crew were eager to go off to the wreck; but
Mr Brand advised them to wait till just before daylight the following
morning, when they might hope to perform the trip without being
perceived. He warned them that the savages were especially treacherous,
and could in no way be depended on. Five or six of them, I think it
was, laughed at him, and asking why they should fear a set of black
savages, expressed their intention of going on board at once.
Accordingly, carrying only a couple of muskets with them, they shoved
off from the shore, and without much difficulty got up to the wreck. It
was then low-water, but the tide was rising. We watched them on board,
and then they disappeared below. We waited anxiously to see them
commence their return, but they did not appear. "They have broken into
the spirit-room, I fear," remarked Cousin Silas. "If so, I fear that
they will be little able to find their way back." An hour passed away.
We began to fear some disaster had befallen them. While watching the
wreck, we saw from behind a wooded point to the right a large canoe make
its appearance, then another, and another, till a dozen were collected.
It was too probable that some treachery was intended. We fired three
muskets in quick succession, in hopes of calling the attention of the
seamen. No sooner did the savages hear the sound of the fire-arms than
they paddled away towards the wreck. They had got nearly up to it, when
the seamen came on deck, and stared wildly around them, making all sorts
of frantic gestures. Seeing the canoes, they fired their muskets at
them, but hit no one; and then, throwing down their weapons on the deck,
they doubled their fists, and with shouts of laughter struck out at
their approaching enemies. The savages hesitated a moment at the
discharge of the muskets, but finding that they were not again fired at,
they paddled on at a rapid rate, and getting alongside the vessel,
swarmed in numbers on board. We saw that the tipsy seamen who made a
show of fighting were speedily knocked down, but what afterwards became
of them we could not tell. The savages were evidently eagerly engaged
in plundering the ship, and hurriedly loaded their canoes with the
things they collected. They, of course, knew that the tide was rising,
and that their operations might be speedily stopped. Some of the
canoes, deeply laden, had already shoved off, when we saw the remainder
of the savages make a rush to the side of