the light, and a fall on the deck told 

 that the white man had drawn first blood in this prolonged 

 contest. The smell of the powder-smoke inspired the crew 

 with a new idea of escape. The mate quietly ordered them 

 to open the "run," and get up a keg of powder. They 

 placed a quantity of the explosive contents on the upper 

 step of the companion-way, and laid a train of oakum and 

 powder to the cabin. The mate prepared to fire the train, 

 while the men stood ready for a rush. He told them not to 

 wait for him if any harm came to him, but to dash through 

 the smoke and take the savages in their first fright. On 

 the word he fired the train, and in a moment the explosion 

 took place with a fearful crashing of timbers, followed by 

 the- screams of the burned and torn savages who were gath- 

 ered about the companion-door. Snrsting through the 'pall 

 of smoke, the crew sprung on the now terror-stricken brutes, 

 who offered very little resistance, and, leaping from the ship, 

 sought safety in their canoes. A large canoe filled with 

 them was broken by an anvil dropped into it, and not a man 

 escaped the shots from the deck. The retreating canoes 

 were followed by the vengeful bullets as long as they re- 

 mained in range. Then, repairing the braces and getting 

 steerage-way, the well men bandaged the fearful wounds of 

 their shipmates who were left bleeding in the forecastle. 

 The bodies of the slain had been thrown overboard by the 

 savages. Thirteen of the latter were found dead, and sev- 

 eral mangled by the effect of the explosion. The men at the 

 mast-head reported a number blown overboard, and described 

 the effect of this volcanic mode of warfare as decisive in the 



