THEPACIFICOCEAN. 359 



It was not long before all the Americans left the Difcovery, '778. 



. . May. 



and inftead of returning to us, made their way toward our 

 boat employed as above. The officer in her feeing this, re- 

 turned to the fhip, and was followed by all the canoes. The 

 boat's crew had no fooner come on board, leaving in her 

 two of their number by way of a guard, than fome of the 

 Americans ftepped into her. Some prefented their fpears be- 

 fore the two men ; others caft loofe the rope which faftencd 

 her to the fhip ; and the reft attempted to tow her away. 

 But the inftant they faw us preparing to oppofe them, tlicy 

 let her go, ftepped out of her into their canoes, and made 

 figns to us to lay down our arms, having the appearance of 

 being as perfecSlly unconcerned as if they had done nothing 

 amifs. This, though rather a more daring attempt, was 

 hardly equal to what they had meditated on board the Dif- 

 covery. The man who came and carried all his country- 

 men from the Refolution to the other fliip, had firft been on 

 board of her ; where, after looking down all the hatchways, 

 and feeing nobody bur the officer of the watch, and one or 

 two more, he no doubt thought they might plunder her 

 with eafe ; efpecially as fhe lay at fome diftance from us. 

 It was unqueftionably with this view, that they all repaired 

 to her. Several of them, without any ceremony, went on 

 board; drew their knives; made figns to the officer and 

 people on deck to keep off; and began to look about thcni 

 for plunder. The firft thing they met with was the rudder 

 of one of the boats, which they threw over-board to thofe 

 of their party v;ho had remained in tlie canoes. Before 

 they had time to find another object that pleafed their fancy, 

 the crew were alarmed, and began to come upon deck armed 

 with cutlafles. On feeing this, the whole company of plun- 

 derers fneaked oflf into their canoes, with as much deli- 

 6 beration 



