^2 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. [December, 
ing or suspending their sashes from the rigging, at which time 
those on shore were to be massacred. The boat had scarcely- 
gained her length from the bank of the river, when the wished-for 
signal was seen, and answered by a savage shout of exultation 
from the shore, the Malays at the same time making a rush into 
the water to seize the boat ! In this they were unsuccessful, as 
the boat was now in the middle of the stream, which was about 
one hundred yards wide, and was gliding swiftly, with the help of 
the current and hard rowing, towards the sea. But the alarm of 
the probability of the boat's escape having been communicated by 
the shouting savages who were collected in great numbers about 
the mouth of the river, and enjoying the spectacle of the victorious 
signals hanging about the rigging of the captured ship, a large 
canoe, or sampan, was instantly manned by the. Malays, and in 
the next moment was in the mouth of the river, to intercept the 
retreating party. This, however, had not been anticipated in their 
matured plan of attack. The captain and those with him were 
to have been murdered on shore ; and the instant manning of this 
boat only showed the general co-operation, and the eagerness with 
which they pursued their murderous purposes. The httle party 
saw that escape by flight was impossible, and determined either 
to intimidate their assailants in the sampan, or to sell their lives 
as dearly as possible. At the same inscant they steered directly 
for the hostile boat, while Mr. Barry, in the bows, flourished in a 
menacing manner at them the cutlass of Po Adam, in fact the 
only weapon of defence in the boat.- It had the desired effect; 
and the Malays, alarmed at this bold bearing of their intended 
victims, retreated at once to the shore. 
Captain Endicott now continued to row towards his ship, to re- 
connoitre ; and intensely painful indeed must have been his feel- 
ings to see her in the hands of the Malays. As soon as they ap- 
proached near enough, the pirates commenced a fire from the ship 
with muskets, which Captain Endicott disregarded, until he saw 
them clearing away one of his six-pounders, which he knew to 
be shotted with round and grape, when he deemed it prudent to 
seek a place of safety. They then rowed for the little town of 
Soo-soo, distant, to the southward, about nine miles from Quallah- 
Battoo. Here a fine stream of fresh water throws itself rapidly 
into the sea, on the banks of which is a small village, to which 
