38 FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS 



both sides of our resting-place, to give the alarm 

 by a shot, if necessary j we also slept in our clothes, 

 with our arms by us. Though these precautions 

 were almost too great among so mild a people, I 

 did not like to depart even here, from the rule 

 which I had laid down, never to neglect the great- 

 est caution. We passed the night undisturbed ; 

 but I could not sleep for thinking of the discoveries 

 1 expected to make. The fire in the wood in the 

 darkness of the night, the calling of the watch, 

 the wild songs of the savages in Goat Island, the 

 hollow roaring of the surf, the entire strangeness of 

 the place in which I was, produced in me a most 

 singular emotion, which kept me awake, and I 

 almost envied my companions, who were all buried 

 in peaceful sleep. 



At three o'clock in the morning, according to 

 my calculation, the water must have reached its 

 height ; I hastened to our boats, and found, to my 

 vexation, that there was not water suflScient to 

 get them out ; which compelled us to wait to-day 

 for the tide by which we landed. We employed 

 ourselves meantime, as the weather was delightful, 

 in examining the corals, and when the water rose, 

 I ordered the long-boat to be loaded. Just as we 

 were ready to set out upon our voyage, the sailor 

 who kept watch, called out that he saw two boats, 

 one of which was very large, coming from the 

 east; they had observed us, and came directly 

 towards the island. I resolved to wait for the 



