Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/152

124 in vain to repair to the market, which had just been re-established on that little island. We fancied, however, that we had discovered effectual means of driving them away from our ships, when we saw them take flight with precipitancy, on some water being spouted on them from an engine; but the success of this mode was of short duration; for soon finding that they ran no risk but of a wetting, we might play the engine on them as long as we pleased, and they would not stir. Dauribeau, the captain of the Recherche, then gave orders, to upset them when any of our boats went ashore; and presently the launch was sent off for the nearest part of the island, with various instruments for making astronomical observations. Accordingly our people pulled away, steering directly for a canoe which had three men and two girls on board; and, as they carried away the out-rigger, we should soon have had the vexation of seeing these two pretty lasses tumbled into the water; but to prevent this accident, the men jumped overboard, and two of them steadied the canoe, while the third set the out-rigger to rights, and then they paddled away for Tongataboo without delay. The other canoes, warned of their danger, had the address to avoid such of our boats as afterwards endeavoured to upset them.