little band fought well and determinedly, and at last thefoe retired, leaving scores of their dead behind--drew off, dragging thewounded away.
At that black mass, just as it was nearing the woods, and while therifles still played upon it, the breechloader, grape-loaded, was trainedand fired.
So close together were the natives that the carnage must have beenterrible.
But twice again ere morning they attacked the fort, receiving the sametreatment, and being obliged at last to withdraw.
When morning broke, the defenders were completely wearied out, and sothe little garrison, after two sentries were set, lay down to snatch afew hours' much needed rest. There was no fear of the attack beingrenewed before sunset, for darkness seemed best to suit the tactics ofthese sable warriors.
In the afternoon of this first day of siege a sally was made from thegreat gate, and seven men stood ready with their rifles, while fourbegan to remove the dead. Each was dragged to the edge of the cliff andthrown over into the sea. When all were cleared away the gate was oncemore shut and barred. But though the burial must have been witnessed,no rush was made by the savages to attack them. The afternoon was spentin taking pot-shots at every figure that could be seen in the burnedbush.
The next attack was made at midnight, and in a manner quite asdetermined as the first.
One of the _Sea Flower's_ men was killed by a spear. It had been thrustwith tremendous force through a loophole, and pierced the poor fellow'sbrain.
Tandy himself had a narrow escape. He was about to fire, but,stumbling, fell, and next moment a poisoned arrow whizzed past and overhim. There was surely a Providence in this, for only fools believe inblind chance.
With the exception of the death of poor Ross, who was an able seaman,there was no other casualty that night.
The savages withdrew, but when, next day, the men of the _Sea Flower_sallied forth to remove the enemy's dead, which they succeeded in doing,it was noticed that many of the spike-nails had, during the fight, beenremoved. These, however, were easily replaced by others, and many morewere added.
There was no attack this evening. The savages had determined toendeavour once more to propitiate their "fiend of war," and an immensefire could be seen burning at midnight in the centre of their camp, notmore than half a mile from the stockade. The big gun was trained uponthis, and a shell planted right in the centre of the dusky mob seemed towork great destruction, and quickly put an end to the orgie.
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The terrible siege was kept up for three whole weeks, and, harassedbeyond measure with the constant night attacks, affairs were becomingvery desperate indeed, and the little garrison was already almost wornout. Day after day it was becoming more apparent to all that utterannihilation was merely a question of time.
A council of war was held now, at which every man was present, andvarious proposals were made, but few indeed were feasible.
The number of the defenders was so small, compared to the hundreds ofarmed savages opposed to them, that a "sally in force," as Tom Wilsonwho proposed this called it, was out of the question.
To attempt to make peace would only be to give themselves away. Thesavage king would be ready enough to promise anything, but in a fewweeks afterwards not one of the poor Crusoes would be left alive.
Should they get the largest boat ready, provision her, and put to sea?Surely the ocean itself would be less cruel at its very wildest thanthose bloodthirsty savages.
The question had been put by Tandy himself. He was hoping against hope;he was like a drowning man clutching at straws. For himself he had nothought. He was brave almost to a fault, and, like any other brave man,was willing to die, sword in hand, fighting the foe.
"And where can man die better, Than in facing fearful odds?"
But his children, especially innocent wee Nelda--ah! that was whatsoftened that heart of his.
"My dear Tandy," said Halcott, "the idea of being once more away out onyonder beautiful and peaceful ocean, even if only in an open boat, isone that commends itself to us all, but, alas, it would in this case bebut a choice of death. Even if we should succeed in eluding the savagesand escaping, which I believe would be almost impossible, we could neverreach the mainland."
So the council ended, and the little garrison remained precisely asbefore.
It was evident to all, however, that the end could not be far distant,for not only provisions, but ammunition itself, would soon give out.All hands saving Nelda were therefore put on short allowance. Coalswere carefully saved, no more being used than was necessary to makesteam to be condensed and used as drinking water; and not an unnecessaryshot was to be fired.
But now there came a lull which lasted for three whole days and nights.Two things were evident enough: first, that the enemy were making somechange in their mode of warfare; secondly, that the final struggle wouldsoon take place--and indeed, as regards that, many of the men within thelittle encampment would have preferred to rush forth, cutlass in hand,and finish the fighting at once.
Most of the country was devastated by the fire that had been kindled,with the exception of a patch away south and east at the foot ofObservatory Hill, on which the proud ensign was still floating, as if togive the besieged some hope and comfort.
But one day this patch of jungle, like the famous Birnam Wood, seemed tobe slowly advancing towards the camp.
Tandy was gazing at it, and looking somewhat puzzled, when Halcott cameup.
"That is more of their fiendish tactics," he said; "and the scheme, Ifear, will be only too successful. You see," he added, "they are pilingup heaps of branches; these will defy our rifle bullets, andunfortunately we have no shells left to fire them. Gradually theseheaps will be advanced, and under cover of them they will make theirnext and, I fear, final attack, and it will be made by day."
Halcott was right, and in a few days' time the savages were within ahundred yards of the palisade. They no doubt meant to advance as nearto it as possible during the hours of darkness, and with might and mainattack at sunrise.
It was midnight when the movement on the part of the besiegers began,and the cover was then slowly advanced. A gentle breeze had begun toblow away from the camp, and the night was moonless and dark.
Presently a hand was laid on Halcott's shoulder. He had been lying nearthe outer stockade quietly talking with James; while Tandy was in theship's state-room keeping his little girl company. The poor child wassadly uneasy to-night, and the father was trying his best to comforther.
"What! you here, Lord Fitzmantle?" said Halcott.
"I'se heah, sah."
It was probably well he said so, for excepting his flashing teeth androlling eyes, there wasn't much else of him to be seen.
"And you're pretty nearly naked, aren't you?"
"I'se neahly altogedder naked, sah. I'se got noddings much on, sah, butmy skin. I go on one 'spedition [expedition] all same's Dabid of old goout to meet de giant Goliah. Dabid hab sling and stone though; Fitz habno sling, on'y one box ob matches. You open dat gate, sah, and I gocrawl, crawl, all same's one snake, and soon makee one big fire to wahmde hides ob dose black niggahs."
"Brave and generous little fellow!" cried Halcott, shaking the boy'shand. "But I fear to risk your life."
"You no feah foh me, sah, all I do. I jes' done gone do foh de sake obdat pooh deah chile Babs.
"Good-night, ge'men. You soon see big fire, and you heah de niggahsfizz. Suppose dey killee me, dey no can kill de soul. Dis chile findeehis way to Hebben all the same, plenty quick."
They let the little lad out.
Whether the acute ears of the savages had heard the bolts drawn or notwill never be known. Certain it is, however, that Fitz was discoveredand wounded. But wounded as he was, he had the determination to lightthe pile.
The savages threw themselves at it, and tore at the burning branches,but this only helped to scatter the flames about.
Fitz
crawled back, just in time to die inside the stockade.
"I go to Hebben now," he said faintly to James, who was kneeling besidehim holding his hand. "I'se dun my duty I fink--heah below. I see mypooh old mudder to-night--she--she--"
He said no more, and never spoke again. The noble little fellow hadindeed done his duty, and doubtless would receive his reward.
James Malone was like a wild man now.
"Brother Halcott," he cried, "summon all hands to arras, and let ussally forth and give these fiends a lesson. They have done to deaththis noble little fellow. Come, Halcott, come. An eye for an eye, anda tooth for a tooth!"
He waved his sword aloft as he spoke.
So sudden and determined was the sally now made by ten resolute menthat, taken thus unexpectedly, the savages became at once unmanned anddemoralised.
The men of the _Sea Flower_ advanced in a