- end_line
- 2528
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:18.535Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 2463
- text
- prevailed upon the captain to go with them, in his whale-boat, to a
shoal on the thither side of the island, some distance from the spot
where lay the brigantine. They so managed it, moreover, that none but
the Lahineese under Samoa, in whom the captain much confided, were left
in custody of the Parki; the three white men going along to row; for
there happened to be little or no wind for a sail.
Now, the fated brig lay anchored within a deep, smooth, circular
lagoon, margined on all sides but one by the most beautiful groves. On
that side, was the outlet to the sea; perhaps a cable’s length or more
from where the brigantine had been moored. An hour or two after the
party were gone, and when the boat was completely out of sight, the
natives in shoals were perceived coming off from the shore; some in
canoes, and some swimming. The former brought bread fruit and bananas,
ostentatiously piled up in their proas; the latter dragged after them
long strings of cocoanuts; for all of which, on nearing the vessel,
they clamorously demanded knives and hatchets in barter.
From their actions, suspecting some treachery, Samoa stood in the
gangway, and warned them off; saying that no barter could take place
until the captain’s return. But presently one of the savages stealthily
climbed up from the water, and nimbly springing from the bob-stays to
the bow-sprit, darted a javelin full at the foremast, where it
vibrated. The signal of blood! With terrible outcries, the rest,
pulling forth their weapons, hitherto concealed in the canoes, or under
the floating cocoanuts, leaped into the low chains of the brigantine;
sprang over the bulwarks; and, with clubs and spears, attacked the
aghast crew with the utmost ferocity.
After one faint rally, the Lahineese scrambled for the rigging; but to
a man were overtaken and slain.
At the first alarm, Annatoo, however, had escaped to the
fore-top-gallant-yard, higher than which she could not climb, and
whither the savages durst not venture. For though after their nuts
these Polynesians will climb palm trees like squirrels; yet, at the
first blush, they decline a ship’s mast like Kennebec farmers.
Upon the first token of an onslaught, Samoa, having rushed toward the
cabin scuttle for arms, was there fallen upon by two young savages. But
after a desperate momentary fray, in which his arm was mangled, he made
shift to spring below, instantly securing overhead the slide of the
scuttle. In the cabin, while yet the uproar of butchery prevailed, he
quietly bound up his arm; then laying on the transom the captain’s
three loaded muskets, undauntedly awaited an assault.
The object of the natives, it seems, was to wreck the brigantine upon
the sharp coral beach of the lagoon. And with this intent, one of their
number had plunged into the water, and cut the cable, which was of
hemp. But the tide ebbing, cast the Parki’s head seaward—toward the
outlet; and the savages, perceiving this, clumsily boarded the
fore-tack, and hauled aft the sheet; thus setting, after a fashion, the
fore-sail, previously loosed to dry.
Meanwhile, a gray-headed old chief stood calmly at the tiller,
endeavoring to steer the vessel shoreward. But not managing the helm
aright, the brigantine, now gliding apace through the water, only made
more way toward the outlet. Seeing which, the ringleaders, six or eight
in number, ran to help the old graybeard at the helm. But it was a
black hour for them. Of a sudden, while they were handling the tiller,
three muskets were rapidly discharged upon them from the cabin
skylight. Two of the savages dropped dead. The old steersman, clutching
wildly at the helm, fell over it, mortally wounded; and in a wild panic
at seeing their leaders thus unaccountably slain, the rest of the
natives leaped overboard and made for the shore.
- title
- Chunk 2