ad landed at Carlisle Bay, on the island of Santa Cruz,
accompanied by an interpreter, through whose means, according to his
usual plan, he was engaged in communicating with the natives, when,
after a conference with some who appeared to have no hostile intentions,
as he was in the act of stepping into his boat, a savage, a few yards
off, shot a poisoned arrow, which struck him in the side. The example
thus set was followed by the other natives, and several of the British
were wounded. The boats immediately returned to the ship, but,
notwithstanding the efforts of the surgeons to counteract the effects of
the poison, the commodore felt that death was approaching. His great
anxiety during the following days of intense suffering was to impress
the principles by which he had been guided on those serving under him.
As he lay in his cabin and his last hours were passing, not a murmur
escaped his lips. The only regret he expressed was that he had not
strength enough to praise God sufficiently for all His mercies. "The
day before his death, believing that he would not live out the night, he
had all his officers summoned to his bedside," writes his chaplain,
"where, in lovely and loving words, he spoke of the truth and the
infinite love of God, and the readiness he felt to go. He had a word
for each--a word of love--as, at his request, each kissed him and said
good-bye. He then caused himself to be carried on to the quarter-deck
and placed on a bed there, the ship's company being assembled to hear
his last words to them. He earnestly desired that no revenge should be
taken on the natives of Santa Cruz. In these last words to the men he
spoke to this effect: `We cannot tell their reason, perhaps they had
been injured by white people, but we cannot communicate with them, not
knowing their language; perhaps some day, it may be twenty or thirty
years hence, some good missionary, some Christian man, may go among them
and find out why they did this.' His heart was full of God's love to
himself. He spoke of this love, and exhorted all to love God, telling
them how he had loved them all, even when having to punish them, seeing
good in them to love. Many such words were spoken before he said
good-bye, blessing them all in the name of God. He passed away in
perfect peace at 5:30 p.m., on Friday the 20th of August 1875. Thus
died, in the performance of his duty, as true and noble a sailor as any
of the gallant officers who hav