1778* THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 329 



at this time, came from her, and immediately re- 

 turned thither in company with the rest, When I 

 observed this, I thought this man had met with some- 

 thing there, which he knew would please his country- 

 men better than what they met with at our ship. But 

 in this I was mistaken, as will soon appear. 



As soon as they were gone, I sent a boat to sound 

 the head of the bay. For, as the wind was moderate, 

 I had thoughts of laying the ship ashore, if a conve- 

 nient place could be found where I might begin our 

 operations to stop the leak. It was not long before 

 all the Americans left the Discovery, and instead of 

 returning to us, made their way toward our boat em- 

 ployed as above. The officer in her seeing this, re- 

 turned to the ship, and was followed by all the canoes. 

 The boat's crew had no sooner come on board, leav- 

 ing in her two of their number by way of a guard, 

 than some of the Americans stepped into her. Some 

 presented their spears before the two men ; others 

 cast loose the rope which fastened her to the ship ; 

 and the rest attempted to tow her away. But the 

 instant they saw us preparing to oppose them, they let 

 her go, stepped out of her into canoes, and made 

 signs to us to lay down our arms, having the appear- 

 ance of being as perfectly unconcerned as if they had 

 done nothing amiss. This, though rather a more 

 daring attempt, was hardly equal to what they had 

 meditated on board the Discovery. . The man who 

 came and carried all his countrymen from the Reso- 

 lution to the other ship, had first been on board of 

 her ; where, after looking down all the hatchways, 

 and seeing nobody but the officer of the watch, and 

 one or two more, he, no doubt, thought they might 

 plunder her with ease ; especially as she lay at some 

 distance from us. It was unquestionably with this view 

 that they all repaired to her. Several of them, with- 

 out any ceremony, went on board ; drew their knives ; 

 made signs to the officer and people on deck to keep 

 off; and began to look about them for plunder. The 



