THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 93 



myfelf, remained on fhore. As the pinnace lay beyond the *"79- 

 furf, through which we were obliged to fwim, I told them 

 to make the beft of their way to it, and that I mould follow 

 them. 



With this order I -was furprized to find them both refufe 

 to comply ; and the confequence was a conteft amongft us, 

 who fhould be the laft on fhore. It feems, that fome hafly 

 words I had jufl before ufed to the failor, which he thought 

 refle&ed on his courage, was the caufe of this odd fancy in 

 him ; and the old gunner, finding a point of honour flarted, 

 thought he could not well avoid taking a part in it. In this 

 ridiculous fituation we might have remained fome time, 

 had not our difpute been foon fettled by the ftones that be- 

 gan to fly about us, and by the cries of the people from the 

 boats, to make haffe, as the natives were following us into 

 the water with clubs and fpears. I reached the fide of the 

 pinnace firfl, and finding Mr. Anderfon was at fome diftance 

 behind, and not yet entirely out of danger, I called out to 

 the marines, to fire one mufquet. In the hurry of execut- 

 ing my orders, they fired two ; and when I got into the boat, 

 I faw the natives running away, and one man, with a 

 woman fitting by him, left behind on the beach. The man 

 made feveral attempts to rife, without being able ; and it 

 was with much regret, I perceived him to be wounded in 

 the groin. The natives foon after returned, and furrounded 

 the wounded man, brandifhing their fpears and daggers at 

 us, with an air of threatening and defiance ; but before we 

 reached the fhips, we faw fome perfons, whom we fuppofed 

 to be the Chiefs, now arrived, driving them away from the 

 fhore. 



During our abfence, Captain Clerke had been under the 

 greateft anxiety for our fafety. And thefe apprchenfions 



were 



