THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
59 
It was half an hour paft eleven o’clock, when I got on 1779. 
board the Difcovery, where I found no decifive plan had t Febm _ ar >\ 
been adopted for our future proceedings. The restitution 
of the boat, and the recovery of the body of Captain Cook, 
were the objects, which, on all hands, we agreed to infill 
on ; and it was my opinion, that fome vigorous fteps fhould 
he taken, in cafe the demand of them was not immediately 
complied with. 
Though my feelings, on the death of a beloved and ho¬ 
noured friend, may be fufpected to have had fome fhare 
in this opinion, yet there were certainly other reafons, 
and thofe of the moil: ferious kind, that had confiderable 
weight with me. The confidence which their fuccefs in 
killing our Chief, and forcing us to quit the fhore, muffc 
naturally have infpired; and the advantage, however tri¬ 
fling, which they had obtained over us the preceding day, 
would, I had no doubt, encourage them to make fome 
further dangerous attempts; and the more efpecially, as 
they had little reafon, from what they had hitherto feen, 
to dread the effects of our fire-arms. Indeed, contrary to 
the expectations of every one, this fort of weapon had 
produced no figns of terror in them. On our fide, fuch 
was the condition of the fhips, and the ftate of difcipline 
amongft us, that had a vigorous attack been made on us, in 
the night, it would have been impoflible to anfwer for the 
confequences. 
In thefe apprehenfions, I was fupported by the opinion 
of moft of the officers on board; and nothing feemed to 
me fo likely to encourage the natives to make the attempt, 
as the appearance of our being inclined to an accom¬ 
modation, which they could only attribute to weaknefs, 
or fear. 
I 2 
In 
