These statements were disconcerting. Not only was it possible for the natives to surround the _Kansas_ with a whole swarm of men, but the mere number of their boats would render it exceedingly difficult to repel a combined assault. And nothing could be more truculent than the demeanor of the semi-nude warriors. They pointed at each person they saw on the decks, and made a tremendous row when they passed the canoe fastened alongside. Despite their keen sight, they evidently did not recognize Suarez, who now wore a cap and a suit of clothes taken from the locker of one of the missing stewards, while his appearance was so altered otherwise that even the people on board found it difficult to regard him as the monstrous-looking wizard whom they had dragged out of the water some twelve hours earlier. The impudence of the Indians exasperated Courtenay. The sheer size of the _Kansas_ should have awed them, he thought. “I wish they had left their women behind,” he muttered. “If the men were alone, an ounce or two of buck-shot would soon teach them to keep their distance.” “Perhaps they are aware of the danger of boarding a ship which stands so high above the sea as the _Kansas_,” said Christobal. “Why not fire a couple of rounds of blank cartridge at them?” “Worst thing you can do,” said Tollemache. “But why?” “They would be sure, then, you could not hurt them. If you shoot, shoot straight, with the heaviest shot you possess.” At that moment the rowers permitted the canoe to swing round with the tide. One of the men stood up, and Elsie, who seized the chance of snap-shotting the party, ran to the upper deck, so she did not overhear Courtenay’s smothered ejaculation. He was scrutinizing the savages through his glasses, and he had distinctly seen the ship’s name painted on a small water-cask on which the Indian had been sitting. Tollemache made the same dramatic discovery. “Out of one of the ship’s life-boats, I suppose?” he said in a low tone to the captain. “Yes. Did you see the number?” “Number 3, I think.” “I agree with you. That was the first life-boat which got away.” Christobal, startled out of his wonted sang-froid, whispered in his turn: “Do you mean to say that one of the boats has fallen into the hands of these fiends?” “I am afraid so,” replied Courtenay. “Of course, that particular keg may have drifted ashore. In any case, it tells the fate of one section of the mutineers. Either the boat is swamped, or the crew are now on the island, and we know what that signifies.” “Is there no chance of bribing these people into friendliness, or, at least, into a temporary truce?” “It is hard to decide. Tollemache and Suarez are best able to form an opinion. What do you say, Tollemache?” “Not a bit of use; they are insatiable. The more you give the more they want. The only way to deal with those rotters is to stir them up with a Gatling or a twelve-pounder.” Suarez, when appealed to, shook his head.