I tore my neckcloth and shirt into bandages, and
bound up her leg; I then fetched some water from the spring in my hat,
which I poured into her mouth, and threw over her face. She appeared to
recover, and I felt happy that I had been of some use, and not being
able to descry any of the islanders, was proceeding 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.
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