She arrived off the island on the same morning that the
fleet of canoes with the savages effected their landing, and when
William made the remark to Ready as they were hastening into the
stockade, that there was another vessel under sail off the
garden-point, had Ready had time to put his eye to the telescope, he
would have discovered that it was the schooner.
The schooner stood in to the reefs, and then hauled off again, that she
might send her boat in to sound for an anchorage. The boat, when
sounding, perceived the canoes and the savages, and afterwards heard
the report of firearms on the first attack. On her return on board the
schooner, they stated what they had seen and heard, and their idea that
the white people on the island were being attacked by the savages. As
the boat did not return on board till near dusk, they had not time to
canvas, the question when the night attack was made, and they again
heard the firing of the muskets. This made Captain Osborn most anxious
to land as soon as possible, but as the savages were in such numbers,
and the crew of the schooner did not consist of more than twenty-five
men, the commander considered it was rash to make the attempt.
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