I thought I should have lost the poor little girl also, her grief
was so great. I did my best to comfort her, and she somewhat recovered
her spirits.

"There is an uninhabited island in these seas, not far from this, where
we used to go to take in wood and water, and to refit the vessel when
necessary. Some months ago we went there, and having safely moored the
schooner in a snug harbour, carried some of her guns on shore, with the
intention, on the following day, of conveying all her stores, for the
purpose of heaving her down to give her a thorough overhaul. We erected
tents and huts, and all the crew went to live on shore. Eva remained on
board, to be more out of harm's way; for on such occasions they were apt
to get drunk, and quarrel, and sometimes to discharge their fire-arms at
each other. Our movements, it appeared, had been watched by the scouts
of a pirate fleet of Malays. While the greater part of the people were
sleeping on shore, not suspecting danger, a number of armed prahus
pulled into the harbour, and, undiscovered, they got alongside the brig.
Before any alarm was given, most of the fellows who remained on board
were krissed, and the lighter and most valuable portion of our cargo was
carried off. Two or three of our men managed to jump overboard and to
swim on shore, unperceived by the Malays. Fortunately, we had our boats
with us, and instantly manning them, we pulled off to the brig. We had
everything to fight for; for if we lost her, we were undone. We
succeeded in surprising our enemies before they had time to cut the
cables, or to set her on fire. Some we cut down, others we drove back
to their vessels, and others into the water. So fierce was our attack,
that they must have fancied that we mustered many more men than we
actually did; and casting off their prahus, they swept them out of the
harbour. Not a living being was found on board; the bodies of the men
were still there, but your little sister, my good angel, was gone. I
almost went mad when I made the discovery. I hoped, at first, that she
might have concealed herself in the vessel, but I searched for her in
vain. Nothing that could have occurred could have so moved me. I vowed
that I would search for her in every direction, and would kill every
Malay I met till I found her. After this I grew worse than ever, and
more fierce and cruel. Even my own people were afraid of me.

"We had lost so many men, that it was necessar