84 Wild Life in Southern Seas. 
tide being then beginning to ebb, and the crews 
followed to assist in the work. The guides led 
the party through various paths that were least 
likely to answer the desired end, thus delaying 
the premeditated attack until the boats should 
be left high and dry, and the unfortunate crews 
unable to escape. This part of their horrible 
plan accomplished, the natives became very 
insolent and rude, ironically pointing at decayed 
fragments of trees and inquiring of Captain 
Thompson whether such would suit his purpose 
or not. And then the Maori seamen of the 
Boyd threw off the mask, and in opprobrious 
terms upbraided him with their maltreatment on 
board, informing him. at the same time that he 
should have no spars there but what he could cut 
and carry away himself. Captain Thompson, 
apparently caring nothing for the disappoint¬ 
ment, turned carelessly away with his people 
towards the boats, and at this moment they 
were savagely assaulted with clubs and axes, 
which the assailants had until then concealed 
under their dresses, and, although the boats’ 
crews had several muskets, yet so impetuous 
was the attack that every man was slaughtered 
before one could be used. 
