out. I believe in that way. Jack, give me your hand. It's
darker than ever; and I am cold, very cold." He pressed my hand, and I
heard him murmuring to himself. It might have been a prayer, but his
words were indistinct; I could not understand what he said. I kept
steering with one hand, looking up at the sails, and casting a glance
now and then at him, while the other two men pulled away to keep the
boat to windward. Presently I felt his fingers relax; an icy chill came
from his hand. I knew too well that my friend was dead. It was some
time before I could bring myself to tell the boatswain what had
happened. "Poor fellow! But it may be the lot of all of us before
another day is over," he said; "yet, as men, we will struggle to the
last."

The night passed on, and we still persevered in endeavouring to obtain
an offing, though so indistinct was the land that we could not tell
whereabouts we were. What was our dismay, when morning broke, to find
that we were directly off the mouth of the harbour, and at such a
distance that the keen eyes of the savages on the hills around might
easily perceive our sail. We at once put the boat about, hoping to get
again to the south'ard before we were discovered. "It's too late,"
cried Green; "I see the canoes coming."

"We must fight them, then," said the daring boatswain, calmly. "We
don't just expect mercy at their hands after the treat we gave them,"
and he laughed at the fearful act he had committed. Still I thought
what could we three, in a small boat, with our dozen muskets, do against
a whole fleet of fierce savages.

We could now see the canoes coming out of the harbour. The sea was
smooth, and they would without fail venture after us. Our only chance
of escape seemed in a sudden gale springing up, but of that there was
little probability. I was turning my eyes anxiously towards the offing
in hopes of seeing signs of a stronger breeze coming, when I caught
sight of a sail. I pointed her out to the boatswain. "She is a large
vessel," he exclaimed, "and standing this way."

"Perhaps the savages will be more than ever anxious to catch us, for
fear we should persuade the people on board yonder ship to punish them
for what they have done," I observed. "They will catch us if they can,"
answered Pearson; "but they will have to pay a good price yet if they
make the attempt," and he cast his eyes at the muskets which lay ready
loaded. The canoes were drawing n