but being pushed on by those behind, they returned
to the charge, and poured a volley of stones among
the marines, who, without waiting for orders, returned
it with a general discharge of musquetry, which was
instantly followed by a fire from the boats.
At this Captain Cook was heard to express his astonishment;
he waved his hand to the boats, called to them to cease
firing, and to come nearer in to receive the marines.
Mr Roberts immediately brought the pinnace as close
to the shore as he could, without grounding, notwithstanding
the showers of stones that fell among the people;
but ——, the lieutenant, who commanded
in the launch, instead of pulling in to the assistance
of Captain Cook, withdrew his boat farther off, at
the moment that every thing seems to have depended
upon the timely exertions of those in the boats.
By his own account, he mistook the signal; but be
that as it may, this circumstance appears to me to
have decided the fatal turn of the affair, and to
have removed every chance which remained with Captain
Cook, of escaping with his life. The business
of saving the marines out of the water, in consequence
of that, fell altogether upon the pinnace; which thereby
became so much crowded, that the crew were, in a great
measure, prevented from using their fire-arms, or giving
what assistance they otherwise might have done, to
Captain Cook; so that he seems, at the most critical
point of time, to have wanted the assistance of both
boats, owing to the removal of the launch. For,
notwithstanding that they kept up a fire on the crowd,
from the situation to which they removed in that boat,
the fatal confusion which ensued on her being withdrawn,
to say the least of it, must have prevented the full
effect, that the prompt co-operation of the two boats,
according to Captain Cook’s orders, must have
had, towards the preservation of himself and his people.[4]
At that time, it was to the boats alone, that Captain
Cook had to look for his safety; for, when the marines
had fired, the Indians rushed among them, and forced
them into the water, where four of them were killed;
their lieutenant was wounded, but fortunately escaped,
and was taken up by the pinnace. Captain Cook
was then the only one remaining on the rock; he was
observed making for the pinnace, holding his left hand
against the back of his head, to guard it from the
stones, and carrying his musquet under the other arm.
An Indian was seen following him, but with caution
and timidity; for he stopped once or twice, as if
undetermined to proceed. At last he advanced upon
him unawares, and with a large club,[5] or common
stake, gave him a blow on the back of the head, and
then precipitately retreated. The stroke seemed
to have stunned Captain Cook; he staggered a few paces,
then fell on his hand and one knee, and dropped his
musquet. As he was rising, and before he could
recover his feet, another Indian stabbed him in the
back of the neck with an iron dagger. He then
fell into a bite of water about knee deep, where others