SORTER'S JOURNAL. 



be robbed, the night previous, of all his clothes, by Wil- 

 son, or some worthless fellow in his employ. To prevent 

 the recurrence of similar depredations, and with an eye to 

 greater security, the Sir Andrew Hammond was moored 

 farther out in the Bay. 



Early on the 9th, the midshipmen and hands went ashore 

 for the purpose of launching a raft, which had been used 

 to remove articles to and from the ships ; and this having 

 been effected, after some difficulty, with the assistance of 

 the natives, they returned on board, at 8 o'clock, to break- 

 fast. At the expiration of an hour, they again proceeded 

 to the shore, and commenced loading the raft. Shortly 

 after, Burdenelle, the trader, came down in haste, to in- 

 form the party, that Wilson was then at his house ; and, 

 without farther ceremony. Worth and Coddington, armed 

 with the signal musket, ran up immediately to secure him. 

 In the meantime, the midshipmen, with Burdenelle, visited 

 the Sir Andrew Hammond, to report what had happened, 

 and to request a boat to convey Wilson on board. To this 

 lieut. Gamble assented with great reluctance, on account 

 of the distrust he felt towards the natives, under present 

 circumstances, and the fatal consequences which must 

 ensue, in case his friends were attacked by a superior 

 force. But, after the lapse of half an hour, the boat re- 

 turned without Wilson, he having made his escape to a dis- 

 tant tribe. Midshipman Feltus and Burdenelle were now 

 extremely anxious to ransack his house, for the purpose of 

 recovering the property which the villain had stolen in 

 their absence, and especially the powder he received from 

 the mutineers. They had been assured by the natives, 

 that W^ilson should not receive the least assistance or pro- 

 tection from them ; and for this reason, were the more de- 

 sirous of undertaking the laudable, though somewhat ha- 

 zardous, task. At half past eleven they set out, accom- 

 panied by four men, armed with three muskets only ; and, 

 although scarcely able to wallv, on account of the acute 

 pain of his wound, lieut. Gamble got upon deck, and ear- 

 nestly cautioned them against having any intercourse with 

 the natives, or running any risk of an attack. So many 

 suspicious events had occurred since his return to the 

 island, that it was impossible for him utterly to devest his 

 iriind of a fearful jealousy towards the natives : especially 



