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 the case, as I afterwards
found out; many were killed by the spears when on board, others when
they leaped from the vessel to avoid the flames, and the remainder had
been suffocated.

As the sun rose above the horizon, a loud explosion took place, by which
I knew that the flames had communicated with the magazine, and that the
ship had been blown to atoms. I determined to hide myself in the
bushes, with the hope of not being discovered. Before I went, I made a
hasty visit to the poor wounded woman, to see how she was. It was broad
daylight, and I found that I had afforded succour to a very beautiful
young girl, about sixteen or seventeen years old. As she still appeared
faint, I brought her some more water, and when I gave it to her, she
expressed her gratitude with her eyes. Examining the bandages, which
had slipped a little on one side, I replaced them, and then darted into
the thickest of the underwood. As I pressed on, bent half double, my
head suddenly came in contact with something hard; I looked up, and
found that it was the head of one of the islanders, who was also forcing
his way through the bushes, an immense, powerful man, who immediately
sprung upon me, and pinned me to the ground. He was followed by several
others who came