w no chance even of warning them of their
danger without bringing immediate destruction upon our own heads, with
but a remote hope of benefit to them. A pistol fired might suffice to
apprise them that something wrong had occurred; but the report could not
possibly inform them that their only prospect of safety lay in getting
out of the harbour forthwith--it could not tell them that no principles
of honour now bound them to remain, that their companions were no longer
among the living. Upon hearing the discharge they could not be more
thoroughly prepared to meet the foe, who were now getting ready to
attack, than they already were, and always had been. No good, therefore,
and infinite harm, would result from our firing, and after mature
deliberation, we forbore.

Our next thought was to attempt to rush toward the vessel, to seize one
of the four canoes which lay at the head of the bay, and endeavour to
force a passage on board. But the utter impossibility of succeeding in
this desperate task soon became evident. The country, as I said before,
was literally swarming with the natives, skulking among the bushes and
recesses of the hills, so as not to be observed from the schooner. In
our immediate vicinity especially, and blockading the sole path by which
we could hope to attain the shore at the proper point were stationed the
whole party of the black skin warriors, with Too-wit at their head, and
apparently only waiting for some re-enforcement to commence his onset
upon the Jane. The canoes, too, which lay at the head of the bay, were
manned with savages, unarmed, it is true, but who undoubtedly had arms
within reach. We were forced, therefore, however unwillingly, to remain
in our place of concealment, mere spectators of the conflict which
presently ensued.

In about half an hour we saw some sixty or seventy rafts, or flatboats,
without riggers, filled with savages, and coming round the southern
bight of the harbor. They appeared to have no arms except short clubs,
and stones which lay in the bottom of the rafts. Immediately afterward
another detachment, still larger, appeared in an opposite direction, and
with similar weapons. The four canoes, too, were now quickly filled with
natives, starting up from the bushes at the head of the bay, and put off
swiftly to join the other parties. Thus, in less time than I have taken
to tell it, and as if by magic, the Jane saw herself surrounded by an
immense multitude of desperadoes