A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 113: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

110 A QUEER RACE. not appear, but before the suggestion could be considered an event occurred which seems to have helped him toa decision. He and his men were living in tents and huts near the present site of Fairhaven, when one morning several of the native chiefs made their appearance, and gave them to understand that they were threatened with a grave danger, and taking the commandant round the mountain, pointed to the west, where there was a breach in the barrier of rocks, and where the mist occasionally lifted. Looking through his glass, Fane saw that the sea was simply black with canoes, which were rapidly approach- ing the coast. It was a flotilla of invaders, and the Carib chiefs, who seemed greatly alarmed, implored him by signs to Join his forces to theirs and help them to repulse the foe. Fane, who wanted nothing better, ordered his plan of campaign on the spot. It would be impossible to reach the west coast before the invaders (whom, for want of a better name, the sailors christened ‘‘ Cariberoes”’) dis- embarked, the more especially as the country was thickly wooded and destitute of roads. But the creek that lies below Fairhaven joins a stream which sweeps round the foot of the mountain, and flows half-way across the island in a westerly direction. It was on the banks of this stream (navigable for small boats) that the English officer resolved to intercept the Cariberoes and give them battle. His men were summoned forthwith, and embarked on the four boats which had once belonged to the Santa Anna. The crews were, of course, well armed, and the long-boat carried a small carronade in her bows. <A few hours suf- ficed to organize the expedition, which included a hun- dred canoes, carrying about a thousand natives, armed with bows and arrows and spears, the whole under Mr. Fane’s command. | The spot he selected for making a stand was at a ford near an opening in the forest that the invaders must needs traverse in order to reach the eastern or Fairhaven side of the island, which was assumed to be their opjec- tive point, as thereabouts were the principal Carib vil- lages. ; By great exertion [I‘ane and his men succeeded in reaching the ford three or four hours before the enemy GComicbooks (€ @)