nfidence
and feeling of security.

Under the able command of Captain Maxwell, the greatest regularity and
order prevailed amongst the people. Every man appeared happy and
contented with his lot; for each man, from the highest to the lowest,
encouraged his neighbour by his own good conduct, whilst he in turn
received encouragement from the example of those above him. The
provisions were served out with the strictest impartiality. 'The mode
adopted by Captain Maxwell,' (writes Mr. M'Leod,) 'to make things go
as far as possible, was to chop up the allowance for the day into
small pieces, whether fowls, salt beef, pork, or flour, mixing the
whole hotch-potch, boiling them together, and serving out a measure to
each publicly and openly, and without any distinction. By these means
no nourishment was lost: it could be more equally divided than by any
other way; and although necessarily a scanty, it was by no means an
unsavoury mess.'

Early on Wednesday morning, Lieutenant Hay, who had charge of the
boats, observed two pirate proahs nearing the island, as if to
reconnoitre; he immediately made a dash at them, with the barge,
cutter, and gig. The barge closed with the Malays first, and a
desperate conflict ensued. There was only one musket in the boat,
which Mr. Hay used to some purpose, for he killed two of the savages
with his own hand. In the meantime, the other two boats had come up to
the assistance of their comrades. One more pirate was shot dead, and
another knocked down with the butt-end of a musket; yet the rest
continued to fight with savage ferocity, until, seeing that resistance
was fruitless, they jumped into the sea and drowned themselves,
choosing to perish rather than yield. During the engagement, an
officer who was on the beach, observed a canoe, which had been cut
away from one of the proahs, drifting not many yards from the spot
where he stood; and as he thought the prize worth securing, he entered
the water, and swam towards it. He had nearly attained his object,
when those who watched him from the shore perceived an enormous shark
hovering about. They were almost petrified with horror; anxious to
make their friend aware of his danger, yet not daring to call out to
warn him, lest a sudden perception of the perils of his situation, and
of the proximity of his formidable enemy, should unnerve him, and thus
deprive him of the slight chance of escape that remained. Breathless
and silent then they stood, and m