ff that island, but could discover only one bay into
which we could safely enter.

As soon as we brought up, two of the boats were sent ashore under charge
of Mr Griffiths, he going in one, and I, with Jim and Horner, in
another.

As we got near the beach we saw that a heavy surf was breaking on it.
Mr Griffiths, however, thought that we could land safely, and waiting
till the wave had burst, we dashed on.

Though we shipped a good deal of water, the boats got in safely. The
natives being accustomed to supply whalers, guessing what we wanted, had
come down with a number of hogs to sell. The price for one was a bottle
of powder, and five could be purchased for an old musket.

We had brought a number of these articles for barter. Mr Griffiths
ordered me to stand by the boats while he carried on the trade.

As was my custom, I looked about in the hopes of seeing some English
sailor of whom I might make inquiries about my brother Jack.

When we had purchased as many pigs as the boats would carry, we prepared
to shove off.

The natives made signs to us that we had better be careful, but we
didn't understand them, and the pigs being put on board, we shoved off.

"I'll lead," said Mr Griffiths. "When you see me safe outside you can
follow," and away he went.

He got through one breaker, but what was my horror to see the next catch
the boat and roll her completely over! We knew that the place abounded
with ground-sharks, and we expected to see either him or some of the
other men carried off by the savage creatures.

He was not a bad swimmer, but, at the same time, was unaccustomed to
make his way through a heavy surf.

The rest of the men clung to the boat, but he attempted to gain the
shore by himself. I was about to tumble the pigs out of my boat, and to
go off in her to his assistance, when three of the natives darted out
through the foaming seas towards where he was struggling. Every instant
I expected he would disappear, but they quickly reached him, and
supporting him in their arms, brought him back safe to the beach, where
the rest of the men arrived, without hurt, on the bottom of the boat.

"We must not be defeated, lads," cried out Mr Griffiths, as soon as he
had recovered. "We shall have better fortune next time."

The boat was baled out and put to rights, and the pigs, which had swum
ashore, being again put in her, away we pulled, but just as she had got
to the middle of the roller she broache