232 AN ATTACK FROM SAVAGES. 
proceed to Tongatabu, and solicit permission 
from the King of the Friendly Islands to put 
their boat into a practicable condition for ha- 
zarding a voyage to India. 
They effected their landing at Tofoa, and 
secured the boat to the strand, but were pre- 
sently attacked by a multitude of savages, who 
saluted the defenceless strangers with showers 
of stones, and would soon have overpowered 
them, had not an heroic petty-officer, named 
Norton, resolved to sacrifice himself for the 
safety of his companions. He sprang on shore, 
loosened the iron chain which fastened the boat, 
and had only time to exclaim, Fly, fly! ere he 
was seized and murdered by the savages. 
This melancholy occurence discouraged the 
fugitives from touching at Tongatabu, or any 
other island inhabited by savages. All now 
applied to Bligh, with the unanimous entreaty 
that he would conduct them to some port in 
the possession of Europeans; and took a solemn 
oath of the most unconditional obedience to him 
in the execution of this design. In compliance 
with their wishes, Bligh adopted the daring re- 
solution of passing through the Torres Straits 
