Then came the order, "Forward," followed by the wild hurrah of our men, as they charged the savages.

Shots now rang in quick succession, and at last a loud volley startled the echoes of the woods.

It was followed by a multitude of wild shrieks, which were immediately drowned in another "hurrah" from the men; the distance of the sound proving that they were driving their enemies before them towards the sea.
While I was listening intently to these sounds, which were now mingled in confusion, I was startled by the rustling of the leaves not far from me.
At first I thought it was a party of savages who had observed the schooner, but I was speedily undeceived by observing a body of natives--apparently several hundreds, as far as I could guess in the uncertain light--bounding through the woods towards the scene of battle.
I saw at once that this was a party who had out-flanked our men, and would speedily attack them in the rear.

And so it turned out, for, in a short time, the shouts increased ten-fold, and among them I thought I heard a death-cry uttered by voices familiar to my ear.
At length the tumult of battle ceased, and, from the cries of exultation that now arose from the savages, I felt assured that our men had been conquered.

I was immediately thrown into dreadful consternation.