ut accomplishing his purpose. My companion being thus released,
we had no further difficulty. He had his pistols also, but prudently
declined using them, confiding in his great personal strength, which far
exceeded that of any person I have ever known. Seizing a club from one
of the savages who had fallen, he dashed out the brains of the three who
remained, killing each instantaneously with a single blow of the weapon,
and leaving us completely masters of the field.

So rapidly bad these events passed, that we could scarcely believe
in their reality, and were standing over the bodies of the dead in a
species of stupid contemplation, when we were brought to recollection by
the sound of shouts in the distance. It was clear that the savages had
been alarmed by the firing, and that we had little chance of avoiding
discovery. To regain the cliff, it would be necessary to proceed in the
direction of the shouts, and even should we succeed in arriving at
its base, we should never be able to ascend it without being seen. Our
situation was one of the greatest peril, and we were hesitating in which
path to commence a flight, when one of the savages _whom _I had shot,
and supposed dead, sprang briskly to his feet, and attempted to make his
escape. We overtook _him, _however, before he had advanced many paces,
and were about to put him to death, when Peters suggested that we might
derive some benefit from forcing him to accompany us in our attempt to
escape. We therefore dragged him with us, making him understand that
we would shoot him if he offered resistance. In a few minutes he was
perfectly submissive, and ran by our sides as we pushed in among the
rocks, making for the seashore.

So far, the irregularities of the ground we had been traversing hid
the sea, except at intervals, from our sight, and, when we first had it
fairly in view, it was perhaps two hundred yards distant. As we emerged
into the open beach we saw, to our great dismay, an immense crowd of the
natives pouring from the village, and from all visible quarters of
the island, making toward us with gesticulations of extreme fury, and
howling like wild beasts. We were upon the point of turning upon our
steps, and trying to secure a retreat among the fastnesses of the
rougher ground, when I discovered the bows of two canoes projecting from
behind a large rock which ran out into the water. Toward these we
now ran with all speed, and, reaching them, found them unguarded,