M A L O L O. 285 



who had the trade-box, unarmed ; John Sac, interpreter, unarmed ; 

 Jerome Davis and Robert Furman, unarmed. The rest of his men 

 remained in the boat, armed with cutlasses and two rifles. 



Lieutenant Underwood was now seen on the beach, endeavouring 

 to trade with a party of about fifteen natives, whence he sent off 

 Robert Furman, a coloured boy, to Lieutenant Alden, to say that the 

 natives would not trade, except for powder, shot, and muskets. Fur- 

 man was sent back by Lieutenant Alden to say, that he would not 

 consent to any such exchange while the schooner was within reach ; 

 that they could be supplied by her, and that he must hurry off, as he 

 thought he had been long enough absent (having remained on shore 

 about an hour,) to purchase all they required, if the natives were 

 disposed to trade. 



After this, Midshipman Henry asked, and Lieutenant Alden gave 

 him permission to land in the canoe, and come off with Lieutenant 

 Underwood. A few moments after, a small canoe came alongside 

 Lieutenant Alden's boat, and exchanged some words with the hos- 

 tage, who displayed a little anxiety to return with them to the shore. 

 As the canoe shoved off, he attempted to leave the boat, when Lieu- 

 tenant Alden took him by the arm and directed him to sit down, 

 giving him to understand that he must keep quiet. Lieutenant 

 Emmons now joined, and the Leopard was ordered to drop in as 

 near to the party on shore as possible. The tide had by this time 

 risen sufficiently to allow her to go most of the way on the reef. 

 After another half hour had expired, Jerome Davis, one of the boat's 

 crew, came off with a message from Lieutenant Underwood, that 

 with another hatchet he could purchase all he required. 



The hatchet was given to Davis, who was directed to say to 

 Lieutenant Underwood that Lieutenant Alden desired to see him 

 without delay, and that he should come off as soon as possible with 

 what he had. 



While Lieutenant Alden was relating the circumstances of the 

 hostage's desire to escape to Lieutenant Emmons, from the starboard 

 side of the boat, the hostage jumped overboard from the larboard 

 quarter, and made for the shore, in two and a half feet water, looking 

 over his shoulder, so as to dodge at the flash if fired at. He took a 

 direction different from that of the party on the beach, to divide the 

 attention of those in the boats. Lieutenant Alden immediately 

 levelled his musket at the hostage, who slackened his pace for a 

 moment, and then continued to retreat. 



vol. in. 72 



