A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

A QUEER RACE. 111 put in an appearance. Keeping his blue-jackets in reserve, he sent the greater part of the Caribs to meet the in- vaders in the open, with orders to fall back fighting as the latter advanced, recross the river, and take up a po- sition among the brushwood on the banks. At the saine time, feeling himself quite strong enough, and having no doubt as to the result, he ordered two of his officers te take a second party of Caribs through the forest, lie in ambush near the invaders’ line of retreat, and cut them off from the boats. ‘These dispositions made, the allied forces awaited the onset of the enemy, who came on several thousand strong. he Caribs, after making a show of resistance, fell back, and then, pretending to be panic-stricken, made in desperate haste for the river, the foe in full cry after them. Whenthe latter were well within range, the blue- jackets (who had been lying perdw under the bank) opened fire on them both with their muskets and the carronade. The invaders, utterly dumfounded by this unexpected reception, retreated in great confusion; lut onee among the trees again, they rallied, and, turning to bay, showed a most resolute front. On this the commander ordered a genera] charge, which he led in person. Then followed a desperate struggle— ‘“the hottest thing I was ever in,” wrote Fane. ‘rhe blue-jackets, after giving the Cariberoes a couple of vol- leys point-blank, fell on them with cutlasses and clubbed muskets, and were bravely supported by their native al- lies. The fight lasted fifteen minutes, and there is no telling how it might have ended if the ambush party, hearing the firing, had not made a diversion in the rear, whereupon the invaders, being seized with a panic, threw away their arms, and made off in all directions. Many were killed; more were taken prisoners; only a very small remnant succeeded in reaching their boats and getting away. ; : am The Caribs had no idea of keeping the prisoners alive, and were proceeding to make short work of them, when Commander Fane interposed. He would have nobody killed in cold blood. The question then arose as to how the prisoners were to be disposed of. To let them go away would never do; they might come back another (ee) (Coy payicel oxeKo) ,<S