ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NATIVES. 83 



The postscript was not of a very alarming na- 

 ture ; but, without disturbing the crew, I called 

 Dr. Briggs, got all the muskets and pistols loaded, 

 and packed the cartridge-boxes. While we were 

 thus employed, we heard the report of several 

 shots, and on going on deck observed the whole 

 bush on our left, which was the right bank of 

 the river and about seventy yards from us, in a 

 blaze of musketry, which the Alburkah was re- 

 turning. Mr. Lander hailed me and said he was 

 going to drop down the river ; but on my offering 

 to go between him and the fire, he sent Louis, the 

 Eboe pilot, on board. We immediately got un- 

 der weigh, and the pilot placed the Quorra within 

 pistol-shot abreast of the town. I was much 

 amused by the coolness and self-possession of this 

 pilot. He could speak tolerable English ; so I 

 told him, if he ran us aground, the instant the 

 vessel touched I would blow his brains out. The 

 fellow laughed, and opening his country cloth, 

 showed me the butt-end of two pistols ; a gentle 

 hint that two could play at that game. I gave 

 directions for the guns to be loaded with round 

 and canister, and in about twenty minutes we 

 silenced the firing on shore. At our first fire 

 the eighteen-pound carronade strated the ring- 



G 2 



