122 AVOYAGETQ 



'777- The confcquence, however, of the prifoners was fo crear,^ 



November, ' o ' 



that the natives did not think proper to trufl to the returnr 

 of our people for their releafe ; or, at leafl, their impatience 

 was fo great, that it hurried them to meditate an attempt 

 which might have involved them in Hill greater didrefs, had 

 it not been fortunately prevented. Between five and fix 

 o'clock in the evening, I obferved that all their canoes, in 

 and about the harbour, began to move off, as if fome fudden 

 panic had feized them. I was afhore, abreaft of the fhip, at 

 tlie time, and enquired, in vain, to find out the caufe ; till 

 our people called to us from the Difcovery, and told us, that 

 a party of the natives had feized Captain Gierke and Mr. 

 Gore, who had walked out a little way from the fliips. 

 Struck with the boldnefs of this plan of retaliation, which 

 fecmcd to counteract me fo elTecftually in my own way, 

 there was no tiine to deliberate. I inflantly ordered the 

 people to arm ; and, in lefs than five minutes, a flrong 

 party, under the command of Mr. King, was fent to rcfcue 

 our two gentlemen. At the fame time, two armed boats,, 

 and a party under Mr. Williamfon, went after the flying 

 canoes, to cut off their retreat to the fliore. Thefe feveral 

 detachments were hardly out of fight, before an account 

 arrived that we had been mifinformcd ; upon which 1 fenr, 

 and called them all in. 



It was evident, however, from feveral corroborating cii- 

 cumrtances, that the dcfign of feizing C.iptain Gierke had 

 really been in agitation amongfl the natives. Nay, they 

 made no fccretin fpeakingof it the next day. But their firft' 

 and great plan of operations was to have laid hold of me. 

 It was my cuflom, every evening, to baihe in the frefli water. 

 Very often I went alone j and always without arras. Ex- 

 7 peding 



