the
natives at bay, while they were employed in cutting the wood. They
worked well, and we quickly got a full cargo. Now, as the wind was from
the eastward, and it would have taken us a fortnight or more to beat
back to the island from which we had brought our labourers, while it was
fair for Sydney, the skipper had no fancy to lose so much time. What
did he do, therefore, but send the poor fellows back again, telling them
that they must remain and cut another cargo while he went to Sydney, and
that he would come back and take them off. Knowing the character of the
natives, they did not like this at all, and begged hard to be taken on
board, saying that they would go on to Sydney, or anywhere else, rather
than remain. In truth, it was a terribly cruel thing the skipper was
doing, and I and another man told him so, and declared that when we got
to Sydney we would make the matter known. He replied that we had better
not, but said nothing more. The long and the short of it is that the
poor brown men were left behind, and it's my belief that one and all of
them were killed and eaten, before many days were over, by the cannibal
blacks.

"The night after we sailed it came on to blow hard, and the next morning
when I came on deck to keep my watch I was told that Ned Mole, the man I
spoke of, had been washed overboard. I had my thoughts about it, and
couldn't help saying that I was sure there had been foul play. I had
better have held my tongue. In a few hours it fell a dead calm, just as
we were off this here island. The skipper observing that he thought
there would be sandal-wood on it, had one of the boats lowered, telling
me to come in her. I, of course, went, without thinking that any harm
was intended me. As no natives were seen, we at once landed, when the
skipper ordered me to accompany him with an axe, saying that we would
have a look for sandal-wood. We had gone some distance when at length
we discovered some tree of the sort we were in search of. `Now, Casey,'
says the skipper, `do you cut as much as you think the boat's crew can
carry, and I'll go back and fetch them up. I should like to have a
sample of this wood, as it seems somewhat different to what we have got
on board.' `Ay, ay, sir,' I answered, and, taking off my jacket and
tucking up my sleeves, I began chopping away. I thought the skipper was
a long time in coming back, for I had cut even more than he was likely
to want. I waited and wa