ey did not hear us. The monster, as he received the
wound in his neck, turned round and attempted to seize the canoe; but
the blacks, plying the paddles quickly, got out of his way, holding him,
however, by a rope attached to the spear. Spear after spear was darted
into his neck; and in a short time the blacks, taking him in tow,
dragged him on shore, where, in spite of his struggles, they hauled him
up, and several other people hurrying down to the bank, soon despatched
him with their clubs. No sooner had they done so, than they set up loud
shouts, and began dancing away in frantic joy at their success. I
thought this was a favourable opportunity for again trying to attract
their attention. We shouted and shouted, but still they did not hear
us.

"I think, Andrew, you must fire your gun. They will hear that, at all
events," said Natty.

I was about to do as he suggested; but then the question arose in my
mind, whether we should be better off with the savages than we were by
ourselves. Still, should we lose this opportunity of getting to the
mainland, another might not occur. At length I fired. The effect was
curious. The blacks ceased dancing, and looked about them with glances
of astonishment. Presently five of them leaped into the canoe, and
having pulled out from the shore, so as to allow the current to carry
them directly towards it, began cautiously paddling down to the island.
They, of course, knew its strength, and the necessity for care. As they
approached, Natty and I each took a branch in our hands and waved it,
hoping that they would understand it as a signal of friendship. As they
drew near they stopped rowing, and gazed at us with looks of curiosity.
I again waved to them, and showing them my gun, I placed it by my side,
that they might understand I had no intention of using it. Except the
usual small waist-cloth, the strangers had no clothing, though the man
who sat in the stern guiding the canoe had a few ornaments about his
head and on his neck, which showed that he was a chief. They began
jabbering away to us, but of course we could not understand a word they
said. I replied to them, therefore, by signs that we wished to be
ferried over to the opposite shore. Natty fortunately recollected just
then that he had a few beads, a clasp-knife, and one or two articles
which he had put into his wallet just as we were coming away. He showed
these to signify that we would pay them for the serv