My boat was now up to her gunwale with
twenty-two men and thirty loads, and i f a breeze
rose, she would, unless we lightened her of
property, inevitably sink.
Through the darkness I shouted out to the
frightened men, that i f any more canoes collapsed,
the crews should at once empty out the grain
and beads, but on no account abandon their
boats, as they would float and sustain them
until I could return to save them.
I had scarcely finished speaking before the
alarming cries were raised again: “Master, the
canoe is sinking! Quick, come here. Oh, master,
we cannot swim!”
Again I hurried up to the cries, and distinguished
two men paddling vigorously, while five were
baling. I was thinking how I could possibly
assist them, when other cries broke out: “ The
boat! Bring the boat here! Oh, hurry— the boat,
the b o a t!” Then another broke out, “ And we
are sinking— the water is up to our knees.
Come to us, master, or we die! Bring the boat,
m y master!”
It was evident that a panic was raging amongst
the timid souls, that the people were rapidly
becoming utterly unnerved. In reply to their
frenzied cries, and as the only w a y to save us
all, I shouted out sternly: “ You who would
save yourselves, follow me to the islets as fast
riune20-21, 187S-I PULLING TO THE RESCUE.
[ Miandereh. J
aS you can; and you wo are crying out, cling
to your canoes until we return.”
We rowed hard. The moon rose also, and
cheered us in half an hour with a sight o f
Miandereh, for which we steered. Her brightness
had also the effect o f rousing up the spirits o f
the Wangwana; but still the piteous cries were
heard far behind: “Master! oh, master! bring
your boat— the b o a t!”
“ Hark to them, my b o y s— hark,” I sang out
to my crew, and they responded to my appeal
b y causing the Lady A lice to fly through the
water, though the waves almost curled over her
sides. “ Pull, my men; break your oars; shoot
her through the water; life and death hang on
your efforts. Pull like heroes.” She hissed
through the waves, as ten men, bending with
the wildest, most desperate effort, spurred her
with their oars.
Miandereh islets rose larger and clearer into
view. “ Hurrah, my b o y s , here is our island!
pull and defy the black water— your brothers
are drowning!”
W e reached Miandereh— shot the goods out,
lightened her o f the wrecked men, and flew
back again, skimming over the dark surface.
There were two brothers who had been made
coxswains o f canoes, who came prominently
into notice on this terrible night. Each had his
special crew, friends and people o f the same