re still slowly and lazily tumbling against each other as they
rolled on till they reached the reef, where, with a roar of thunder,
they broke into masses of foam. The chief object of interest, the
distant ship, remained motionless as before, her canvas closely furled.
Had a sail been loosed we should have seen it fluttering in the breeze.

"In a few hours at most we shall be able to pass through yonder
channel," observed Medley, pointing to the entrance of the lagoon.
"Look, the sea scarcely even now breaks across it. If necessary, I
would not hesitate to take out a boat in spite of the risk I might run;
but we will not make the attempt for the present."

I agreed with him that it would be folly to do so, and we returned to
the cave. We sat down in the shade. The heat was great, and neither of
us having had much rest, we both fell as sound asleep as were our men
stretched at their lengths a short distance from us. Hours may have
passed. I was aroused by Pepper shouting, "De savage come! de savage
come! Quick, quick! rouse up, boys, get to de boat."

Salt was the first to start to his feet on hearing his companion's
voice, and by kicks and pulls to awaken the rest. I grasped Medley by
the arm and helped him up. The men in a panic were hurrying off, when
he reminded them of the breaker of water and the remainder of the fish
which had fortunately been cooked. They took the breaker and fish up
between them, and set off, while we waited for Pepper. He had seen a
large body of savages, flourishing their formidable spears and
gesticulating wildly, come down to the shore and begin to swim across
the channel, evidently, as he supposed, having discovered that strangers
were on the island, though how they had done so it was difficult to
guess, unless they had seen Medley and me on the top of the hill. That
they had hostile intentions was pretty evident by the account Pepper
gave us. Had we possessed fire-arms we might have defended our selves,
but as it was we could secure our safety alone by flight.

We found the men hurriedly launching the boat. In their dread of the
savages I am not sure that they would have waited for us had we been
delayed. The boat was quickly in the water, and we all leaped on board.
Medley took the steering oar, and the men gave way. As I looked ahead
I could see the green billows rolling in towards the opening, and still
breaking with fearful force against the barrier reef on either sid