Without waiting for the captain, (for there was no one
on board but the mate and steward,) he sprung into the boat, called
the Kanakas together, and tried to put off. But the Kanakas, though
capital water-dogs, were frightened by their vessel's being adrift,
and by the emergency of the case, and seemed to lose their
faculties. Twice, their boat filled, and came broadside upon the
beach. Jackson swore at them for a parcel of savages, and promised
to flog every one of them. This made the matter no better; when we
came forward, told the Kanakas to take their seats in the boat, and,
going two on each side, walked out with her till it was up to our
shoulders, and gave them a shove, when, giving way with their oars,
they got her safely into the long, regular swell. In the mean time,
boats had put off from our ships and the whaler, and coming all on
board the brig together, they let go the other anchor, paid out chain,
braced the yards to the wind, and brought the vessel up.
In a few minutes, the captains came hurrying down, on the run; and
there was no time to be lost, for the gale promised to be a severe
one, and the surf was breaking upon the beach, three deep, higher
and higher every instant.
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