Blount's great wish was to avoid injuring any of the natives.
In spite, therefore, of the spears which came flying around him, and the
array of warriors with their war-clubs, he refrained from firing, and
directed all his efforts to get the boat completely afloat. Just as a
savage had got one hand on the stern and with the other was about to
deal a blow with his club which would have killed Charley, the boat
glided off into deep water, and the savage warrior toppled down with his
nose in the surf. He was up again in a moment, but blinded by the salt
water, and not seeing that the boat had escaped him, struck out with his
club and again fell over as before, and would possibly have been
drowned, had not some of his companions hauled him up and set him again
on his legs. This circumstance assisted the escape of the boat, which
was now getting away from the shore. Charley, anxious not to injure any
of the savages, had ordered his men not to fire till the last extremity.
Not a shot therefore was fired, and the boat got well off out of
danger.

The question was now, how to show the savages that the white men
possessed power, but had mercifully not employed it against them. They
had on board an empty cask, in which some of the articles left with the
savages had been brought off. This was ballasted and put in the water
with a short flag-staff, and a handkerchief as a flag fixed in it.
Pulling away a short distance Elton and Charley, and one of the men, who
was a good shot, repeatedly fired and hit it, till at last the flag and
staff were shot away to the astonishment of the natives, who stood
looking on. Fortunately, a tree grew near the beach on one side, where
there were no natives. Charley next made this his target, and the white
splinters which flew out on either side must have convinced the savages
that the missiles which produced them would have made, with greater ease
very disagreeable holes in their bodies. Charley now once more pulled
in towards the beach; the savages ran off. He had a few more articles
left; he landed, spread them out, and then, returning to the boat,
beckoned to the people to come and take them.

At length they seemed to comprehend his humane intentions, for several
of them, leaving their clubs and spears on the bank above, approached
the water, holding out their hands as if to welcome the strangers.
Charley, on seeing this, telling Elton to be ready to support him if
necessary, leaped bo