ise, that no one at first attempted to stop them. They report,
however, that they saw pearl-shell ornaments, and even pearls, worn by
the savages; which so excites Golding's imagination, that he insists on
our attempting further communication with the people. Finding at length
the opening into the lagoon, we approach the mouth, the surf breaking
over the rocks on either side with great violence. There is a narrow
lane of clear water; we pull in; a strong current carries the boat along
with fearful speed, and several seas break into her. It seems as if we
were in a whirlpool. The rudder has lost its power, and we are spun
round and round helplessly; about every moment it seems to be hove on
the rocks. She violently rises and falls, and then we are cast, as it
were, into the smooth water of the lagoon, though still carried upward
for some distance. It strikes me at the moment that we are like mice
caught in a trap, and that it must depend on the pacific disposition of
the natives whether or not we escape.

At length we steer for the shore, where we see several Indians
collected. They retire as we draw near. We again send Taro and Charlie
on shore with looking-glasses and trinkets; they go not very willingly.
The savages stop, and cast at us glances of suspicion. Then they make a
rush forward, seize all the articles they can lay hands on, and again
run off. Our two interpreters now come down shaking their heads, and
saying that there is no hope of trading with these savages. Still
Phineas will not give up the attempt; he has seen the pearls, and is
longing for them.

"Why, such a necklace as that would be worth a hundred pounds, or more,"
he exclaims. "We must have the fellow dead or alive."

He stands up in the boat with his piece, ready to fire. I sternly draw
him back, crying out, indignantly:

"I will not allow murder to be committed; for murder it would be, if the
men were ten times more savage than they are. They have souls immortal
as ours, which we have no right to drive out of their bodies before
their time."

"Souls or not, mate, you have made me lose my pearl necklace," says the
supercargo, angrily.

"It were better to lose a dozen pearl necklaces, or all the pearls the
bottom of the sea can produce, than commit a great crime," I answer,
more hotly than usual; and then, knowing that another sort of argument
would have more weight with such a man, I added, "Remember, too, we are
yet inside t