us, which we spread
over the gun, and crept under it; and I observed that a couple of
mattresses were sent on deck, and that a sail was secured over the
bulwarks, to make a somewhat better tent for our officers.

We passed the whole of the next day much as we had done the first. The
black, and white, and coloured crew did not regard us with very friendly
looks; but they did not molest us. A dark-skinned lad would, however,
occasionally come up to me when neither of the mates were looking, and
touching a formidable-looking knife he wore in his sheath, signify that
he should enjoy running the point into me. Some relation of his had
been among the men killed, and this made him feel bitter towards us.
Peter, who saw the action, advised me to remain quiet, and to take no
notice of it. "He only wants an excuse for a quarrel, and therefore,
unless you wish to please him, do not give it," observed my friend. I
followed his advice, not only at the present, but on many future
occasions, and thus avoided many of the quarrels and disputes into which
I saw others plunged. The men who brought us our food growled a little
at us, as if they would much rather have been making us food for the
fish; but as we made them no answer, they went away and left us to
ourselves. As the wind was generally light, we did not make much
progress. Thus another night passed away.

When the morning of the next day broke, I saw that we were running in
among reefs, which I could tell by the ripple of the otherwise calm
water breaking over them. Ahead was a low sandy shore, mangrove-bushes
lining some portion of it, with palms and plantains, and a few other
tropical trees, rising beyond them. As we sailed on, threading the
glass-like channels, the sun rose higher and higher, and shone down with
intense heat on our heads, drawing forth, at the same time, a thin
gauze-like mist over the whole scene. "This is a regular trap,"
observed Peter. "If a man once gets in here, I defy him to find his way
out again, unless he was born and bred on the spot." The captain and
Mr Gale were watching the progress of the vessel, and tried to look as
unconcerned as possible; but they were evidently considering if it were
possible to take a vessel out by the way they had come in.

At length we entered the mouth of a narrow creek, lined with the
mangrove-bushes I have spoken of on either side; some growing in the
bright pure water, others with their branches just