and fizzed out artificially.
Altogether he was an imposing and gigantic fellow.

When about fifty yards from the shore, the savages checked the canoe's
progress and stood up. Now was the time for action, so, according to
previous arrangement, the sailors laid their weapons down on the beach,
and held up their hands, at the same time making such signs of
friendship as they thought would be understood. The savages, who were
quick-witted fellows, at once ran the canoe ashore, leaped out, and
hastened towards the white men.

As they did so, Captain Dall put his telescope to his eye for a moment,
wishing to scan closely the features of the chief. Instantly the whole
band turned with a howl, and, making towards the canoe, jumped in and
pushed off.

"Ha!" exclaimed the captain, with a smile, "these fellows have been
fired at by Europeans before now. They evidently mistook my telescope
for a musket."

The savages paused, and again faced about at a short distance from the
beach, and the captain sought by every imaginable sign and gesticulation
to remove the bad impression he had so innocently created. He
succeeded. In a short time the natives again landed and advanced
towards them. On drawing near, the chief stopped and made a short
speech--which, of course, none of the white men understood. To this
Captain Dall replied in a short speech--which, of course, none of the
natives understood. Both parties looked very amiably, however, at each
other, and by degrees drew closer together, when the natives began to
manifest much curiosity in reference to the costume of the sailors.
Soon they became more familiar, and the truth of the proverb, that,
"familiarity breeds contempt," was quickly illustrated by one of the
savages seizing hold of the musket which Larry O'Hale carried. The hot
blood of the Irishman instantly fired.

"Let go, ye dirty bit o' mahogany," he cried, holding the musket tight
with his left hand, and clenching his right in a threatening manner.

Captain Dall, foreseeing what would be the result of a blow, sought to
create a diversion by raising his telescope to his eye. The
quick-sighted savage observed the motion, let go his hold of the musket
and shrank behind his comrades, who, however, did not appear disposed to
screen him, for they all began to dodge behind each other until the
telescope was lowered.

The temporary distraction of attention which this incident caused
emboldened another savage to