Gray noticed the natives were all armed with spears and knives, but
they evinced great friendliness, bringing the crew baskets of berries
and boiled crabs and salmon, in exchange for brass buttons. They had
anchored at ten on the night of August 14, and by the afternoon of the
15th the Indians were about the sloop in great numbers, trading otter
skins for knives, axes, and other arms--which, in itself, ought to have
put the crew on guard. When the white men went ashore for wood and
water, the Indians stood silently by, weapons in hand, but offered no
hostility. On the third day in harbor an old chief came on board
followed by a great number of warriors, all armed. Gray kept careful
guard, and the old Indian departed in possession of the stimulating
fact that only a dozen hands manned the _Lady Washington_. Waiting for
the tide the next afternoon, Haswell and Coolidge, the two mates, were
digging clams on shore. Lopez, the black man, and seven of the crew
were gathering grass for the stock. Only three men remained on the
sloop with Captain Gray. Only two muskets and three or four cutlasses
had been brought ashore.
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