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ATTACKED BY LIONS 5279 |
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' A man ! a savage 1' said he ; and he pointed out to us in the distance a sort of canoe dancing over the waves. The occupant seemed to have perceived us, for he advanced, and then disappeared behind a projecting point, as if to communicate his discovery to his companions. I had not the slightest doubt that we had fallen in with a band of savages, and we began to fortify our boat against their arrows by making a bulwark of the stalks of maize and corn we had brought with us. We loaded our cannons, guns, and pistols ; and, everything ananged, we stood ready behind our rampart, resolved to defend it as long as we were able. We dared not advance, for there was the savage ; until Ernest, growing tired of the pantomime, observed that, if we used the speaking-trumpet, possibly our savage might understand some words of the half-dozen languages we were familiar with.
The advice appeared good. I took up the speaking-trumpet and bellowed out with all my force some words of Malay ; but still the canoe remained immovable, as if its master had not comprehended us.
' Instead of Malay,' said Jack, ' suppose we try English.'
So saying, he caught up the trumpet, and in his |
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