Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/142

114 islanders should fall upon us in great number. The cry of alarm was heard on board the Esperance, that ship having come within hail of the shore the preceding evening, and immediately a few muskets were fired from her, to give notice of it to the Recherche: but our fear of a general attack from the natives did not continue long, for we quickly assured ourselves, that most of them were still fast asleep round our post, and those, who had been awakened, had fled. An officer, too, who arrived from the interior of the island, almost at the instant of the assassination, reported, that he had seen a great many of the natives, all of whom appeared to him to be in a profound sleep.

The Commander of our expedition went on shore about six o'clock, with a detachment well armed, and gave orders to strike the tents immediately, and carry them aboard, with every thing that had been left at the post for the purpose of barter.

Our removal much grieved several of the chiefs, who came to the General to express the sorrow they felt at this disagreeable affair. They loudly expressed their disapprobation of this cowardly piece of treachery, saying, that the culprit deserved death, and should not long escape the due reward of his crime. At the same time they did