en, drove them back into the forest.
The arrows thus flew wide of their mark, and the seamen were able to
convey Mr Large to the boat, and to shove off without molestation.
Several other shells were fired in the direction taken by the natives,
who immediately scampered off, leaving several dead behind them.

On the return of the boat alongside, Mr Large was seen sitting up, when
with some assistance he managed to get on deck, notwithstanding an ugly
gash he had received at the back of his head.

"I'll never trust those black rascals again!" he exclaimed; "they very
nearly did for me, just as I thought I was getting on so well with them.
I only hope our boats won't have landed on their shores, or they'll
receive an unpleasant welcome."

"I trust not, Mr Large," said Jack, who, on having such evidence of the
savage disposition of the natives, was becoming more and more anxious
about Green and the midshipmen; "however, you did your best; and now you
must let the surgeon look after you, for that wound in your head is an
ugly one."

The boat was, after this, again despatched to bring off any arms or
articles of value which could be found on board the schooner, and then,
as she was a perfect wreck, she was set on fire to prevent the savages
from benefiting by her loss. This done, the ship proceeded along the
coast, when a little farther on she opened a village which there was
every probability belonged to their late treacherous assailants. A
couple of rockets fired into it quickly set it in flames, and another
village in the neighbourhood was treated in the same manner. Jack
considered that this punishment was necessary to teach the natives that
they could not attack white men with impunity.

Jack was by this time almost in despair of recovering the boats, but
would not yet abandon the attempt to find them. If they had escaped
foundering or being driven on a reef, they must have reached the shores
of one of the neighbouring islands; he resolved therefore to go back to
Santa Cruz, and then to steam round every island in succession, narrowly
examining their shores. The ship accordingly stood back to Santa Cruz,
though Jack scarcely expected to find the boats in the harbour. A
look-out was kept on every side, and at night blue lights were burned
frequently to attract their attention should they be in the
neighbourhood.

In the morning watch, just before daybreak, as the ship was gliding
smoothly on with a light bree