Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/205

 of the natives, when defeated and at the mercy of their enemies, to beg pardon and sue for mercy before the  whole of the attacking party, in order that all might be  witnesses; and he also knew that they never acknowledged themselves conquered unless this was done.

Many messages were delivered to the commodore by this young woman from the chiefs, saying that they were  sorry for clubbing and killing our little chiefs. This, however, amounted to nothing. The commodore sent word to the chiefs and people that they must come and  beg pardon and sue for mercy before all our warriors,  on a hill that he pointed out, on the south end of the  island, saying that he should land there in a little while  and receive them. In a few hours our whole force went ashore and took our station on the hill.

The day was perfectly serene, but the island, which a few days before had been one of the loveliest spots on  earth, was now entirely desolate, showing the place of  the massacre, ruined towns, and devastated plantations.

The eye wandered over the dreary waste, to the beautiful expanse of waters beyond and around, with the long lines of white, sparkling reefs, until it rested, far in the  distance, on the small green island where we had performed the last rites to our murdered shipmates. A gentle breeze stirred the lofty palm trees and produced  a moaning sound as in the forests of our own country. A feeling of depression, inseparable from the occasion, rested upon us and brought vividly to our thoughts the  grief which these melancholy deaths would bring upon  those who were far away.

After watching several hours with much patience, we