for the life of me,
decide what that something should be. Two alternatives suggested
themselves, one being to arm all hands to the teeth, launch the gig, and
go ashore to investigate; while the other was to remain aboard and
prepare the schooner in every possible way to repel an attack, and at
the same time to have everything ready for flight at a moment's notice,
if need be. The former was undoubtedly the proper thing to do, if one
were to act upon the assumption that the natives had seized the white
men who had landed, and were holding them as prisoners; but such an
assumption was scarcely justified by the reputation which the Marquesas
natives had earned for themselves, the story in circulation with regard
to them being to the effect that it was their custom promptly to kill
and eat any unfortunate whites who chanced to fall into their hands. If
the six men who had been decoyed ashore that morning were already dead,
nothing was to be gained by landing the remainder of the _Martha's_
crew, except the infliction upon the natives of a sharp punishment--at a
considerable amount of risk to ourselves of further loss in the pitched
battle which would assuredly ensue.

Also there was the possibility--nay, more, the very strong probability--
that while we were busily engaged on shore in the attempt to administer
salutary chastisement for the betrayal of our shipmates, a party of
natives might board the unprotected schooner, slip her cable, and run
her ashore; and then where should we be, with no means of retreat
excepting our boats, which would doubtless also be seized? If we could
only get hold of a native and ascertain from him what had become of the
absentees we should know what to do: for if the missing men were merely
prisoners we should be fully justified in taking the risk of attempting
to rescue them; but if, on the other hand, they were already dead, the
question of punishment might very well be left until a more fitting
moment. But now there was not a solitary native to be seen anywhere,
which, in my opinion, was a decidedly bad sign.

The arrival of noon--by which hour the skipper fully expected to be back
aboard the ship, but was not--found me still undecided upon the question
of landing; but I had so far made up my mind that I had determined to
arm all hands and put the schooner into as efficient a state of defence
as possible. Accordingly I gave orders to have the arms and ammunition
chests brought on dec