only to think of getting down to the beach to complete their work.  Onward I hurried, carrying the spear, which I had drawn from the wound, and determined if, as I expected, overtaken, to sell my life dearly.  Each step, less steady than the former one, reminded me that I was fast losing blood:  but I hurried on, still retaining the chronometer, and grasping my only weapon of defence.  The savage cry behind soon told me that my pursuers had found their way to the beach:  while at every respiration, the air escaping through the orifice of the wound, warned me that the strength by which I was still enabled to struggle through the deep pools and various other impediments in my path, must fail me soon.  I had fallen twice:  each disaster being announced by a shout of vindictive triumph, from the bloodhounds behind.  To add to my distress, I now saw, with utter dismay, that Mr. Tarrant, and the man with the instruments, unconscious of the fact that I had been speared, and therefore believing that I could make good my escape, were moving off towards the boat.  I gave up all hope, and with that rapid glance at the past, which in such an hour crowds the whole history of life upon the mind, and one brief mental act of supplication or rather submission to Him in whose hands are the issues of life and death, I prepared for the last dread struggle.

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH.

At that moment the attention of the retreating party was aroused by a boat approaching hastily from the ship; the first long, loud, wild shriek of the natives having most providentially apprised those on board of our danger.  They turned and perceived that I was completely exhausted.  I spent the last struggling energy I possessed to join them.  Supported on each side I had just strength to direct them to turn towards our savage enemies:  who were hurrying on in a long file, shouting and waving their clubs, and were now only about thirty yards off.  Our turning, momentarily checked their advance, whilst their force increased.  During these very few and awfully anxious moments, a party, headed by Lieutenant Emery, hastened over the reef to our support.  Another moment, and ours would have been the fate of so many other explorers; the hand of the savage almost grasped our throats—­we should have fallen a sacrifice in the cause of discovery, and our bones left to moulder on this distant shore, would have been trodden heedlessly underfoot by the wandering native.

At the sight of Lieutenant Emery’s party, the natives flew with the utmost rapidity, covering their flight, either from chance or skill, by my party; in a moment the air, so lately echoing with their ferocious yells, was silent, and the scene of their intended massacre, as lonely and deserted as before!