y and
civilisation.

As I gazed on the shore on which I was not permitted to set foot, I
considered whether I could not manage to get away and offer my services
to the king, as I was better educated than most of those about him. I
thought that I should probably rise to the highest dignities of the
State; perhaps become his prime minister, his commander-in-chief, or
admiral of his fleet, but I found that I was too strictly watched by old
Growles and the boatswain to accomplish my object. Had Mark been with
me, I had little doubt but that we should have managed to escape. I at
last asked Mr McTavish if he would take me on shore.

"No, no, my laddie, I know what is running in your mind," he said. "The
natives would be too ready to assist, and I might find it difficult to
prevent your being carried off and stowed away till the ship sails. You
may fancy that your life would be a very pleasant one, but I know what
it is to live among savages. You would, in course of time, have a brown
wife given to you, and, unwilling to leave her, you would become a
banished man from home and country. Follow the plan I at first
proposed. If you will remain with us you will in the course of a few
years make your fortune, and be able to return home and enjoy it."

I felt that the advice given was sound, and I promised Mr McTavish not
to try and run away while we remained at the Sandwich Islands. He said
that the next day he would take me on shore if the captain would give me
leave. Shortly after, however, we went out of harbour. We had a quick
passage to the entrance of the Columbia River. A dangerous bar runs
across the mouth of it, so that the captain was unwilling to enter until
we had a fair wind and a favourable tide. Boats were sent ahead to
sound. While thus engaged a canoe, followed by a barge, were seen
coming off. The canoe, which was paddled by six naked savages, and
steered by an old Indian chief, was soon alongside, but as they could
not understand a word we said we could gain no information till the
barge arrived, when our passengers greeted a number of their friends who
had come off in her. The ship now entered the river, and came to an
anchor off a fort which had been erected by the fur-traders. I never
felt more happy in my life, believing that my sufferings were over, and
that I should regain my liberty. I hoped that Mr McTavish and his
friends would at once go on shore and take me with them; but as it was