Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 2.djvu/40

 riori, began to draw away, and appeared to be , �s anxio to get rid d u a we hl been, I]f an hour before, W eape from them; but we accom- panied them hlf wy aero the reef, we:hing an ovary to eize the boy who bed.wounded the Dick's man, whom I intended to keep , �prisoner while we were here, and then to dismiss h/m with presents, to shew ,.1_ we were not inimical to themr although angry at being se treachery attacked. My intention, however, .,  was probably suspected, for they voided our  sufficiently near them to effect my .lpO with the certainty of. seeceu, I therefore called our people awy to resume their work at Bedwell not to fire but in self-defence, and if an oplx,m!ty offered, to eize the boy, went on board with. the pay to breckfast.. I bad not, hawever, left the shore long before hostilities. again commenced, .and several shots were ntis. ddevomly fired at the natives by some of the Dick's and Sm 's people, who, being advanced, had very improperly endeavoured to cut off three of them, upon which one of the rotives poised his spear with a theat of throw- �h i it, when evere muskets were fired at these miserable wretches, who, ,fortunately for them,

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