The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-08-12

rlu6c from the SlH'pOunucr. lnc
gun thundered over the water but
the effect was different from what
he had expected.
1t was my trick at the helm, and
l was astonishcd to see the captain
fail down beside me, while his tcle-
scope struck my leg violently, and
something whizzcd overhead The
savage warrior in the canoe astcrn
let 20 Of the tow.line the instant he
heard tho report of the cannon, and
seizing his bow and arrow, let fly at
the captain, who fortunately lodged
q barbcd arrow which was aimed at
his heart.
The canoes put of in great num-
bcrs and the natives were so we'll
armed and seemed 80 hostile, that We
deemed it safest to rctracc our
course and stand out to sea.
The wind fell away, but VIC crcpt
slowly towards the mouth of the bay
and again approached the war canoe
commanded by the savage brave.
He now showed signs of friendship
by holding up two &cocoanuts but
the instant he came within sffet Of
the captain, who stood upon'thc quar-
ter, he dropped his nuts and seized
his arrow and bow, and, with
frightful scowl Of defiance, was about
to twang it, when the captain level.
led his rifle and shot him down. The
treacherous warrior, ,uttcriny q Shrek,
fell back over the gunwale of the
canoe, and, rolling overheard, sunk
with the bow and arrow in his grasp.
The natives who manned the canoe
did not appear to take part with their
chieftain, and they now al lcapcd
overheard and held their heads above
water. under the lee of their boats.
We offered them no injury, and,
soon dropping astcrn, they again
jumped into the canoe and padded
Tor the foot of the bay.
An imnense feet of war canoes,
manned yinndrcds ofbrawny warrii.
ors now came pouring out Of the river,
and started in full pursuit Of our de-
votcd craft, ike mighty billow,
while from every direction advanced
smaller fleets, all concentrating ahead
and of the beams, to act in concert
with the kings hotilla.
The wind was quite light, and it
was impossible for us to escape. The
CAPTAIN very justly remarked, that
q retrcating enemy cmJo!dcns the
pursners.' We accordingly turned
about, and stccrcd for the foot or
the bay.
The kings flo,illa bore down upon
us, the warriors chanting the war
song in tremendous chorus, which
was taken up and rolled over the
bay, by thousands Of voices, accom-
panied by the sound Of tum-,ums,
war conchs, and the souls,irring.
quick chorus, Of the flat side Of the
paddle blades struck violently against
the side Of the canoes. Now and then,
between the chorus, the king and
principal braves stood upon the out
riggers Of their respective canoes,
and, with javcllns in their hands, de.
livcrcl speeches to cheer their fol-
lowers to the onset. So great was
the din that the captain was forced
to use his speaking trumpet to be
heard.
| had heard Of the Indians war
whoop, but never before had realized
its terrifying influence. AS We we're
silent, and returned 10 answering
yell, the sayagcs took us to be 50
feeble and few in numbers that they
could do as they pleased with us.
Fore and main top.mcn, stations,
cried the captain. 'Aunourcr, man
the armchcst range forty muskets
on the trunk and forty on the wind.
lass shot the cightccns with the
largest canister Of muskct-balis !
a large canister contained Two hun.
drcd and fifty balls q single dis.
charge would thus carry terrible ha.
voc from an eighteen FOUNDER amid
host of sayagcs within muskct
shot.
The crisis had now arrived; the
kings hotil'a closed in upon US and
with terrible yell, the warriors
launched q yollcy Of arrows at our
vessel, that bristlcd in the bow and
rigging. They seemed to think them
selves and their arrows quite invinci.
bic, and expected to sec US, like the
whale when harpooned, 80 into our
furry 1t was now our turn to
chant our war-song. The crew stood
ranged along their stations each
man had a cutlass swinging by his
side, pair Of boarding pistols in his
belt. aud near by stood his pike. i,
Yaw her off handsomely = said
the captain to me; keep tho broad