No need for him to choose his course now! The boat was already sent upon its errand.
A wild shout of alarm rose from the war canoe, and the next instant the prow of "The Galleon" struck it squarely in the middle.

There were more shouts of alarm or pain, a crunching, ripping and breaking of wood, and then "The Galleon," after its momentary check, went on.

The war canoe had been cut in two, and its late occupants were swimming for their lives.
Not in vain had Paul read in an old Roman history of the battles between the fleets when galley cut down galley.
Henry, although he did not look up, knew at once what had happened, and he could not restrain admiration and praise.
"Good for you, Paul!" he cried.

"You took us right over the war canoe and that's what's likely to save us!" Henry was right.

The other canoes, appalled by the disaster, and busy, too, in picking up the derelicts, hung back.