e had been mistaken, and Morton proceeded.

"Just as Atoa sprang upon Mr Nichol and stabbed him, Mr Knight, who
was the first to recover his presence of mind, seized the murderer, and
wrenched the knife from his hand, at the same time calling on the men to
secure Luerson; but no one stirred to do so. A part seemed confused and
undecided; while others appeared to me, to have been fully prepared for
what had taken place. One man stepped forward near Luerson, and
declared in a brutal and excited manner, that `Nichol was a bloody
tyrant, and had got what he deserved, and that no man could blame
Luerson for taking his revenge, after being treated as he had been.'
For a moment all was clamour and confusion; then Luerson approached Mr
Knight in a threatening manner, and bade him loose Atoa, instead of
which, he held his prisoner firmly with one hand, and warning Luerson
off with the other, called on the men to stand by their officers. Just
at this moment, Mr Frazer, with his gun on his shoulder, came out of
the grove from the side toward the shore, and to him Mr Knight eagerly
appealed for assistance in securing the murderers of Mr Nichol.
Pointing from the bleeding corpse at his feet, to Luerson, he
said--`There is the ringleader--shoot him through the head at once, and
that will finish the matter--otherwise we shall all be murdered--fire, I
will answer for the act?'

"Frazer seemed to comprehend the situation of things at a glance. With
great presence of mind, he stepped back a pace, and bringing his gun to
his shoulder, called on Luerson to throw down his weapon, and surrender
himself, declaring that he would shoot the first man who lifted a hand
to assist him. His manner was such as to leave no doubt of his
sincerity, or his resolution. The men had no fire-arms, and were
staggered by the suddenness of the thing; they stood hesitating and
undecided. Mr Knight seized this as a favourable moment, and advanced
upon Luerson, with the intention of securing him, and the islander was
thus left free. At this moment I observed the man who had denounced Mr
Nichol, and justified Luerson, stealing round behind Frazer. I called
out to him at the top of my voice to warn him; but he did not seem to
hear. I looked for something which might serve me for a weapon; but
there was nothing, not so much as a broken bough within reach, and in
another instant, the whole thing was over. As Knight grappled with
Luerson, he dropped the kni