almost to swamp us. Still we floated unharmed. The sea
rolled on between what, in the darkness, appeared like walls of foam,
and in another instant we found ourselves floating beyond the fierce
turmoil of waters, just tossed gently by the waves, which found their
way over the reef into a large lagoon within it!

A shore fringed with trees lay before us. In five minutes we were
landed safely on it, and the boat was secured to the stump of a fallen
tree. It was too dark to allow us to attempt to penetrate into the
interior, to ascertain the sort of place on which we had been thrown;
so, returning to the boat and baling her out, we wrung our wet clothes
and lay down to seek that rest we all, after our violent exertions and
anxiety, so much needed.

It must have been nearly daylight when we went to sleep. I know not how
long we had slept. It would have been better for us had we driven sleep
far from our eyelids, and been ready to pull out and wander over the
inhospitable ocean the moment the gale abated, rather than have remained
where we were. I was the first to open my eyes, and, looking up, I saw
to my horror a nearly naked savage looking down into the boat with
prying eyes from the bank above us. He was almost jet-black, with negro
features and a full beard and moustache. His hair was frizzled out to a
great size and covered by a brownish turban. Round his waist he wore
the usual maro or kilt, with something like a shawl or plaid over his
shoulders; and in his hand he held a long formidable-looking spear.
From the turban on his head, I afterwards discovered that he was a
chief.

"Eugh! eugh!" he cried, as he saw me opening my eyes to look at him, and
his menacing attitude and ferocious aspect made a most uncomfortable
feeling creep over me.

"Up, lads, up! and shove off!" I shouted to my companions, jumping
forward myself to cut the painter. They started to their feet at my
summons, looking up with a bewildered stare at the shore; and well they
might so have done, for there stood some twenty or more fierce-looking
savages, whom the exclamation of their chief had called to his side, and
before we could get the oars out, a shower of spears came rattling down
among us. Poor Mr Trevett was pierced through, and fell with a deep
groan to the bottom of the boat; another of my companions sprung up as
he was struck, and went headlong overboard; others were badly wounded;
and one man only besides me was unhurt b