Year: 1870

that it might be uninhabited. If so, we


could not land upon it, for we had no


boat, and it was out of the question to
/ think of managing q raft in the intricate
| channels of coral reef 10
But we had been seen, as it appeared,


even before we had discovered the land.


For within an hour the triangular sails of


half dozen large canoes rose into view,


coming rapidly up toward us. To escape
1 with the ship was simply impossible. But


1t occurred to me that the savages could
know nothing of our ,defenseless condi-
/ tion; though the appearance of the ship,
under so little canvas in fine weather,


must be strange and suspicious to them.


They would not attempt any foul play
with US, if they believed the vessel to be
| fully manned and armed They had come
| off to drive barter trade with the white
men, as was their usual custom. = : 80
| 1 at once set to work, with the help of
the child, who showed ready compre-
thenston of the situation, to manufacture q


crew for the vessel. Seamen's clothes
were abundant, and in a short time every
| handspike was ri9ged up In q motley suit.
| These were all stuffed out into shape, and
topped with hats or caps. / disposed
/ them in the most natural positions about
the decks, in the various parts of the ship,


SO as to give the whole the most Shfeiike
appearance. c9iri cs = '-s-u - g.
t loaded all the firearms we had on


board, which amounted to only three
| muskets; and then went aloft to loose the
mainsail, which had never been set since
| the gale in which the crew were swept
overheard. had felt unable, alone, to
control such an immense sheet of canvas.
But I must have it ready for use now, in


case / should want to give the vessel more
headway. . -ii - 3e+'fi7 81
While on the mainyard engaged in loos-
ening it, a sail appeared in sight over the
point of the island. Not canoe-one


could not be seen at that distancein range
of the trees, but q shipl My heart leaped


at the thought that help and fdeiverance
were within few miles of me. ~.


"Bring up the ensign from the cabin,
Jessie r. shouted as let fall the bunt of


the mainsail, and hurried down on deck.
i caught it from her eager little arms, bent


It to the halyards, and run it upzhalf-


mast, as signal of distress.
brailed the spanker, while the child


put the helm up, and by the power of the


foresan wore the ship around so as to be


on the same tack with the strange vessel.
could not steer the ship directly at her,


without running the ship ashore; nor


could she work to windward much against


the force of the current. But my hope


lay IN her sending boats, as soon as those


on board should see my flag of distress
and the sGrange trim of my sails. 9i :.
i managed to swing the head yards


round, and set the foresai1, after fashion.
But meanwhile the savages were fast
| closing with me, and / had not sufficient


confidence in my sham seamen to believe


that / could long deceive their sharp eyes.
might gain a little time; but the trick


must be discovered and feared it would


be before succor could reach me from the
strange ship. tG1i
=
much off the wind as dared but / was


fearful of getting embayed, and not hav-.
ing room to clear the point. / let fly the


mainsaib and gave it kind of flying set.
as well as could. The ship felt this
added power at once, and gathered head
way; which I determined she should not
lose, for if the barbarians once succeeded
in getting on board, it would be too late
fol-. any attempt of boats to rescue us, even


if we were not instantly put to death. 1t
was no time now to think of the question


whether could ever get the sails IN again,


must have the use Of them now, at
once; and sprang aloft to loose the top
sails. t.a,,t ..:..t;.-;,


had only time to do this and let 60 the


gear, so that they filed and bagged outrin
mid air; for of course could not hoist
\ the yards up. The leading canoe was now
drawing very near me; and the gly-look-
1 ing wretches stood standing in silent be-
\ wilderment as the chip drove past them.


I saw by their gestures as they pointed at


the handspike men, that they were all


ready suspicious; probably from having
noticed that they didn't move about. But
they rested on their paddles to confer


with the next corners, and l had thus
gained SO much time, while / was doing
what could TO push the Warsaw ahead
I knew these people, well enough to be
sure that, they. would never attack un--
less all the circumstances were over
whelmingly in their favor They would


move warily in reconnoiterine;l but,


as soon, as certain of the true state of
things, they would make a dashing at


tempt to board the ship by force.


Il had thus shaken off the first canoes,
and left them in the wake. A stern chase


Is proverbially a long one, though their
canoes would sail much faster than the
ship would, under her bags and festoons:


But other pursuers were, fore-Feaching


upon me, and, fresh reinforcements put
ting out from the shore as we neared the
land obliQuelY.r None seemed to care to
visit the other ship; but all were attracted
by the mysterious maneuvers of mine.


A large canoe, which contained one


placed herself m my track. j was Obliged,
necessarily, to pass her so closely, that
their suspicfons, already aroused by tele-
graphic signals from their bafffed COM
rades, wererendered certainty. Our real
weakness was now understood, and al
most Instantly, communicated through the
whole fotillast All those which had been
left in the rear gave chase under full
power of sails and paddles; while five or
six late arrivals, who had the advantage
of position disposed themselves for board
ing the ship on both bows at once. Is


There was no alternative for me but to
stand boldly on my course, and had
time, before closing with the enemy, to
run up in the main rigging and cast an
anxious glance toward the ships which
was hugging the wind under all sail, in
the endeavor to come to my relief Bet
ter than all, I could see that two boats had
left her side and were pulling toward me.


But crisis must come before they
could arrive on the stage. sprang on
deck again, seized a boarding knife, a ter
rible two edged weapon, which would be
far more effective at close quarters than
any fire arms, and took my stand on the
fore matches, Where could jump. quickly
to either side.' The bulwarks, as before
stated, had been nearly all swept away by
the sea that boarded us. But this circurn-