A talented marine artist who accompanied us upon this and the preceding cruise, as Captain Stanley's guest.) THEIR SUSPICIOUS CONDUCT AFTERWARDS.
The number of men had been gradually increasing until it amounted to about thirty, all with spears.

They were also becoming more rude and insolent in their behaviour, and seeing this I left my post on a hillock, and joined Simpson to take part in the expected fray.

The natives were now evidently bent on mischief, and we fully expected they would not much longer delay making an attack, with the advantage of a commanding position on a hillock which we must descend to return to the boat.

At this crisis one of our party discovered that he had lost a pistol from his belt, and attempted to recover it by showing another and making signs evincing great anxiety to recover the lost weapon.

On this there was a general movement among the natives, who began drawing back into a cluster, balancing their spears and talking to each other very earnestly.
It being evident that the pistol had been stolen, and not dropped accidentally among the grass, it was also apparent that by attaching undue importance to its loss our safety might be supposed to depend upon its possession.