e, but
in the centre I observed a clear glass-like swell, over which I hoped we
might find a safe passage. Medley seemed not quite certain about the
matter, and told the men to lay on their oars till he could perceive a
favourable opportunity for dashing out. Just then a fearful yell
sounded in our ears, and looking astern I saw the beach covered by a
band of savages flourishing their spears and gesticulating to us to
return and be killed. Some of the more active were springing along the
rocks so as to get near enough to hurl their weapons at us.

The crew, without waiting for Medley's orders, bent to their oars, and
though several spears fell into the water at no great distance off, we
were soon beyond their reach. Without waiting to ascertain what the
savages were about we steered for the centre of the passage. A sea like
a mass of liquid malachite came rolling in--we mounted to its summit,
and then descending into the trough, were soon rising on another watery
height. The crew pulled lustily, and in a few minutes we were well
outside the breakers, and able to turn the boat's head to the northward.
It had become a perfect calm, so that we had a long pull before us. At
this the men grumbled, as they had expected to hoist the sail. Medley,
however, reminded them that had there been wind the ship would probably
have got under weigh, and we should have missed her. We pulled on along
the coast of the larger island, but whether or not we were perceived by
the people on shore we could not tell. The men at last complaining of
fatigue, declared that they must stop and take some food and water. To
this Medley could not object, eager as he and I were to get up to the
ship.

While the men were eating the remainder of the fish and biscuit, we kept
two of the oars going, and had just passed a point forming one side of a
bay when, looking towards the shore, we saw a fleet of large canoes,
thirty or more, ranged along the shore, the people apparently hurrying
on board. On examining them through my glass I perceived that they were
all armed, and it at once occurred to me that they were starting on an
expedition to attack the ship. Medley was of the same opinion.

"You see the savages in those boats," he exclaimed; "let us see what you
can do. If they catch us we shall be in their try-pots before many
hours have gone by, but if we can get on board the ship we can at all
events have a fight for our lives."

The men nee