Farther delay might have been attended with danger.  The ‘Supply’ was therefore immediately hailed, and an armed boat ordered to be sent on shore.  Luckily, those on board the ship had already observed the commotion and a boat was ready, into which captain Ball, with several of his people stepped, armed with musquets, and put off.  It was reasonable to believe that so powerful a reinforcement would restore tranquillity, but Baneelon stood unintimidated at disparity of numbers and boldly demanded his prisoner, whose life, he told the governor, he was determined to sacrifice, and afterwards to cut off her head.  Everyone was eager to know what could be the cause of such inveterate inhumanity.  Undaunted, he replied that her father was his enemy, from whom he had received the wound in his forehead beforementioned; and that when he was down in battle, and under the lance of his antagonist, this woman had contributed to assail him.  “She is now,” added he, “my property:  I have ravished her by force from her tribe:  and I will part with her to no person whatever, until my vengeance shall be glutted.”

Farther remonstrance would have been wasted.  His Excellency therefore ordered the woman to be taken to the hospital in order that her wounds might be dressed.  While this was doing, one of the natives, a young man named Boladeree, came up and supplicated to be taken into the boat also, saying that he was her husband, which she confirmed and begged that he might be admitted.  He was a fine well grown lad, of nineteen or twenty years old, and was one of the persons who had been in the house in the scene just described, which he had in no wise endeavoured to prevent, or to afford assistance to the poor creature who had a right to his protection.

All our people now quitted the place, leaving the exasperated Baneelon and his associates to meditate farther schemes of vengeance.  Before they parted he gave them, however, to understand that he would follow the object of his resentment to the hospital, and kill her there, a threat which the governor assured him if he offered to carry into execution he should be immediately shot.  Even this menace he treated with disdain.

To place the refugees in security, a sentinel was ordered to take post at the door of the house, in which they were lodged.  Nevertheless they attempted to get away in the night, either from fear that we were not able to protect them, or some apprehension of being restrained from future liberty.  When questioned where they proposed to find shelter, they said they would go to the Cameragal tribe, with whom they should be safe.  On the following morning, Imeerawanyee* joined them, and expressed strong fears of Baneelon’s resentment.  Soon after a party of natives, known to consist of Baneelon’s chosen friends, with a man of the name of Bigon, at their head, boldly entered the hospital garden, and tried to carry off all three by force.  They were driven back and threatened, to which their leader only replied by contemptuous insolence.