RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. m 



on duty, fliot fuddenly into the vefTel with arrows. The 

 watch found refuge behind the quarter boards, and gave 

 the alarm without firing. Glottoff immediately ordered 

 a volley to be fired over their heads with fmall arms ; 

 upon v/hich they immediately returned with great expe- 

 dition. As foon as it was day there was no enemy to be 

 feen : but they difcovered a number of ladders, feveral 

 bundles of hay in which the favages had put fulphur, 

 likewife a quantity of birch-tree bark, which had been 

 left behind in their precipitate flight. 



They now found it very neceiTary to be on their guard 

 againft the attempts of thefe perfidious incendiaries. 

 Their fufpicions were rtill further increafed by the fubfe- 

 quent conduct of the natives : for though the latter came 

 to the veflel in fraall bodies, yet it was obferved that they 

 examined every thing, and more particularly the watch, 

 with the ftridtetl attention ; and they always returned 

 without paying any regard to the friendly propofitions 

 of the Ruffians. 



On the 4th of O^lober about two hundred iflanders 

 made their appearance, carrying wooden fliields before 

 them, and preparing with bows and arrows for an attack. 

 GlottofF endeavoured at firfl by perfuafion to prevail 

 upen them to defift ; but obferving that they fcill conti- 

 nued advancing,, he refolved to venture a faily. This in- 

 trepidity 



