Adventures of the Explorers 133 



boats went on in pursuit of the "pod" of whales 

 still in sight. 



At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, while the mate, 

 a Mr. Smith, was still in pursuit of the whales, 

 he saw that the signal flag of the ship was at half 

 mast, a call to return to the ship immediately. 

 On arriving near the Sharon the boat's crew saw 

 that the boy was aloft, and as soon as they were 

 within hail he told them that the islanders had 

 killed Captain Norris and were in possession of 

 the ship. To confirm this story one of the natives 

 at that moment leaped upon the rail, entirely 

 naked, where he brandished a cutting spade and 

 dared the crew to come in and attempt to retake 

 the ship. Another of the natives then joined this 

 one, while the third mounted the opposite rail. 

 Along both rails could be seen the spare harpoons 

 and other whaling tools, besides sticks of wood 

 and belaying-pins. 



As the boat lay on the water with its crew gazing 

 astounded at what they saw, one of the savages 

 said something in his own language to the fourth 

 native who was in the boat. It is supposed that 

 he invited him to jump over and swim to the ship, 



