In the cabin, while yet the uproar of butchery prevailed, he quietly bound up his arm; then laying on the transom the captain's three loaded muskets, undauntedly awaited an assault.
The object of the natives, it seems, was to wreck the brigantine upon the sharp coral beach of the lagoon.

And with this intent, one of their number had plunged into the water, and cut the cable, which was of hemp.

But the tide ebbing, cast the Parki's head seaward--toward the outlet; and the savages, perceiving this, clumsily boarded the fore-tack, and hauled aft the sheet; thus setting, after a fashion, the fore-sail, previously loosed to dry.
Meanwhile, a gray-headed old chief stood calmly at the tiller, endeavoring to steer the vessel shoreward.

But not managing the helm aright, the brigantine, now gliding apace through the water, only made more way toward the outlet.

Seeing which, the ringleaders, six or eight in number, ran to help the old graybeard at the helm.