and could not accept his hospitality. He
and Desmond, however, stood talking, or rather exchanging pantomimic
gestures with the chief for some time, while the men were engaged in
filling the casks and carrying them back to the boat. Desmond, who had
returned a short distance towards the shore, to a spot whence he saw
that the canoe was shoving off with her last cargo, on turning back to
tell his uncle, what was his dismay to see a dozen savages throw
themselves upon him, and, seizing his arms, hold him in a way which
prevented him from offering the slightest resistance! Desmond, who had
on his sword, as well as a rifle in his hand, was rushing back to render
what help he could, regardless of the danger he ran, when another party
of the natives, concealed behind the trees, suddenly sprang out upon
him; and before he saw them, they had seized him and thrown him down on
the ground. He struggled to free himself, as every Irishman would do,
especially an Irish midshipman, but in vain. Some seized his legs, and
others his arms, while one of the party threw a piece of cloth round his
mouth to prevent him from crying out. He managed to get that off,
however, and shouted at the top of his voice, in the hopes that the men
in the canoe would hear him. Finding that all attempts to escape were
hopeless, he submitted with as good a grace as he could, and was placed
by his captors on his feet Adair was, in the meantime, trying to make
the chief say why he had committed the outrage, and threatening him with
the vengeance of Her Majesty's fleet in those seas if he and the
midshipman were not immediately released. The chief might possibly not
have understood a word he said. At all events, he was not moved by his
threats.

"Now, you scoundrel, what do you intend to do with us?" asked Adair.
The chief seemed to understand the question, possibly from the tone in
which it was put, and, pointing his musket first towards him, and then
at Desmond, gave him to understand, by a sign not to be mistaken, that
he intended to shoot them both. Things were now, indeed, becoming
serious. They were just out of sight of the boat, and it was a question
whether the men in the canoe had heard Desmond's shouts. If not,
probably more of the men would come on shore to look for them, and would
to a certainty be made prisoners, and in all likelihood murdered.

"What is to be done?" asked Desmond. "I'll give another shout, even
though the rascals may