e.

"At all events we have got to a beautiful country," observed Jerry, as
he looked towards it.

"One from which we shall be thankful to escape, and where our lives will
be of little value unless we can defend ourselves from the inhabitants,
who are, I suspect, among the most bloodthirsty of any of the natives of
Polynesia," answered Cousin Silas. "However, the sooner we can get on
shore, and establish ourselves in some good position for defence, the
better."

The raft, which had been constructed with the idea that we might require
it for a long voyage, was a very large one, and having launched it, we
found that it could not only carry all the ship's company, but a number
of other things. We found an ample supply of arms and ammunition--most
valuable articles under our present circumstances. We got them all up,
as well as our clothes and everything valuable in the ship which could
at once be laid hands on; we also took a supply of provisions, that we
might for a time be independent of the natives. One thing more was
brought up--that was, the still senseless body of the captain. There he
lay, totally unconscious of the destruction his carelessness had brought
on the ship intrusted to his care. In silence and sadness we shoved off
from the ship which had borne us thus far across the ocean. Many of our
number were missing; two of the mates and six seamen had been killed by
the falling of the masts, or washed overboard.

We paddled across the smooth water inside the reef as fast as we could,
hoping to land before any of the natives had collected to oppose us.
All our people had muskets, and some had cutlasses, so that we were able
to show a bold front to any one daring to attack us. As we neared the
shore we saw in the distance a number of people with bows, and arrows,
and clubs, hurrying towards our party. We soon ran the raft aground,
and, leaping on shore, were led by Cousin Silas to the summit of a rocky
hill close to where we were.

The savages advanced with threatening gestures. None of them had
fire-arms. We thus felt sure that, if they ventured to attack us, we
should make a good fight of it. Cousin Silas called four of the men to
the front, and ordered them to fire over the heads of the savages, to
show them the power we possessed. The savages halted at the sound, and
looked about to see what had become of the balls they heard whistling
above them. While they hesitated, Cousin Silas, cutting dow