DASTARDLY ATTACKS 
247 
Chinamen pulling for all they were worth, whilst 
the hunter and boat-steerer dropped into the bottom 
of the boat, and lay there under the thwarts. 
When the rifles were aimed at us, I held up the 
bag I had with me in their direction, seeing which 
the man in charge ordered his men to recover their 
rifles. Rut as we still kept on, they again took aim 
at us, on which I again held out the bag at arm’s 
length towards them. Down went their rifles once 
more, and a short consultation appeared to follow. 
Once more the rifles were pointed at us, but the bag 
trick no longer worked, and half a dozen bullets went 
over our heads. The next minute we had placed the 
schooner between us and the beach, and were along- 
side and hoisted up in quick time, much to every¬ 
one’s relief. The windlass was already manned 
and the anchor coming up as we got alongside. 
The Russians now launched their boat and started 
to come off. Seeing there were no more than we 
could attend to, I ordered the anchor to be dropped 
again, and the sailors came on board. With a few 
words of English on their part, and a few of Russian 
on mine, we made out that the chief officer in com¬ 
mand, with a dozen or more men, had gone over in 
their big boat to the main island (Saghalin), and was 
expected back very soon. They then asked if we 
wanted seals and if we had any money. They said 
a great number of seals were hauled up. In reply 
to my question as to why they fired at us, they said 
they did not intend to hit anyone ; they only wanted 
us to come on shore. 
Usually I carried a hundred dollars or so with 
me on my trips, but this time I could only muster 
eight. Tor these, a silver watch, some tobacco, 
