Year: 1871

probably more frightened audience was
never beheld, as, in accordance with her
command, they left the building.


"Your presence of mind saved me, SIR
she said, as the last man went out Are
you Tovai, of whom 1 have heard so much?'


"Tovai was the name Whippey was call
ed, and as l assured her l was not, and that
| was a captive made so by treachery, she
begged of me to rescue her if possible. l
had barely time to tell her how came there,
and what little prospects I had for an escape;
but that if ever did escape would come
for her if it was ten years later, and had just
asked her how she came there, when my
master appeared and commanded me to follow
him. answered her look of appeal, by
saying as / went, l will come sometime for
you, keep your courage;' and then followed
the king out.


"That night, for the only time after my
capture, was regularly kept under guard,
and long before daybreak the king had me
in the canoe headed back again, never
seeming to breathe freely until Rava was
plain in sight.


"Again l commenced my old routine,
only feeling greater uneasiness than before,
as thought of the beautiful prisoner SO
near and yet so far from me, and verify
believe l should have lost my senses from
brooding over my misfortunes, had I not
made my escape from captivity.


"Watch over my movements had been
gradually reducing until now was left en-
tirely to Kaloo, who frequently said he was
guard over me, and l knew if there was any
chance to escape, could readily dispose of
him.


"One morning wended my way to my
mountain lookout, as was my wont, when
off in the horizon saw something which at
first thought was the wing of q gull, but
on steady examination l decided was the
top hamper of vessel, and soon her top
sails were plainly in view.


"I think l never made better time than
did that morning in coming down hill
but as l neared the palisades, my better
j anu L mdlhCl iHLO IOWH
with my usual listless step. Arriving at
my hut leisurely directed Kaloo to put
the sail and calabash of water in the ca
noe, and prepare her for days shooting
on the reef. l put some ammunition in my
bag, and taking my musket, followed him
leisurely.


GAS was doing nothing unusual, | at
tractcd no attention when we pushed out
from the landing, and hoisted our sail and
kept off for the point of the island where
the ducks were numerous. AS we rounded
the point, l saw the vesselwas just in sight,
and as we were only two miles from shore,
/ ventured to keep her going. We were
now getting beyond the fowl who kept near
er land, and saw my companion began to
grow restless so pointing to quite bunch
Of fowl that were outside of lis, steered
for them. AS we drew within easy shot l
fired. Hardly had done so than Kaloo
was over like dog, and swimming for the
game, while |, easing off the sheet, was
soon going like an arrow for the vessel
whose hull was plainly in sight In a mo-
ment / heard my comrade utter a cry of
rage, and then turn for the land with a
stroke that | feared would only too soon
take him there.


81 shouted and prayed, cried and laugh
ed, and even raved, in the excl tement of
my thoughts with soon being free, which
was not allayed much by looking astern,
| o,,I la tI,, %
largest war canoe.


GAS drew within hail, shouted that |
was an escaped prisoner, and in the name
of humanity begged them to receive me,
which they did, / getting on board as the
pursuing canoe came within five hundred
yards of retaking me.


"Giving hasty look, and seeing she was
trader, and all prepared for an attack,
sank on the deck in a swoon, and remem-
bered nothing more until found myself in
a hospital in Sydney, when learned that
we had been attacked by the natives and
that | had fought like tiger; that after
the battle | was seized with brain fever
which lasted all the time the captain was
trading at other islands, and had then laid
for months in comatOse state, barely
taking enough sustenance to keep me alive,
and that when l had spoken, it was to
rave Of female juggler on cannibal
island.


"Upon my recovery / went TO the Amer
lean consul and stated my case; but
while he sympathized deeply with my
loss and cruel treatment, he treated my