414< DANCING FOR LIFE. 



this paroxysm of rage evaporate before the happy 

 presence of mind displayed by Mr. Fitzmaurice, in 

 immediately beginning to dance and shout, though 

 in momentary expectation of being pierced by a 

 dozen spears. In this he was imitated by Mr. 

 Keys, who was assisting in the observations, and 

 who at the moment was a little distance off, and 

 might have escaped. Without, however, thinking 

 of himself, he very nobly joined his companion in 

 amusing the natives ; and they succeeded in divert- 

 ing them from their evident evil designs, until 

 a boat landing in a bay near drew off their attention. 

 The foremost of this party was recognised to be the 

 ill -looking fellow, who left me in the canoe with a 

 revengeful scowl upon his face. 



Messrs, Fitzmaurice and Keys had fire-arms 

 lying on the ground within reach of their hands ; 

 the instant, however, they ceased dancing, and 

 attempted to touch them, a dozen spears were 

 pointed at their breasts. Their lives hung upon a 

 thread, and their escape must be regarded as truly 

 wonderful, and only to be attributed to the happy 

 readiness with which they adapted themselves to the 

 perils of their situation. This was the last we saw of 

 the natives in Adam Bay, and the meeting is likely 

 to be long remembered by some, and not without 

 pleasant recollections ; for although, at the time, 

 it was justly looked upon as a very serious affair, 

 it afterwards proved a great source of mirth. No 

 one could recall to mind, without laughing, the 



