xiously
watched my movements; the rowers pulled in as near as they dared to the
edge of the surf; I gave one parting embrace to Fayaway, who seemed
speechless with sorrow, and the next instant I found myself safe in the
boat, and Karakoee by my side, who told the rowers at once to give way.
Marheyo and Kory-Kory, and a great many of the women, followed me into the
water, and I was determined, as the only mark of gratitude I could show,
to give them the articles which had been brought as my ransom. I handed
the musket to Kory-Kory, in doing which he would fain have taken hold of
me, threw the roll of cotton to old Marheyo, pointing as I did so to poor
Fayaway, who had retired from the edge of the water, and was sitting down
disconsolate on the beach, and tumbled the powder-bags out to the nearest
young ladies, all of whom were vastly willing to take them. This
distribution did not occupy ten seconds, and before it was over the boat
was under full way, the Kannaka all the while exclaiming loudly against
what he considered a useless throwing away of valuable property.

Although it was clear that my movements had been noticed by several of the
natives, still they had not suspended the conflict in which they were
engaged, and it was not until the boat was above fifty yards from the
shore, that Mow-Mow and some six or seven other warriors rushed into the
sea and hurled their javelins at us. Some of the weapons passed quite as
close to us as was desirable, but no one was wounded, and the men pulled
away gallantly. But although soon out of the reach of the spears, our
progress was extremely slow; it blew strong upon the shore, and the tide
was against us; and I saw Karakoee, who was steering the boat, give many a
look towards a jutting point of the bay round which we had to pass.

For a minute or two after our departure, the savages, who had formed into
different groups, remained perfectly motionless and silent. All at once
the enraged chief showed by his gestures that he had resolved what course
he would take. Shouting loudly to his companions, and pointing with his
tomahawk towards the headland, he set off at full speed in that direction,
and was followed by about thirty of the natives, among whom were several
of the priests, all yelling out, "Roo-ne! Roo-ne!" at the very top of
their voices. Their intention was evidently to swim off from the headland
and intercept us in our course. The wind was freshening every minute, and
w