The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-23
A NARROW ESCAPE.

A NARROW ESCAPE.
Some fifteen years ago I was harpooner
on a New Bedford whaler. We were out
for four years voyage aud had been fairly
successful up to the time my story opens.
We had Just finished a season at the
Chatham Is ands, in the South Pacific, and
were up among the Fiji Islands after hump
back wales. Time hung heavily on our
hands. as wales were scarce, and we spent
our time in making fancy articles, such as
canes, cocoanut-dppers, work-boXes, ETC.,
which we could sell in New Zealand at ex-
oTbitant rates.
One day the captain happened to want
some cocoanut wood for canes, so he ordered
a boat cleared away and the second mate
and five men jumped in and rowed to the
nearest island to procure young tree. L
was among the number and thought it a
fine chance to stretch my legs ashore for
while.
We took no arms, as these Islands are
many Of them unlnhablted by man or oeaSI,
but we bitterly regretted this later on.
The land was scarcely two miles away,
and not breath of air rutted the surface
of the blue waters as We sped along a
coral reef encircled the little island, and 1t
was some time before we found narrow
opening just wide enough to admit OF our
passing through. Once inside pull OF a
hundred yards brought US to the white
beach.
The second mate and myself lit our pipes,
and one Of the men took hatchet and telled
q Young tree. II was soon cut up into
pieces Of the right length and placed III the
boat, and then we sat down in little grove
..N.sg a Ton lFEfGE "a
called ourselves with the green c0coanutS.
After we had eaten cur fill we sauntered
slowly back toward the boat We were
about half way there when l happened 10
glance over my shoulder.
The next instant | gave n shout. for not
twenty-five yards behind us were not less
than twenty hIde0u5 looking tIJl warriors
running after Us at full speed, carrying their
huge war clubs and shields. Their bare
feet made no noise in the sand, and had L
not Glanced too look back they would have
been upon us a moment later.
Good G0dW cried the second mate.
1--WE are dead men, sure! Run, boys, run?'
And we did run.
If l ever thanked heaven for my six feet
four Of flesh and bone it was then, for my
long legs sent me far ahead of my shipmates
and l re tched the boat first.
The wood in the boat made her heavy, hut
my fright augmented my naturally great
strength, and, placing my shoulder against
the bow, l succeeded IN pushing her into
the water just as my shpmates came tear
ing down the beach.
"Quick, or we're lost" I cried, as they
spla>hed into the water and scrambled into
the boat
But hurry as they might the savages were
close behind, and as the last man climbed
aboard the foremost natives dashed into the
water with fierce wells of triumph.
stood up to my knees in the water. hold
ing the boat for my companions, and as /
turned 10 Jump on board a brawny Fiji
spraug upon me with upliftel club. l
lodged a blow which would have scattered
my brains about, and as the huge C, ub struck
the water l struck out straight from the
shoulder, putting all my 80 pounds into the
effort
1t caught the fellow under the ear and he
dropped ike a dead man.
Tie next instant l SDrang into the boat
and seized an oar. BY this time the other
sailors tad got out their oars and attempted
to row, but in their fright they were making
poor work Of it, and one man fell backward
in the boat, nearly losing his oar overheard.
As l raised the oar 70 push the boat away
from the shore two more saVage5 rushed
forward, bTandiShing their clubs, while
spear Whistled within an inch of my head.
Up went the huge waT-ciubs in tho air,
and l made desperate sweep with the
heavy oar, striking one warrior in the neck
and sending him staggering against his COM
panions, who nearly fell with him.
Then a mighty shove sent the boat fully
ten feet away.
Pull for your livesP' l shouted as
seated myself on the bow thwaTt and shipped
my oar
But we were not to escape so easily, for
with boarse cry Of rage the natives dashed
into the water uD to their armpits, and one
of them seized the bow OF the boat with
both hands.
just then l saw a sharp Ratchet lying at
my feet in the boat, and | seized it without
delay. II was the work of an instant to
deal the savage a deadly blow, and he fell
back into the water, his head eleven In two.
A fearful chorus of yells burst from the
baffied FillS as they saw US bend to the oars
and shoot off beyond their reach, and then
they scrambled ashore and ran swiftly into
the bush
THANK the Lord, boys" said the second
mate; that was a close call. We're safe
now unless they've got canoe round that
pOintw
But no canoe appeared, and we were begin
ming to bTe the easier when suddenly we
saw large war canoe shoot around tie
point mentioned, manned by fully score
OF naked Fills.
Not word was spoken as we bent to our
work. 1t was life or death for US now, and
we made every stroke tell. We shot through
the narrow opening in the reef some fifty
arose as we saw the old bark was standing
toward US, bringing little breeze with her.
Long and strong, boysP said the mate
who stood up In the stern, with the long
steering oar as be glanced back at the
canoe. They've only got couple of dozen
men, and that craft is made for about fifty
paddles. They amt gainiu' any now. Send
her along"
How we did pull The men were all used
TO the work, and the broad backs swayed
back and forth in perfect unison. Every oar
we dipped deep in the water, and the boat
fairly jumped ahead every time the muscular
arms Strengthened out.
Inch by inch We began to gain, until at
length We were drawing near the bark.
Then with one accord our pursuers stopped
padding and united in shout of disap-
pointed rage, after which they turned about
and padded slowly back to land.
1t was not till afterward we learned the
probable cause of their attack. The cocoa
nut tree is sacred in some of these islands,
and it is death to fell one. We had narrow
eSeape.-N. Y. Recorder.