s stopped and called out to know what
was the matter.

"Silence," shouted one of them, pointing his gun. Being unarmed, and
observing the body of Brown on the ground, Adams at once leaped into the
bush and ran. He was hotly pursued by the four men, but being strong
and swift of foot, he soon left them behind. In passing Williams's
house, he went towards it, intending to snatch up some thick garments,
and, if possible, a musket and ammunition, for he had no doubt now that
some of his countrymen must have been killed, and that he would have to
take to the bush along with them. An exclamation of horror escaped him
when he came upon the armourer's body. It needed no second glance to
tell that his comrade was dead. Passing into the house, he caught up an
old blanket and a coat, but there was no musket. He knew that without
arms he would be at the mercy of the savages. Being a cool and
courageous man, he therefore made a long detour through the bush until
he reached his own house, and entered by a back window. His sick wife
received him with a look of glad surprise.

"Is it true they have killed some of the white men?" she asked.

"Ay, too true," he replied, quickly; "and I must take to the bush for a
while. Where can I find a bag to hold some yams? Ah, here you are.
There's no fear o' them hurting you, lass."

As he spoke a shot was heard. The natives had seen and followed him. A
ball, coming through the window, entered the back of his neck and came
out at the front. He fell, but instantly sprang up and leaped through
the doorway, where he was met by the four natives.

Besides being a powerful man, Adams was very active, and the wound in
his neck was only a flesh one. He knocked down Timoa, the foremost of
the band, with one blow of his fist, and grappling with Nehow, threw him
violently over his prostrate comrade; but Menalee, coming up at the
moment, clubbed his musket and made a furious blow at Adams's head. He
guarded it with one hand, and in so doing had one of his fingers broken.
Tetaheite and Menalee then both sprang upon him, but he nearly
throttled the one, tripped up the other, and, succeeding by a violent
wrench in breaking loose, once more took to his heels.

In running, the Otaheitans were no match for him. He gradually left
them behind. Then Timoa called out to him to stop.

"No, you scoundrels," he shouted back in reply, "you want to kill me;
but you'll find it a harder job than you th