After taking counsel with his officers,
he anchored the ship as far off shore as possible; loaded and ran
out his two cannon from the bows; stacked his muskets on the poop;
and warning the Islanders not to approach the ship at their peril,
took one man with him, and setting the sail of his best whale-boat,
steered straight before the wind for Tahiti, five hundred miles distant,
to procure a reinforcement to his crew.
"On the fourth day of the sail, a large canoe was descried,
which seemed to have touched at a low isle of corals.
He steered away from it; but the savage craft bore down on him;
and soon the voice of Steelkilt hailed him to heave to,
or he would run him under water. The captain presented a pistol.
With one foot on each prow of the yoked war-canoes, the Lakeman
laughed him to scorn; assuring him that if the pistol so much
as clicked in the lock, he would bury him in bubbles and foam.
"'What do you want of me?' cried the captain.
"'Where are you bound? and for what are you bound?'
demanded Steelkilt; 'no lies.'
"'I am bound to Tahiti for more men.'
"'Very good. Let me board you a moment--I come in peace.'
With that he leaped from the canoe, swam to the boat;
and climbing the gunwale, stood face to face with the captain.
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