with underwood, and too dark to distinguish anything,
although I heard them close to me breaking off the branches. I did the
same as I went on, to avoid discovery, until I had passed by them, when
I continued my route to where the canoes had been left. I arrived in
safety at the outskirts of the wood close to the beach, and perceived
the canoes still lying at the rocks, to which they had been taken; but
the moon shone bright, and I hesitated to walk out in the light, until I
ascertained whether there were any islanders on the beach. As I waited a
short time in the dark shade of the trees, close to one of the springs
of fresh water, I heard a moan close to me, and looking in that
direction I perceived a body on the ground. I went towards it, and could
distinguish very plainly that it was one of the women who had swam on
shore. She was nearly lifeless, and feeling, as every man must have
done, compassion at her unfortunate condition, I knelt down by her to
see if I could afford her any assistance. As she had very little clothes
round her body, I discovered, by passing my hand over her, that she was
wounded with a musket-ball above the knee, and was exhausted from pain
and loss of blood. I tore my neckcloth and shirt into bandages, and
bound up her leg; I then fetched some water from the spring in my hat,
which I poured into her mouth, and threw over her face. She appeared to
recover, and I felt happy that I had been of some use, and not being
able to descry any of the islanders, was proceeding to the beach, that I
might swim off to the canoes, when just as I walked out of the shade,
two or three muskets were fired by those on board. These were followed
by others, and loud yells from the islanders, who had swum off in
hundreds, and were attacking our people. The conflict was very short,
for the men, not being able to load their muskets quickly enough, were
overpowered by the islanders, who climbed into the canoes, and in a few
minutes they were all paddled to the beach.

I now thought that it was all over with my men on board of the ship, and
so it proved; for an hour before daylight the islanders lighted the
faggots, and, at the same time, attacked the vessel with great fury. The
fire continued to blaze higher and higher, the muskets were constantly
discharging, and the shouts and yells continued for about an hour, when
I heard no more reports from the muskets, and took it for granted that
my men were overcome, which was