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One
day
we
were
becalmed
among
a
group
of
small
islands
,
most
of
which
appeared
to
be
uninhabited
.
As
we
were
in
want
of
fresh
water
,
the
captain
sent
the
boat
ashore
to
bring
off
a
cask
or
two
.
But
we
were
mistaken
in
thinking
there
were
no
natives
;
for
scarcely
had
we
drawn
near
to
the
shore
when
a
band
of
naked
blacks
rushed
out
of
the
bush
and
assembled
on
the
beach
,
brandishing
their
clubs
and
spears
in
a
threatening
manner
.
Our
men
were
well
armed
,
but
refrained
from
showing
any
signs
of
hostility
,
and
rowed
nearer
in
order
to
converse
with
the
natives
;
and
I
now
found
that
more
than
one
of
the
crew
could
imperfectly
speak
dialects
of
the
language
peculiar
to
the
South
Sea
Islanders
.
When
within
forty
yards
of
the
shore
we
ceased
rowing
,
and
the
first
mate
stood
up
to
address
the
multitude
;
but
instead
of
answering
us
,
they
replied
with
a
shower
of
stones
,
some
of
which
cut
the
men
severely
.
Instantly
our
muskets
were
levelled
,
and
a
volley
was
about
to
be
fired
when
the
captain
hailed
us
in
a
loud
voice
from
the
schooner
,
which
lay
not
more
than
five
or
six
hundred
yards
off
the
shore
.
"
Do
n't
fire
!
"
he
shouted
angrily
.
"
Pull
off
to
the
point
ahead
of
you
!
"
The
men
looked
surprised
at
this
order
,
and
uttered
deep
curses
as
they
prepared
to
obey
;
for
their
wrath
was
roused
,
and
they
burned
for
revenge
.
Three
or
four
of
them
hesitated
,
and
seemed
disposed
to
mutiny
.
"
Do
n't
distress
yourselves
,
lads
,
"
said
the
mate
,
while
a
bitter
smile
curled
his
lip
.
"
Obey
orders
.
The
captain
's
not
the
man
to
take
an
insult
tamely
.
If
Long
Tom
does
not
speak
presently
,
I
'll
give
myself
to
the
sharks
.
"
The
men
smiled
significantly
as
they
pulled
from
the
shore
,
which
was
now
crowded
with
a
dense
mass
of
savages
,
amounting
probably
to
five
or
six
hundred
.
We
had
not
rowed
off
above
a
couple
of
hundred
yards
when
a
loud
roar
thundered
over
the
sea
,
and
the
big
brass
gun
sent
a
withering
shower
of
grape
point-blank
into
the
midst
of
the
living
mass
,
through
which
a
wide
lane
was
cut
;
while
a
yell
,
the
like
of
which
I
could
not
have
imagined
,
burst
from
the
miserable
survivors
as
they
fled
to
the
woods
.
Amongst
the
heaps
of
dead
that
lay
on
the
sand
just
where
they
had
fallen
,
I
could
distinguish
mutilated
forms
writhing
in
agony
;
while
ever
and
anon
one
and
another
rose
convulsively
from
out
the
mass
,
endeavoured
to
stagger
towards
the
wood
,
and
ere
they
had
taken
a
few
steps
,
fell
and
wallowed
on
the
bloody
sand
.
My
blood
curdled
within
me
as
I
witnessed
this
frightful
and
wanton
slaughter
;
but
I
had
little
time
to
think
,
for
the
captain
's
deep
voice
came
again
over
the
water
towards
us
:
"
Pull
ashore
,
lads
,
and
fill
your
water-casks
!
"
The
men
obeyed
in
silence
,
and
it
seemed
to
me
as
if
even
their
hard
hearts
were
shocked
by
the
ruthless
deed
.
On
gaining
the
mouth
of
the
rivulet
at
which
we
intended
to
take
in
water
,
we
found
it
flowing
with
blood
;
for
the
greater
part
of
those
who
were
slain
had
been
standing
on
the
banks
of
the
stream
,
a
short
way
above
its
mouth
Many
of
the
wretched
creatures
had
fallen
into
it
;
and
we
found
one
body
,
which
had
been
carried
down
,
jammed
between
two
rocks
,
with
the
staring
eyeballs
turned
towards
us
,
and
his
black
hair
waving
in
the
ripples
of
the
blood-red
stream
.
No
one
dared
to
oppose
our
landing
now
,
so
we
carried
our
casks
to
a
pool
above
the
murdered
group
,
and
having
filled
them
,
returned
on
board
.
Fortunately
a
breeze
sprang
up
soon
afterwards
,
and
carried
us
away
from
the
dreadful
spot
;
but
it
could
not
waft
me
away
from
the
memory
of
what
I
had
seen
.
"
And
this
,
"
thought
I
,
gazing
in
horror
at
the
captain
,
who
,
with
a
quiet
look
of
indifference
,
leaned
upon
the
taffrail
,
smoking
a
cigar
and
contemplating
the
fertile
green
islets
as
they
passed
like
a
lovely
picture
before
our
eyes
--
"
this
is
the
man
who
favours
the
missionaries
because
they
are
useful
to
him
and
can
tame
the
savages
better
than
any
one
else
can
do
it
!
"
Then
I
wondered
in
my
mind
whether
it
were
possible
for
any
missionary
to
tame
him
!
It
was
many
days
after
the
events
just
narrated
ere
I
recovered
a
little
of
my
wonted
spirits
.
I
could
not
shake
off
the
feeling
for
a
long
time
that
I
was
in
a
frightful
dream
,
and
the
sight
of
our
captain
filled
me
with
so
much
horror
that
I
kept
out
of
his
way
as
much
as
my
duties
about
the
cabin
would
permit
.
Fortunately
he
took
so
little
notice
of
me
that
he
did
not
observe
my
changed
feelings
towards
him
,
otherwise
it
might
have
been
worse
for
me
.
But
I
was
now
resolved
that
I
would
run
away
the
very
first
island
we
should
land
at
,
and
commit
myself
to
the
hospitality
of
the
natives
rather
than
remain
an
hour
longer
than
I
could
help
in
the
pirate
schooner
.
I
pondered
this
subject
a
good
deal
,
and
at
last
made
up
my
mind
to
communicate
my
intention
to
Bloody
Bill
;
for
during
several
talks
I
had
had
with
him
of
late
,
I
felt
assured
that
he
too
would
willingly
escape
if
possible
.
When
I
told
him
of
my
design
he
shook
his
head
.
"
No
,
no
,
Ralph
,
"
said
he
;
"
you
must
not
think
of
running
away
here
.
Among
some
of
the
groups
of
islands
you
might
do
so
with
safety
;
but
if
you
tried
it
here
,
you
would
find
that
you
had
jumped
out
of
the
fryin
'
-
pan
into
the
fire
.
"
