”‘Give the savages a parting volley to teach them that we are not to be insulted with impunity,’ cried the captain.
“Several shots were fired at the canoes, and two or three of the savages were hit. I cannot say whether all fired, but Bill did not.
“The brig had gathered way, and we were distancing the canoes, and though the captain ordered another volley to be fired, the shot fell short of them.
”‘We have managed that pretty cleverly,’ he observed, as he walked the deck, rubbing his hands. ‘I never expected to get so many pearls, and we have not paid dear for them either,’ and he chuckled to himself as he turned aft.
“I asked Bill if he had got as many as he had hoped for.
”‘No,’ he answered. ‘The skipper kept too sharp a look-out to allow me to trade honestly as I had intended, and I’d sooner not have got a single one, than obtain them in the vile abominable way he has done. I wish that I was clear of the craft, and hope that I may never set eyes on him again.’
“I told Bill that he was too particular.
”‘No, no,’ he exclaimed. ‘I am a vile wretch as it is, but I am not sunk so low as to stand by and see such things done without exclaiming against them.’
“We had a quick run to the westward, and the captain was congratulating himself on making a prosperous voyage. We had still room, however, for some more sandal-wood, and he took it into his head to visit the place where he had given a couple of dozen to a native chief for refusing to bring off sandal-wood. He was mad, you will allow, to make the attempt. He thought he could catch the chief, and play the trick a second time.
“Bringing up before the place, and telling us to keep our arms ready for use, and to let no native on board, away he went in the boat with six hands well armed. The natives, instead of running off, came down to the beach quite in a friendly manner, and welcomed him on shore. He thought, I suppose, that they did not know the brig again, or that the chief had forgotten his flogging.