Part 37 (1/2)
While this was going on, others of the uns were cast loose and loaded, and every precaution taken against a surprise
The reason for all this was that quite a fleet of long canoes, propelled by paddles, suddenly began to glide out fro to contain frohty to a hundred , dark vessels, with their grotesque, quaintly carved prows and sterns, see paths of silver, so regularly went the paddles, turning the sea into lines of dazzling light
The men were armed with spears and to black feathers tipped hite stuck in their hair, while their dark, nearly naked bodies glistened in the sun like bronze
”Are they coe thrill of excitement
”Dessay they'd like to, Mas' Don; but it strikes ht over those long thin boats of theirs, and send 'em all to the bottom”
Just then there was an order from the deck, and more sail was taken in, till the shi+p hardlyup, thea mournful kind of chorus as they paddled on
”shi+p ahoy!” suddenly came from the first canoe ”What shi+p's that?”
”His Majesty's sloop-of-war _Golden Danae_,” shouted back the first lieutenant from the chains ”Tell your other boats to keep back, or we shall fire”
”No, no, no: don't do that, sir! They don't e, whose face was blue with tattooing, stood up in the canoe, and then turned and spoke to one of his companions, who rose and shouted to the occupants of the other canoes to cease paddling
”Speaks good English, sir,” said the lieutenant to the captain
”Yes Ask them what they want, and if it's peace”
The lieutenant shouted this coe in the canoe
”Want, sir?” cauns and powder, and to colish?”
”Why, what should an Englishe?”
”Now do I look like one?” cried the lishman on a visit to the country, and I've adopted their customs, sir--that's all”
”Oh, I see,” said the lieutenant, laughing; ”ornaments and all”
”May they come aboard, sir?”
”Oh, yes; if they leave their arms”
The man comood deal of excited conversation for a time
”That fellow's a runaway convict for certain, sir,” said the lieutenant
”Shall we get him aboard, and keep him?”