f which
I have spoken. This stopped them, or the whole of our men would have
been cut off. We could not go to their assistance, as we had to remain
on board to defend the ship from the canoes, which were now coming
towards her. Two of our men had been killed before our eyes; the
greater number were shoving off the boats. They had just got them
afloat, when the savages, gaining courage, charged them. Two more of
our poor fellows were knocked on the head. The rest jumped into the
boats and pulled off from the beach. They had no time to fire. The
canoes made chase after them. All we could do was to fire at the canoes
with our big guns and muskets as they came on, hotly chasing the boats
till they got alongside. The men climbed up the sides by the ropes we
hove to them. We had barely time to hoist in the boats when the savages
in vast numbers came round us, uttering the most fearful shrieks and
cries. While some of my men kept them off with lances, and by firing
down on them, others hove up the anchor and went aloft to loose sails.
There was fortunately a fresh breeze off shore; our topsails filled, and
we stood out of the bay, while the savages kept close round us, hoping,
no doubt, that we should strike on a reef and become their easy prey.
We had to fly here and there to keep them from gaining the deck, for as
soon as one was driven back another took his place. Not till we were
well outside the reef did they give up the attempt to take the ship.
Not only had we lost the four men killed on the beach, but two others
had been cut off in the boats, and several of those who got on board
were badly wounded. I suspect that the savages had from the first
intended to take the ship, for I could not make out that our men had
given them any special cause of quarrel. I was thankful when we were
well free of them, and I must confess to you, Martin, that you were
right when you advised me to visit a Christian island instead of a
heathen one. I cannot get over the loss of those poor fellows. It has
been a severe lesson to me, and I am, I believe, a wiser man."

"I am very sorry for the loss of your people, Mr Judson, and yet God
will rule the event for your good if you continue to see it in the light
you now do," observed Mr Martin. "The example which our so-called
Christian seamen have set to the natives of these islands has been
fearful. Their behaviour has created one of the chief difficulties to
the progress of th