lubs and spears. Now
and then our people would face about, fire their pistols, and then again
retreat. As they drew near, Owen shouted to me to be ready to hand out
the muskets, which lay in the bottom of the boat. The boy and I did as
we were directed, but the savages, believing that their enemies were
about to escape them, made a dash forward, and two of the crew lay
gasping on the sand, struck down by their clubs, while the foremost
scrambled into the boat to escape a similar fate. The first impulse of
each man as he got on board was to seize an oar to shove off, Owen
setting the example; but as soon as the boat was afloat, the muskets
were taken up, and a volley fired into the midst of the savages, who
were wading in after us. It had the effect of keeping them back till we
were out of their reach. Yet what a fearful predicament we were in--a
storm raging outside, while we dare not approach the shore. The savages
had canoes, so that we could not even wait under the lee of the land for
fine weather. Owen announced his determination to stand out and run
before the gale. We had a fine sea boat, capable of going through very
heavy weather. Oh, the horrors of that voyage! We thought of the fate
of our companions left on shore, that was undoubtedly ere this sealed.
Our numbers were fearfully diminished.

Owen told us to be thankful, as we had thus more food left to support
our lives. I thought that it mattered very little whether we had more
or less food, for even should our boat weather the gale, it was very
improbable that we should fall in with the ship again, and must be
starved, at all events. On we ran through the passage in the reef. As
we got clear of the land, it required all Owen's skill to steer the boat
amid the fearful seas, which threatened every instant to engulf her.
Four hands continued baling, without stopping; and even these could
scarcely keep the boat from foundering. On, on we flew. Night came on,
still the gale did not abate. Owen's countenance, as the darkness
closed around us, looked grim and firm; but there was a look of horror
(it was not common fear) in his eye which I can never forget. He kept
his post, steering the boat through that livelong night without uttering
a word. Day came back, and there he sat as before, keeping the boat on
the only course which could afford us a possibility of escape. Not till
then would he allow the coxswain, who had escaped, to take his place.