292 
SKIRMISH IN A FOREST. 
party spreading out or* both sides of the pa th. I fortn. 
nately had a six-barrelled revolver, which my friend 
Captain Henry Need, of nor majesty's brig “Linnet,” had 
considerately sent to Golnngo Alto after my departure 
from Loan da. Taking this in my hand, and forgetting 
fovor, I staggorcd quickly along tho path with two or three 
of my men, and fortunately encountered tho chief. Tho 
sight of the six barrels gaping into his stomach, with my 
own ghastly visage looking daggers at his faco, seemed to 
produeo an instant revolution in his martial feelings; for 
ho cried out, “Oh, I havo only come to speak to you, and 
wish peace only.” Masnauana had hold of him by the 
hand, and found him shaking. Wo examined his gun, and 
found that it had been discharged. Both parties crowded 
up to their chiefs. One of tho opposito party coming too 
near, one of mino drove him back with a battle-axe. Tho 
enemy protested their amicablo intentions, and my men 
asserted tho fact of having the goods knocked down as 
evidence of tho contrary. Without waiting long, I re- 
quested all to sit down; and Pitsanc, placing his hand upon 
the revolver, somewhat allayed their fears. I then said to 
tho chief, “ If you have come with peaceable intentions, 
wo havo no other : go away homo to your village.” He 
replied, “ I am afraid lost you shoot mo in the back.” 1 
rejoined, “ If I wanted to kill you, I could shoot you in 
tho faco as well.” Mosantu called out to mo, “That’s 
only a Jlakalaka trick : don’t give him your back.” But 
I said, “ Toll him to observo that I am not afraid of him,” 
and, turning, mounted my ox. There was not much dangOT 
in tho tiro that was opened at first, thoro being so many 
tioos. Tho enemy probably oxpocted that tho suddon 
attack would mako us forsako our goods and allow them 
to plunder with easo. Tho villagers wero no doubt 
pleased with being allowed to rotiro unscathod, and we 
wore also glad to got away without having shod a drop of 
blood or having compromised ourselves for any futuro visit, 
tty men wore delightod with their own bravery, and made 
