en from
every bush, tree, and rock they began firing at us in the boats with
both muskets and arrows. One of my men was hit, and then, before I
could stop him, Sarreo had jumped out of his boat and was running up the
beach, rifle in hand, to where Mr. Warby's body was lying.
"He got there, I think, without being hit, just as a big native ran at
him with a tomahawk. He hadn't time to put his Snider to his shoulder;
but that nigger gave his last jump anyway, for I saw the rifle go off
and the nigger topple over. In another five seconds he had lifted the
supercargo up, thrown him over his left shoulder, and was running down
to the boats.
"By this time, me and two of my crew had jumped out of the boat and ran
to meet him, firing as we went. We had just reached him when down he
went on to his face in the sand--a bullet had smashed his hip.
"Dropping our rifles, we picked him and Mr. Warby's body up, and by
God's mercy managed to tumble into the boat together and push off,
covered by the fire from the ship, which carried two six-pounders.
"Sarreo lived two days--he died the same morning that we were getting
ready to take Warby's body ashore to bury on a little island between
Bouka and Bougainville. So we made only one trip ashore. Poor chap! He
had a good, simple heart, and almost his last words were that he 'was
glad Mr. Warby wasn't eaten.'
*****
"Ah, as you say, Mr. Denison, the rotten South Seas ain't no place for a
white man. Good-night."
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