ingly obeyed; but the lieutenant in
the launch, instead of pulling in to the assistance of his commander,
rowed further off at the very moment that the services of himself and
people were most required. Nor was this all the mischief that ensued;
for, as it devolved upon the pinnace to receive the marines, she became
so crowded, as to render the men incapable of using their fire-arms. The
marines on shore, however, fired; but the moment their pieces were
discharged, the islanders rushed _en masse_ upon them, forced the party
into the water, where four of them were killed, and the lieutenant
wounded. At this critical period Captain Cook was left entirely alone
upon a rock near the shore. He, however, hurried towards the pinnace,
holding his left arm round the back of his head, to shield it from the
stones, and carrying his musket under his right. An islander, armed with
a club, was seen in a crouching posture cautiously following him, as if
watching for an opportunity to spring forward upon his victim. This man
was a relation of the king's, and remarkably agile and quick. At length,
he jumped forward upon the captain, and struck him a heavy blow on the
back of his head, and then turned and fled. The captain appeared to be
somewhat stunned: he staggered a few paces, and, dropping his musket,
fell on his hands and one knee; but whilst striving to recover his
upright position, another islander rushed forward, and with an iron
dagger stabbed him in the neck. He again made an effort to proceed, but
fell into a small pool of water not more than knee-deep, and numbers
instantly ran to the spot, and endeavored to keep him down; but by his
struggles he was enabled to get his head above the surface, and casting
a look towards the pinnace (then not more than five or six yards
distant), seemed to be imploring assistance. It is asserted that, in
consequence of the crowded state of the pinnace, (through the withdrawal
of the launch), the crew of the boat were unable to render any aid; but
it is also probable that the emergency of this unexpected catastrophe
deprived the English of that cool judgment which was requisite on such
an occasion. The islanders, perceiving that no help was afforded, forced
him under water again, but in a deeper place; yet his great muscular
power once more enabled him to raise himself and cling to the rock. At
this moment a forcible blow was given with a club, and he fell down
lifeless. The savages then hauled h