110 NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH. 



Supported on each side I had just strength to direct 

 them to turn towards our savage enemies : who 

 were hurrying on in a long file, shouting and waving 

 their clubs, and were now only about thirty yards 

 off. Our turning, momentarily checked their ad- 

 vance, whilst their force increased. During these 

 very few and awfully anxious moments, a party, 

 headed by Lieut. Emery, hastened over the reef to 

 our support. Another moment, and ours would 

 have been the fate of so many other explorers;— the 

 hand of the savage almost grasped our throats — we 

 should have fallen a sacrifice in the cause of dis- 

 covery, and our bones left to moulder on this distant 

 shore, would have been trodden heedlessly under foot 

 by the wandering native. 



At the sight of Lieut. Emery's party, the natives 

 flew with the utmost rapidity, covering their flight, 

 either from chance or skill, by my party ; in a 

 moment the air, so lately echoing with their ferocious 

 yells, was silent, and the scene of their intended 

 massacre, as lonely and deserted as before ! 



I was soon got down to the boat, lifted over the 

 ship's side, and stretched on the poop cabin table, 

 under the care of Mr. Bynoe, who on probing the 

 wound gave me a cheering hope of its not proving 

 fatal. The anxiety with which I watched his coun- 

 tenance, and listened to the words of life or death, 

 the reader may imagine, but I cannot attempt to 

 describe. The natives never throw a spear when 

 the eye of the person they aim at is turned towards 

 them, supposing that every one, like themselves. 



