Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-06-01

which we had left on board. The.
soon passed US with great rapidity
and evidently with the intention o
escaping with their booty unharm
ed. The cause Of their precipitancy
will soon We explained. Just at thi,
time there came in sight a number
Of canoes, perhaps thirty, filled with
natives, who seemed no less intent
upon plunder than those with whom
we had already formed disagree
able acquaintance. Their language
was to us entirely unintelligible, but
we could gather from their some.
what significant gestures, that they
most Of all desired to possess them
selves of firearms. They beckoned
to us to 90 with them, and seemed
quite anxious TO avail themselves
Of our assistance; but we were not
less so to escape; and with the hope
Of being able 10 do 50, we continued
TO row towards the island. Some of
them remained near us, while the
rest made for the ship. At length,
all except those in one canoe, left US,
and joined their companions. These
seemed particularly fond of our
company, partly on account, as we
afterwards learned, of their suspect
ing that we had something of value
concealed about us, and partly
for the purpose of making
us their prisoners, and in that
way gaining some advantage over
the others. After while they of
fcred, with an appearance Of friend
ship, to render us some assistance by
towing our boat; and after some de-
liberation we concluded to throw
them line. This greatly facilitated
our progress, as their canoe, being
made very light, skinned over the
water with incredible swiftness.
No sooner was this arrangement
completed than u chef, and one
other of the natives, left their canoe
and took their station with us; the
the chief with a somewhat offensive
seating himself in the
stern of the boat, near the captain.
We were not long in doubt concern
ing the motive which had led them |
TO this act of condescension. Our
bread was contained i'm small |
hest, which had been placed in the
bottom of the boat; this seemed to
nave excited their curiosity to the
highest pitch, as they kept their
yes almost constantly upon it, and
to pursuade the captain
% give them chance to examine its
He declined gratifying
hem. thinking it better to keep
heir anxiety alive, rather than to
Expose to them the COM
wOrthlessncss of the |
title that remained with us of
ither the CONT forts or necessaries
4 life. Probably owing to this show
f resistance on our part, when we
had approached to within five or six
niles of the islands, at signal
iven by the chief, the sail of their
anoe was suddenly dropped; and,
eizing our powder canister, he
lmped overheard and swan to the
anoe. His companion, following
he example of the thievish chief,
nized n bundle of clothing and was
laking of with II; whereupon Mr..
'ute, who had not yet become en-
rely reconcilcd to the fashion of
Ding without clothes, like our new
cquaintances, and conceiving that ,
might be well to insist upon hav-
~ the rights of property respected,
lught hold of the bundle and re-
lined it. Upon this they imme-
lately hauled us alongside, and
lied upon our oars; here again we
nj occasion to offer some resistance !
their supposed right to plunder us )
nd we succeeded In keeping possess
on of these; the only remaining
leans of saving ourselves from pre- y
Iature death and watery grave.
hey had by this time become SO :
that we considered il !
together desirable to get ourselves $
II of the reach of their war clubs, =,
'ears, and battle-aXos, aud we took Q
easurs accordingly, We were |,
III held fast to their canoe, aud I
completely within their reach II
at II required not little courage I,
make any attempt To leave them; Il
i Mr. Mute, whose resolution had !,
en- wrought up 10y the previous u
ntest, took n knife aud deliberately ;,
/ the line, Our Intention was 10 "
row ourselves astern, aud then, hv al
'king directly about, and steering al
the winu's eye, to escape from &c
'n, or at leas, Ia give them, tor
ne, some better employment than
It of rohhing their poorand suffer y,
victims, This We succeeded In :"