238 
IN FORBIDDEN SEAS 
out on the inside of my leg close to the femoral 
artery, but, not striking bone, gave me no pain. 
It merely felt like something warm being pushed 
through my leg. As the blood ram down pretty 
freely into my boots at first, I was afraid the artery 
had been cut; but the bleeding soon ceased, and I 
was satisfied it was ail right, although my leg felt 
very flabby. 
The men being knocked over one after another, 
only one man and myself were left to propel the 
boat, he with an oar, and I with a paddle. His oar 
was more effective than my paddle, and it was with 
difficulty we could keep the boat straight. As we 
got farther off the wind freshened and the sail was 
hoisted. Meanwhile the two outside boats had re¬ 
turned to the schooner and reported what was 
happening. The shipkeeper immediately cut his 
cable, hoisted sail, and stood towards us, sending 
one of the boats to our assistance. We were then 
out of range, but shots were still coming towards us. 
I could make out about a dozen puffs of smoke 
from behind some big boulders on the high elifis 
which formed a point near which we had to pass on 
our way back to the vessel. 
We were taken in tow, and soon came alongside 
the schooner. After getting the wounded men on 
board, I went below and hastily examined and 
bandaged my leg. All the men were brought down 
aft, and their wounds washed and dressed. The 
boat-steerer, who was shot through the spine, was 
the first man to die, two hours after getting on 
board. He was unconscious all the time. The 
next was the one shot through the top of the head, 
who lasted until the evening. The third man died 
