and
without any other freight than three of the large Gallipago turtles
and the usual supply of paddles for sixty rowers. We instantly took
possession of one of them, and, forcing our captive on board, pushed out
to sea with all the strength we could command.

We had not made, however, more than fifty yards from the shore before we
became sufficiently calm to perceive the great oversight of which we had
been guilty in leaving the other canoe in the power of the savages,
who, by this time, were not more than twice as far from the beach as
ourselves, and were rapidly advancing to the pursuit. No time was now to
be lost. Our hope was, at best, a forlorn one, but we had none other. It
was very doubtful whether, with the utmost exertion, we could get back
in time to anticipate them in taking possession of the canoe; but
yet there was a chance that we could. We might save ourselves if we
succeeded, while not to make the attempt was to resign ourselves to
inevitable butchery.

The canoe was modelled with the bow and stern alike, and, in place of
turning it around, we merely changed our position in paddling. As soon
as the savages perceived this they redoubled their yells, as well as
their speed, and approached with inconceivable rapidity. We pulled,
however, with all the energy of desperation, and arrived at the
contested point before more than one of the natives had attained it.
This man paid dearly for his superior agility, Peters shooting him
through the head with a pistol as he approached the shore. The foremost
among the rest of his party were probably some twenty or thirty paces
distant as we seized upon the canoe. We at first endeavored to pull her
into the deep water, beyond the reach of the savages, but, finding her
too firmly aground, and there being no time to spare, Peters, with one
or two heavy strokes from the butt of the musket, succeeded in dashing
out a large portion of the bow and of one side. We then pushed off.
Two of the natives by this time had got hold of our boat, obstinately
refusing to let go, until we were forced to despatch them with our
knives. We were now clear off, and making great way out to sea. The main
body of the savages, upon reaching the broken canoe, set up the most
tremendous yell of rage and disappointment conceivable. In truth, from
everything I could see of these wretches, they appeared to be the most
wicked, hypocritical, vindictive, bloodthirsty, and altogether fiendish
race of m