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[Page 30]
great vociferation; I now saw the necessity of gaining the tent before them, and in consequence of two steep hills which lay in their course was just enabled to accomplish it, when within a quarter of a Mile of the tent, another party from about 30 to 40, some of whom carried bundles of spears, appeared on the hill over the tent, running towards it and shouting like the others. This party reached the tent some minutes before me; as I approached I observed a Native with his arms folded around the Masters Mate, and another holding one of the boats crew in the same manner; while two other men in the boat were struggling with several Natives for the blankets. Mr. Harris & two of the Boats Crew I could not see, and from the Crowd which appeared to have entire possession of the tent I feared for their safety. At the moment my grapnel was let go to prevent the boats grounding, the Masters Mate called out to fire, which from the noise among the Natives I could scarcely hear; hoping to intimidate them by the report only, I directed two musquets
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