OUR situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.
The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

How we longed at that moment to be with them! either to aid in effecting their escape, or to perish with them in attempting a defence.