ined considerably the good opinion of my captors, if I
did not by it save my life. Had I been weak or obstinate, they might
have killed me, as of no use to them; but from my willingness to work,
they judged that I should make a useful slave, and valued me
accordingly. Having collected all they wanted from the wrecks, and laid
in a store of fruit and water, they began to go on board the prahus. I
resolved to make an attempt to preserve my liberty, and putting out my
hand, tried to shake hands with them and to bid them farewell, as if I
expected to remain on the island. Alas! I speedily discovered that
they had no intention to let me off. I endeavoured to explain that I
had friends who would return and look for me, and would be grievously
disappointed at not finding me. They probably did not understand my
explanations; at all events they totally disregarded them, and the
spears which were pointed at me convinced me that I had no resource but
to step into the canoe towards which I was thus unpleasantly conducted.

We were soon on board one of the prahus, which, I learned, belonged to
the chief who had captured me, and I was given to understand that I was
his especial property. My rifle was given to the leader of the
expedition, as a more valuable perquisite. I am not quite certain
whether my jacket or I ranked next in consideration. I suspect that we
were considered of about equal value. The prahu on which I was on board
differed but little from those which composed the fleet by which it had
been my chance before to be captured. The chief cabin extended farther
forward, and was less substantially built; and the whole vessel was
longer, and much more decorated with paint and carving. I was placed
under the fighting deck among a quantity of booty, of which I found they
had been pillaging some of the neighbouring islands. Fortunately there
were plenty of slaves to work the oars, so that I was saved from a task
which would have knocked me up completely. The wind being contrary, the
oars were got out, and we pulled away to the northward. At first we
proceeded at a moderate speed, but I then observed some little commotion
on board, and the officers went round with thongs in their hands to urge
the slaves to fresh exertions. As we cleared the island, and I managed
to creep up so as to get a look astern, I discovered the cause. In the
far distance was my own little craft, the _Fraulein_, beating up under
all sail