t belong to one of
the neighbouring piratical communities! The cause of their presence was
explained, when I observed that several of them had been driven on shore
on the weather side of the island, the remainder having taken shelter to
leeward of it. The wind which had blown the _Fraulein_ off the coast,
had, to my misfortune, blown them on it. I consoled myself with the
hope that they might soon take their departure, and that I should have
simply to undergo the inconvenience of lying hid in the cavern, and was
about to hurry away from my conspicuous situation, when, to my dismay, I
saw, from the gestures of some of those on the shore below, that I was
perceived. Still I thought that I might reach the cavern before any of
them could get up the hill, and that, should they possibly not take much
trouble in searching for me, I might still escape discovery. I
therefore hurriedly descended to it, and sat myself down in the most
retired part to wait events. My rifle was by my side. I loaded it, and
considered whether I should try and defend the post, should they appear
to be hostile. I seldom missed my aim; and I felt that I could keep a
number at bay, if I posted myself at the angle of the rock, where I
could command a pathway, up which not more than one person at a time
could proceed.

There was, however, unfortunately no spot whence I could watch them to
judge of their disposition without being perceived. I therefore must be
the aggressor against people who might not desire to injure me. At all
events, I must sacrifice a good many lives, and should probably be
overpowered in the end. Of course I could have no scruple about
defending my life or my liberty; but I could not tell that the strangers
wished to deprive me of either one or the other. While I was still
undecided, I heard the voices of the Malays, shouting to each other as
they climbed the hill in search of me.

As I had so easily discovered the cavern, so probably would they.
"Come," I thought, "I will not be taken like a rat in a hole, crouching
up here in the corner. They will think that I am afraid and despise me.
That must not be." So, starting with my rifle carefully loaded, I went
to the angle, whence I could observe them. As I stood listening, I
judged by the sound of their voices that they were drawing near, and had
probably already discovered the pathway to my place of concealment.
Stepping out, therefore, with my rifle grasped in my left