e the shouts of the crowd upon the beach were
distinctly audible, and in the blended confusion of sounds I almost
fancied I could distinguish the voices of my own countrymen.

When we reached the open space which lay between the groves and the sea,
the first object that met my view was an English whale-boat, lying with
her bow pointed from the shore, and only a few fathoms distant from it. It
was manned by five islanders, dressed in short tunics of calico. My first
impression was that they were in the very act of pulling out from the bay;
and that, after all my exertions, I had come too late. My soul sunk within
me: but a second glance convinced me that the boat was only hanging off to
keep out of the surf; and the next moment I heard my own name shouted out
by a voice from the midst of the crowd.

Looking in the direction of the sound, I perceived, to my indescribable
joy, the tall figure of Karakoee, an Oahu Kannaka, who had often been
aboard the _Dolly_ while she lay in Nukuheva. He wore the green
shooting-jacket, with gilt buttons, which had been given to him by an
officer of the _Reine Blanche_--the French flag-ship--and in which I had
always seen him dressed. I now remembered the Kannaka had frequently told
me that his person was tabooed in all the valleys of the island, and the
sight of him at such a moment as this filled my heart with a tumult of
delight.

Karakoee stood near the edge of the water with a large roll of
cotton-cloth thrown over one arm, and holding two or three canvas bags of
powder, while with the other hand he grasped a musket, which he appeared
to be proffering to several of the chiefs around him. But they turned with
disgust from his offers, and seemed to be impatient at his presence, with
vehement gestures waving him off to his boat, and commanding him to
depart.

The Kannaka, however, still maintained his ground, and I at once perceived
that he was seeking to purchase my freedom. Animated by the idea, I called
upon him loudly to come to me; but he replied, in broken English, that the
islanders had threatened to pierce him with their spears, if he stirred a
foot towards me. At this time I was still advancing, surrounded by a dense
throng of the natives, several of whom had their hands upon me, and more
than one javelin was threateningly pointed at me. Still I perceived
clearly that many of those least friendly towards me looked irresolute and
anxious.

I was still some thirty yards from