The Lakewood Boys in the South Sea Islands by L.P. Wyman

"They're coming. Hadn't we better see if we can pull off?"

Mr. Lakewood asked the question as he saw the leader of the navy, evidently having finished his oration, sit down and pick up a paddle.

"We'll try, but I doubt if we can move her yet," Captain Ole told him. "Back her up, Mr. Kelley," he ordered waving his hand to the man in the wheel house.

Almost at once the propeller began to turn, and in a moment it was beating the water to a white foam, but the Valkyrie did not budge an inch.

"No go yet," the captain shook his head.

The boats were now moving toward the Valkyrie, but it was evident to those on board that the natives were in no hurry to come to close quarters. Probably aware of the fact that their victims, as they undoubtedly already considered them, were unable to get away and, at the same time having a healthy respect for their weapons, the sound of which at least, they had heard, they had evidently determined to make the attack with as little danger to themselves as possible. So, instead of paddling directly toward the Valkyrie they began to spread out in a large bow.

"Just what I expected," Captain Ole growled.

"Meaning what? " Mr. Lakewood asked.

"They're going to surround us."

"They naturally would."

"Yep, I suppose so, but I hoped they wouldn't have brains enough to plan it."

He had already stopped the effort to float the boat, fearing to strain some part of the machinery, and all was quiet on board, as they watched the small craft drawing gradually closer.

"How about firing a few rounds over their heads? " Bob asked.

"It won't do any harm, I suppose," the captain replied, and an instant later they all fired together, emptying their revolvers as rapidly as they could pull the triggers. By this time the small boats were spread out in a semicircle and as the shots rang out, the paddlers stopped as though undecided whether to keep on or to turn back. But, after a few moments of indecision, evidently noting that no one had received an injury, the leader shouted an order and the paddlers resumed their work.

"Reckon we'll have to make a hit or two next time," the captain announced grimly. "That didn't seem to impress them much."

The sun had come up bright and clear, but for some time now a haze, which had been getting thicker and thicker, had obscured it, until now it was shut out entirely.

"The worst thing possible's going to happen, I'm afraid," Captain Ole said soberly as he glanced about him.

"You mean we're going to have a fog? " Mr. Lakewood asked anxiously.

"In less than five minutes."

"That's bad."