rushed from one group of natives to the other,
coaxing, promising, imploring. I pointed out to them that they could
propel their catamarans faster than I could paddle my canoe; and I
promised them that if I reached the ship I would send them presents from
the white man's land of tomahawks and knives; gaily coloured cloths and
gorgeous jewellery. But they were only too ready to help me without any
of these inducements; and in an incredibly short time at least twenty
catamarans, each containing one or two men, put off from the shore in my
wake and made directly towards the ship, whilst I struck off at a tangent
so as to head her off. I now see that without doubt we must have
presented a very formidable appearance to the people on the vessel as we
paddled over the sunlit seas, racing one another, yelling, and
gesticulating like madmen. Of course, the people on board quite
naturally thought they were being attacked by a savage flotilla. But in
the excitement of the moment I never gave this a thought. Had I only
left my faithful natives behind all might have been well. Yamba and I
kept the canoe well ahead, and we reached the neighbourhood of the ship
first.

As we approached, the excitement of the girls was painful to witness.
They could scarcely contain themselves for joy; and as I forcibly
prevented them from standing up in the frail canoe, they contented
themselves with frantically waving their hands and screaming themselves
hoarse.

Nearing the vessel I was surprised to see the top-sail being hoisted,
but, strange to say, the crew kept well out of sight. This was easy to
do, considering the spread of canvas. She was not a Malay vessel, being
decidedly of European rig. She was only a small craft, of perhaps ten or
fifteen tons, with one mast carrying a main-sail and stay-sail, in
addition to the top-sail that had been hoisted as we approached. To us,
however, she was a "ship." We were now about one hundred and fifty yards
away, and I suddenly leapt to my feet and coo-eed several times. Still
no one showed himself, and not a soul was visible on board. My own
joyful excitement speedily turned to heart-sickness, alarm, and even
terror. By this time the flotilla of catamarans was close behind me; and
just as I was about to sit down and take to my paddle again, so as to
advance still closer to the vessel, the loud report of a gun was heard;
and then--well, what followed next is exceedingly difficult for me to