n trust
ourselves in the power of the revengeful savages. We had reached the
mouth of the harbour, and could still see the village far off on its
shore, when, to our dismay, we found the sea breeze setting in. We had
accordingly to haul our wind, though we still hoped to weather the
headland which formed its southern point, and get an offing.

Tom all this time had uttered no complaint, though I saw the blood
flowing down his side. The boatswain and Green had, with my help, bound
up their wounds. I wanted Tom to let me assist him. "No," he said;
"it's of no use. If you were to swathe me up, I could not pull. It
will be time enough for that when we get round the headland." He was
evidently getting weaker, and at last the boatswain persuaded him to lay
in his oar, and try to stop the blood. The wounds were in his back and
neck, inflicted by the savages as he fought his way onward to the cabin.
I bound our handkerchiefs round him as well as I could; but it was
evident that he was not fit for rowing, and that the only chance of the
blood stopping was for him to remain perfectly quiet.

During the last tack we made I fancied, as I looked up the harbour, that
I saw the canoes coming out. I told the boatswain. "We will give them
a warm reception, if they come near us," he answered.

I felt greatly relieved when we at last weathered the point, and were
now able to stand along shore, though we couldn't get the offing which
was desirable.

Night was coming on. The weather looked threatening, and our prospects
of ultimately escaping were small.

At last we got so near the surf that the boatswain determined to put the
boat about and stand out to sea. Although the other tack might bring us
almost in front of the harbour's mouth, it was the safest course to
avoid being cast on shore.

The night came on very dark, but the wind was moderate, and there was
not much sea. Still the weather was excessively cold, and my companions
suffered greatly from their wounds. Tom had been placed in the
stern-sheets near me. Though he said less, he suffered more than the
rest, and I could every now and then hear low groans escaping from his
bosom. At last I heard him calling me. "Jack," he whispered, "what I
told you is coming true. I am going; I feel death creeping over me.
Remember the case. Do all you know I ought to have done. I have been a
great sinner; but you once said there is a way by which all sins can be
blotted