404 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



" I had no sooner joined them, than one of the natives 

 advanced up to me with great insolence, and made the same 

 claim. I told him that as a friend, I was very willing to 

 present him with a hatchet, but that I should certainly carry 

 off the water without paying anything for it : and I imme- 

 diately ordered the pinnace men to proceed in their business, 

 and called three marines from the traders to protect them. 



" Though the natives continued for the most part to pay 

 great deference and respect to me, yet they did not suffer me 

 to escape without contributing my share to their stock of 

 plunder. One of them came up to me with a familiar air, 

 and with great management diverted my attention, whilst 

 another, wrenching the hanger, which I held carelessly in 

 my hand, from me, ran off with it like lightning. 



" It was in vain to think of repelling this insolence by 

 force ; guarding therefore against its effects in the best 

 manner we were able, we had nothing to do but to submit 

 patiently to it. My apprehensions were, however, a little 

 alarmed, by the information I soon after received from the 

 sergeant of marines, who told me that, turning suddenly 

 round, he saw a man behind me holding a dagger in the 

 position of striking. In case of a real attack, our whole 

 force, however advantageously disposed, could have made 

 but a poor resistance. On the other hand, I thought it 

 of some consequence to shew the natives we were under 

 no fears. 



" At last we got everything into the boats, and only the 

 gunner, a seaman of the boat's crew, and myself, remained 

 on shore. As the pinnace lay beyond the surf, through 

 which we were obliged to swim, I told them to make the 

 best of their way to it, and that I should follow them. 



" With this order I was surprised to find them both refuse 

 to comply, and the consequence was a contest amongst us 

 who should be the last on shore. It seems that some hasty 

 words I had just before used to the sailor, which he thought 

 reflected on his courage, was the cause of this odd fancy 

 in him ; and the old gunner finding a point of honour 

 started, thought he could not well avoid taking a part in it. 

 In this ridiculous situation we might have remained some 

 time, had not our dispute been soon settled by the stones 

 that began to fly about us, and by the cries of the people 

 from the boats to make haste, as the natives were following 

 us into the water with clubs and spears. I reached the side 

 of the pinnace first, and finding the gunner was at some 

 distance behind, and not yet entirely out of danger, I called 

 out to the marines to fire one musket. In the hurry of 

 executing my orders they fired two, and when I got into 

 the boat I saw the natives running away, and one man with 



