to the beach, that I might swim off to the canoes, when just as I walked out of the shade, two or three muskets were fired by those on board.  These were followed by others, and loud yells from the islanders, who had swum off in hundreds, and were attacking our people.  The conflict was very short, for the men, not being able to load their muskets quickly enough, were overpowered by the islanders, who climbed into the canoes, and in a few minutes they were all paddled to the beach.

I now thought that it was all over with my men on board of the ship, and so it proved; for an hour before daylight the islanders lighted the faggots, and, at the same time, attacked the vessel with great fury.  The fire continued to blaze higher and higher, the muskets were constantly discharging, and the shouts and yells continued for about an hour, when I heard no more reports from the muskets, and took it for granted that my men were overcome, which was the case, as I afterwards found out; many were killed by the spears when on board, others when they leaped from the vessel to avoid the flames, and the remainder had been suffocated.

As the sun rose above the horizon, a loud explosion took place, by which I knew that the flames had communicated with the magazine, and that the ship had been blown to atoms.  I determined to hide myself in the bushes, with the hope of not being discovered.  Before I went, I made a hasty visit to the poor wounded woman, to see how she was.  It was broad daylight, and I found that I had afforded succour to a very beautiful young girl, about sixteen or seventeen years old.  As she still appeared faint, I brought her some more water, and when I gave it to her, she expressed her gratitude with her eyes.  Examining the bandages, which had slipped a little on one side, I replaced them, and then darted into the thickest of the underwood.  As I pressed on, bent half double, my head suddenly came in contact with something hard; I looked up, and found that it was the head of one of the islanders, who was also forcing his way through the bushes, an immense, powerful man, who immediately sprung upon me, and pinned me to the ground.  He was followed by several others who came to his assistance, and all resistance was useless.  They pulled some of the creeping withies, that grow in those countries, and bound me hand and foot; then selecting a large pole, they made me fast to it, and carried me away.  When they arrived at the beach, I was laid down on my back, exposed to the burning sun.  Left to my own reflections, and calling to mind all that I could recollect from the voyages and travels which I had read, I concluded that I was to be made a sacrifice of to their gods.  I prayed to heaven for mercy, and resigned myself to my fate, which appeared inevitable.