The String of Pearls (1850), p. 48

the gale while it lasted blew half a hurricane, and the ship lost some of her mast, and some other trifling damage, which, however, entailed upon them the nessity of remaining there a few days, to cut timber to repair their masts, and to obtain a few supplies. There is but little to interest a general reader in the description of a gale. Order after order was given until the masts and spars went one by one, and then the orders for clearing the wreck were given. There was much work to be done and but little pleasure in doing it, for it was wet and miserable while it lasted and there was the danger of being driven upon a lee shore, and knocked to pieces upon the rocks. This danger was averted, and they anchored safe at a very short distance from the shore in comparative security.
"We are safe now," remarked the captain, as he gave his second in command charge of the deck, and approached Mr. Thornhill and Colonel Jeffery.
"I am happy it is so," replied Jeffery .
"Well, captain," said Mr. Thornhill, "I am glad we have done with being knocked about; we are anchored, and the water here appears smooth enough."
"It is so and I dare say it will remain so; it is a beautiful basin of water—deep and good anchorage; but you see it is not large enough to make a line harbour."
"True; but it is rocky."
"It is, and that may make it sometimes dangerous, though I don't know that it would be so in some gales. The sea may beat in at the opening, which is deep enough for anything to enter—even Noah's ark would enter easily enough."
"What will you do now?"
"Stay here a day or so, and send boats ashore to cut some pine trees, to refit the ship with masts."
"You have no staves, then?"
"Not enough for such a purpose ; and we never do go out stored with such things."
"You obtain them wherever you may go to."
"Yes, any part of the world will furnish them in some shape or other."
"When you send ashore, will you permit me to accompany the boat's crew?" said Jeffery.
"Certainly; but the natives of this country are violent and intractable, and should you get into any row with them, there is every probability of your being
captured, or some bodily injury done you."
"But I will take care to avoid all that."
"Very well, colonel, you shall be welcome to go."
"I must beg the same permission," said Mr. Thornhill, "for I should much like to see the country, as well as to have some acquaintance with the natives themselves."
"By no means trust yourself alone with them," said the captain, "for if you live you will have cause to repent it—depend upon what I ay."
"I will," said Thornhill, "I will go nowhere but where the boat's company goes."
"You will be safe then."
"But do you apprehend any hostile attack from the natives?" inquired Colonel Jeffery.
"No, I do not expect it; but such things have happened before to-day, and I have seen them when least expected, though 1 have been on this coast before, and yet I never met with any ill-treatment ; but there have been many who have touched on this coast, who have had a brush with the natives and come off second best, the natives generally retiring when the ship's company muster strong in number, and calling out the chiefs, who come down in great force, that we may not concern them."
The next morning the boats were ordered out to go ashore with crews, prepared for cutting timber, and obtaining such staves as the ship was in want of. With these boats old Thornhill and Colonel Jeffery went both of them on board, and