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continued to move up the lagoon with an offing of some seventy or
eighty yards。 Along all the irregularities and obstructions of the
beach； across the mouth of the Vaivasa； and through the startled
village of Matafangatele； Seumanu； Klein； and seven or eight others
raced to keep up； spreading the alarm and rousing reinforcements as
they went。 Presently a man on horse…back made his appearance on
the opposite beach of Fangalii。 Klein and the natives distinctly
saw him signal with a lantern； which is the more strange； as the
horseman （Captain Hufnagel； plantation manager of Vailele） had
never a lantern to signal with。 The praam kept in。 Many men in
white were seen to stand up； step overboard； and wade to shore。 At
the same time the eye of panic descried a breastwork of 〃foreign
stone〃 （brick） upon the beach。 Samoans are prepared to…day to
swear to its existence； I believe conscientiously； although no such
thing was ever made or ever intended in that place。 The hour is
doubtful。 〃It was the hour when the streak of dawn is seen； the
hour known in the warfare of heathen times as the hour of the night
attack；〃 says the Mataafa official account。 A native whom I met on
the field declared it was at cock…crow。 Captain Hufnagel； on the
other hand； is sure it was long before the day。 It was dark at
least； and the moon down。 Darkness made the Samoans bold；
uncertainty as to the composition and purpose of the landing…party
made them desperate。 Fire was opened on the Germans； one of whom
was here killed。 The Germans returned it； and effected a lodgment
on the beach； and the skirmish died again to silence。 It was at
this time； if not earlier； that Klein returned to Apia。
Here； then； were Spengler and the ninety men of the praam； landed
on the beach in no very enviable posture； the woods in front filled
with unnumbered enemies； but for the time successful。 Meanwhile；
Jaeckel and the boats had gone outside the reef； and were to land
on the other side of the Vailele promontory； at Sunga； by the
buildings of the plantation。 It was Hufnagel's part to go and meet
them。 His way led straight into the woods and through the midst of
the Samoans； who had but now ceased firing。 He went in the saddle
and at a foot's pace； feeling speed and concealment to be equally
helpless； and that if he were to fall at all； he had best fall with
dignity。 Not a shot was fired at him； no effort made to arrest him
on his errand。 As he went； he spoke and even jested with the
Samoans； and they answered in good part。 One fellow was leaping；
yelling； and tossing his axe in the air； after the way of an
excited islander。 〃FAIMALOSI！ go it！〃 said Hufnagel； and the
fellow laughed and redoubled his exertions。 As soon as the boats
entered the lagoon； fire was again opened from the woods。 The
fifty blue…jackets jumped overboard； hove down the boats to be a
shield； and dragged them towards the landing…place。 In this way；
their rations； and （what was more unfortunate） some of their
miserable provision of forty rounds got wetted； but the men came to
shore and garrisoned the plantation house without a casualty。
Meanwhile the sound of the firing from Sunga immediately renewed
the hostilities at Fangalii。 The civilians on shore decided that
Spengler must be at once guided to the house； and Haideln； the
surveyor； accepted the dangerous errand。 Like Hufnagel； he was
suffered to pass without question through the midst of these
platonic enemies。 He found Spengler some way inland on a knoll；
disastrously engaged； the woods around him filled with Samoans； who
were continuously reinforced。 In three successive charges；
cheering as they ran； the blue…jackets burst through their
scattered opponents； and made good their junction with Jaeckel。
Four men only remained upon the field； the other wounded being
helped by their comrades or dragging themselves painfully along。
The force was now concentrated in the house and its immediate patch
of garden。 Their rear； to the seaward； was unmolested； but on
three sides they were beleaguered。 On the left； the Samoans
occupied and fired from some of the plantation offices。 In front；
a long rising crest of land in the horse…pasture commanded the
house； and was lined with the assailants。 And on the right； the
hedge of the same paddock afforded them a dangerous cover。 It was
in this place that a Samoan sharpshooter was knocked over by
Jaeckel with his own hand。 The fire was maintained by the Samoans
in the usual wasteful style。 The roof was made a sieve； the balls
passed clean through the house； Lieutenant Sieger； as he lay；
already dying； on Hufnagel's bed； was despatched with a fresh
wound。 The Samoans showed themselves extremely enterprising：
pushed their lines forward； ventured beyond cover； and continually
threatened to envelop the garden。 Thrice； at least； it was
necessary to repel them by a sally。 The men were brought into the
house from the rear； the front doors were thrown suddenly open； and
the gallant blue…jackets issued cheering： necessary； successful；
but extremely costly sorties。 Neither could these be pushed far。
The foes were undaunted； so soon as the sailors advanced at all
deep in the horse…pasture； the Samoans began to close in upon both
flanks； and the sally had to be recalled。 To add to the dangers of
the German situation； ammunition began to run low； and the
cartridge…boxes of the wounded and the dead had been already
brought into use before； at about eight o'clock； the EBER steamed
into the bay。 Her commander； Wallis； threw some shells into
Letongo； one of which killed five men about their cooking…pot。 The
Samoans began immediately to withdraw； their movements were
hastened by a sortie； and the remains of the landing…party brought
on board。 This was an unfortunate movement； it gave an
irremediable air of defeat to what might have been else claimed for
a moderate success。 The blue…jackets numbered a hundred and forty
all told； they were engaged separately and fought under the worst
conditions； in the dark and among woods； their position in the
house was scarce tenable； they lost in killed and wounded fifty…
six； … forty per cent。； and their spirit to the end was above
question。 Whether we think of the poor sailor lads； always so
pleasantly behaved in times of peace； or whether we call to mind
the behaviour of the two civilians； Haideln and Hufnagel； we can
only regret that brave men should stand to be exposed upon so poor
a quarrel； or lives cast away upon an enterprise so hopeless。
News of the affair reached Apia early； and Moors； always curious of
these spectacles of war； was immediately in the saddle。 Near
Matafangatele he met a Manono chief； whom he asked if there were
any German dead。 〃I think there are about thirty of them knocked
over；〃 said he。 〃Have you taken thei