d to and over she went.

This time I, not without reason, feared that some of my shipmates would
be lost, as I saw the boat tossing helplessly in the breakers, but
presently she came driving, with all hands and the pigs, at a rapid rate
towards the beach, where the natives received them, looking as if
nothing unusual had occurred.

Still undaunted, Mr Griffiths determined once more to make the attempt,
and the next time succeeded. I waited until the largest roller, which I
had carefully noted, had passed, and my men giving way, we got through,
although the boat was nearly half full of water.

We carried the pigs on board, but after this, at the suggestion of one
of the natives, we anchored the boats a short distance from the shore by
letting him dive down and make fast a cable to the coral at the bottom.

The natives then swam off to us with the pigs and the cocoanuts which we
bought of them, without making any additional charge for their trouble;
indeed, to them it seemed a matter of course. We could obtain no yams,
but we got instead some enormous plantains, which served us instead of
potatoes. As we could bring off but a few pigs at a time it was rather
a long business, and we had then to skin and salt them down.

The wind changing, and the surf no longer breaking at the end of the
bay, we were able to land without difficulty. I had one day accompanied
the doctor, who took only three other men to pull the boat. As he
wished to botanise and obtain some shells and other productions of the
island, the men went with him to carry what could be got, while I
remained by the boat to prevent the natives from stealing the lead and
gear belonging to her.

Before long two or three old women came down to the beach and began
talking to me by signs, for words were of no use. Then others joined
them. They took hold of my hands and seemed to be admiring my
complexion and examining my clothes. As far as I could make out they
wanted me to accompany them to their village. When I refused, for of
course I was not going to neglect my duty and leave the boat, they grew
angry, and at last several of them seized me by the arms and were
attempting to drag me off. I struggled violently, and shouted out at
the top of my voice, but they didn't seem to mind that.

As they were very strong I was completely in their power, and I fully
believed that I should be carried off, when I caught sight of a man
running towards the boat. He p