is always stationed aloft to pilot the ship. We have
hitherto escaped. I pray we may, for if we were to wreck the good ship,
these savages would spare the lives of none of us.

Once more we drop our anchor, and canoes come off to us. We make known
that we have come for sandal-wood, and have axes, and knives, and nails,
to give in exchange. The natives seem so ready to trade that Golding is
quite enamoured of them, but the captain wisely will allow no one to go
on shore. We keep a careful watch as before. The natives, however,
seem very peaceable. They tell Taro that they wish to trade with us,
and be our friends, and tempt us to come back again. The first mate,
Tony Hinks, and others, declare that the captain's regulations are too
strict, and that they ought to be allowed to go on shore.

Two days pass by, and we are almost ready once more to sail. I am below
talking with Bent and the doctor. Most of the men are forward at their
dinner, the captain, and the first mate, and the watch only being on
deck. There is a loud sound like a blow given on the deck, then a shout
and a piercing shriek. Something is the matter. We seize cutlasses and
pistols, and any weapons we can lay hands on, and spring on deck.
Upwards of a dozen savages are collected there with heavy clubs in their
hands uplifted, and our men are righting desperately with them, but
almost overpowered. The first mate lies dead on the deck near the
companion, and further forward are Tony Hinks and a seaman with their
heads beaten in. The supercargo is defending himself with a capstan-bar
against several savages, while the captain stands in one of the quarter
boats, which has been lowered partly down, pointing a telescope at the
savages, who look at it as if they think it some sort of firearm. Most
of the cannibals turn upon us, and advance furiously with their heavy
clubs. We have, I deem, but little chance of contending with numbers so
overpowering. I hand a cutlass and a pistol to the captain, who springs
out of the boat on deck. Bent stands wonderfully cool, and levelling
his pistols kills two of our assailants almost at the same moment. The
rest hesitate; they have not thought of putting on the hatches, and to
our great relief we see the crew springing up from the forepeak armed
with axes, knives, and harpoons. With loud shouts and threats of
vengeance they rush at the savages, some of whom they cut down, others
they hurl overboard; we fr