precaution as
altogether uncalled for. The natives came on board as usual, at first only
two or three canoe loads, but gradually the number of Malays on deck
became larger and larger, and quite a crowd of boats were clustered round.
I could see that Pearson, the second mate, was in a fidget; he glanced at
me significantly two or three times, and I began to think myself that he
might be right. We were both of us engaged in bartering with the natives,
and I noticed that Pearson put the goods under his charge close to one
side of the deck, so that standing behind them he leant against the
bulwark and could not be taken in rear. I ordered a couple of the men to
move my lot also. Both of those I spoke to were, I knew, among those
Pearson had persuaded to carry pistols in their pockets.

"'I don't like the look of things, Mr. Pinder,' one of them, an old hand,
whispered to me.

"'No more do I, Jack,' I said. 'Just slip below and bring up four of those
boarding-axes. Put one of them down among Mr. Pearson's goods and make a
sign to him that it is for his use, put the other three down in front of
me, and then do you and Bob Hawkins take your places between me and Mr.
Pearson, as if you were going to lend us a hand with the trade; then if
there is a shindy the four of us will be able to make a hard fight of it
anyhow.'

"He did as I told him, and the second officer nodded to me approvingly.
Things went on quietly for another five minutes, then I heard a heavy blow
given, followed by a fall; and, as if this was the signal, the quiet crowd
of natives became in a moment a mob of yelling fiends; screams filled the
air, pistol-shots rang out, and you may guess we fell to work in earnest.
I fancy we did not throw away a shot between us, and cleared a space in
front of us, then snatching up the axes we made at them tooth and nail. We
first fought our way aft. The first mate was fighting like a demon; he had
caught up a handspike, and, being a very powerful man, kept off his
assailants fairly till we cut our way through and joined him. The moment
he was free from the group that was attacking him, he rushed forward,
sweeping the natives over with his handspike like ninepins. Two of us kept
on each side of him. There was just breadth enough on the deck to give
free play to our axes, and though the Malays came at us furiously, they
could not stand the blows of our heavy weapons. The cook and the steward
came rushing up behind us.

"'Tu