d he expects to take her some dark night, then to get hold of
everything on board."

"We will not stand on any ceremony with him, then, but keep him safely
under hatches till we get the mast aboard," said Harry.

We at once landed the two natives, who explained to the rest our object
in keeping the chief. This did not appear to surprise them, nor did
they show any unfriendly feeling towards us, but continued to bring down
fresh provisions, till we gave them to understand that we had as much as
we wanted. As there was no time to be lost, the carpenter, and men to
assist him, at once went on shore to cut down the tree. Charlie and I
accompanied them to superintend the operation. Notwithstanding the
pacific behaviour of the natives, we considered it prudent to go well
armed, and to keep a vigilant watch all the time on their movements. As
the tree we required was not a large one, it was quickly cut down, and
the branches and bark being chopped off, we commenced dragging it
towards the water. None of the natives, however, offered to assist us.
We had got to within about a hundred yards of the beach, when we saw a
number of natives collecting on either side, with clubs and spears in
their hands; and at the same time we observed, to our dismay, a fleet of
canoes paddling towards the schooner. We had too much reason to fear
that a simultaneous attack was to be made on us and her.
Providentially, our boat, which lay hauled up on the beach, had not been
touched, and we determined therefore to make a rush for her, and to try
and reach the schooner before the canoes could get alongside, as, if
once on board, we might hope to defend her against any number of
assailants.

"Whatever we do, let us keep together," cried Charlie.

Presenting our muskets at the natives, we ordered them to keep back, and
while he and I retreated with our faces towards them, the men rushed on
to launch the boat. Still the savages well knew that after we had
discharged our pieces we should be defenceless. They hesitated,
however, no one wishing to be shot, and we were able to get the boat off
and to leap into her. Still it seemed very doubtful whether we could
gain the schooner before the canoes. Scarcely, however, had we shoved
off from the shore, when I caught sight of a white sail appearing over
the point which formed the southern entrance to the harbour, and almost
immediately afterwards a large vessel appeared, steering directly for
it.