st-rate seamanship, under God's Providence, could have
preserved the frigate. We were now getting much in want of water, and
Captain Oliver, unwilling to go out of his way to any of the settlements
to obtain it, resolved to search for a supply at the first island we
should fall in with. At length we came in sight of a large island, with
yellow sands, and green palm trees waving in the breeze. Nothing could
be more attractive, but it appeared that nobody on board had been there
before. The master knew the existence of the island on the chart, but
whether it was inhabited or not, or by whom, he could not say. As no
anchorage was found, the ship was hove to, and three boats, with casks,
under the command of the Second-Lieutenant, and my friend Oldershaw, and
Pember, were directed to go on shore. I went with Oldershaw, and Twigg
and Esse went in the other boats. We pulled into the bay abreast of the
ship, where, between two projecting rocks, we found an excellent
landing-place, and not far from it a stream of water, clear and limpid.
As no natives appeared, the opinion was that that part of the island, at
all events, was uninhabited, and this made us somewhat careless. All
the casks being filled, the boats were sent back for a fresh supply, as
we could not hope to find a better place for filling up with that
important necessary. Pember, directing Tom Twigg to take charge of his
boat, invited Dicky Esse and me to accompany him meantime on a stroll to
see the island farther inland. He directed Toby Kiddle and Pat Brady to
follow with a couple of muskets.

"Not that they will be wanted," he observed; "but if we do fall in with
any natives, it will make them treat us with respect."

"If I were you, Pember, I would not go far from the bay," observed
Oldershaw, as he shoved off.

"You are always uttering warnings, old Careful," muttered Pember; and,
leading the way, he turned his back on the sea and proceeded inland.

The country was very beautiful. We soon came to a grove of cocoa-nuts,
when Pember proposed that we should procure a supply. This, however,
was more easily thought of than done. Pat Brady, who was the most
active of the party, declared that he could manage it after the native
fashion. He and Kiddle having placed the muskets against a tree, were
considering the best way of mounting. We went first to one tree and
then to another, to find one which seemed most easy to climb, with a
satisfactory reward