AND MIDSHIPMAN HENRY. 163 



ing over from Vita Leva. Immediately the signal to intercept 

 them was made, and Mr. Emmons reached them first, and 

 made signs to them to heave-to ; but they stood on their course 

 to Malolo. Upon this Mr. Emmons announced his intention 

 to destroy them. Several were killed at the first fire, and the 

 rest jumped overboard and made for the shore. Mr. Emmons 

 continued to fire at the fugitives until he fell in with Captain 

 Wilkes, who directed him to. spare the lives of the survivors, 

 but make them prisoners. Lieutenant Emmons had already 

 rescued a little child, and now attempted to save its mother. 

 This woman had at first been taken for a man, and fired upon 

 from Captain Wilkes's boat, but when the error was dis- 

 covered they ceased firing, and hastened to her rescue. In 

 her alarm, however, she mistook the design, and continually 

 dived to avoid the boat, so that they were obliged to abandon 

 her, and she swam towards Vita Leva, ten miles distant. 

 We heard afterwards that she had safely arrived there. The 

 other prisoners taken by the boats were the head-chief's wife, 

 two girls, each about sixteen years of age, and a boy about five 

 years old. After taking the prisoners to the brig, where they 

 were kindly treated by both officers and sailors, all the boats 

 proceeded to the leeward part of the island to destroy another 

 . town. When they had almost reached the place, the shore- 

 party hailed, and informed them that five canoes had been 

 seen to put off from the western side of the island. Mr. 

 Emmons was forthwith dispatched after them, while the other 

 boats remained to destroy the town, which they speedily ac- 

 complished. 



After a very long and fatiguing pull, Mr. Emmons overtook 

 the fugitives. They were at first some distance apart, but as 

 he approached them they closed their line, and stood ready for 

 an attack. Their numbers were partly concealed behind a 



