THIRD VOYAGE 383 



premature, since he lived to finish the great work for which 

 he seems to have been designed, and was rather removed 

 from the enjoyment, than cut of! from the acquisition of 

 glory.* How sincerely his loss was felt and lamented by 

 those who had so long found their general security in his 

 skill and conduct, and every consolation under their hard- 

 ships in his tenderness and humanity, it is neither necessary 

 nor possible for me to describe, much less shall I attempt to 

 paint the horror with which we were struck, and the 

 universal dejection and dismay which followed so dreadful 

 and unexpected a calamity. 



" It has been already related that four of the marines 

 who attended Captain Cook were killed by the islanders on 

 the spot. The rest, with Mr. Phillips their lieutenant, 

 threw themselves into the water and escaped, under cover 

 of a smart fire from the boats. On this occasion a remark- 

 able instance of gallant behaviour, and of affection for his 

 men, was shown by that officer. For he had scarcely got 

 into the boat, when seeing one of the marines, who was a bad 

 swimmer, struggling in the water, and in danger of being 

 taken by the enemy, he immediately jumped into the sea to 

 his assistance, though much wounded himself, and after 

 receiving a blow on the head from a stone, which had nearly 

 sent him to the bottom, he caught the man by the hair and 

 brought him safe off. 



" As soon as the general consternation which the news of 

 this calamity occasioned throughout both crews had a little 

 subsided, their attention was called to our party at the 

 morai, where the mast and sails were on shore, with a guard 

 of only six marines. It is impossible for me to describe 

 the emotions of my own mind, during the time these 

 transactions had been carrying on at the other side of the 

 bay. Being at the distance only of a short mile from the 

 village of Kowrowa, we could see distinctly an immense 

 crowd collected on the spot where Captain Cook had just 

 before landed. We heard the firing of the musketry, and 

 could perceive some extraordinary bustle and agitation in 

 the multitude. We afterwards saw the natives flying, the 

 boats retire from the shore, and passing and repassing, in 

 great stillness, between the ships. I must confess that my 

 heart soon misgave me. Where a life so dear and valuable 

 was concerned, it was impossible not to be alarmed by 

 appearances both new and threatening. 



" My first care, on hearing the muskets fired, was to 

 assure the people, who were assembled in considerable 



* So too may with truth be asserted of Sir John Franklin ; he had 

 finished the great work for which he seems to have been designed, and 

 was the first to discover a North- West passage. 



