126 CAPTAIN COOK 



before his eyes, then, drawing his sword, forced 

 him to retire. 



On the same day a disagreeable adventure, 

 which might have had a tragic ending, befell 

 Dr. Sparmann, a learned Swedish naturalist who 

 had been taken on board at the Cape, at the ur- 

 gent solicitation of the Forsters. Sparmann had 

 gone some distance into the interior of the island 

 to carry out botanical investigations, and met 

 two natives, who invited him, with protestations 

 of friendship, to approach. But, profiting by a 

 moment of inattention on the part of the stranger, 

 they snatched from his belt a knife, the only 

 weapon which he had, and struck him on the 

 head. The blow knocked him down. The 

 bandits then took off his black satin waistcoat, 

 and in trying to seize his jacket, tore it to shreds. 

 He managed to escape from them, and took to 

 his heels towards the shore. But the Indians 

 overtook him, beat him unmercifully, and 

 dragged his shirt over his head. As the buttons 

 prevented it coming off his wrists, they were 

 about to cut off his hands, when the scientist un- 

 buttoned the sleeves with his teeth. Having 

 secured the shirt, the thieves made off with their 

 booty. 



When the good king heard of this outrage, he 

 wept and uttered cries of distress, as did all his 

 attendants. When his grief had abated he began 



