in his back.  He turned and attempted to defend himself, but was quickly despatched.  Five men rushed to the help of the mate, but they were unarmed and outnumbered four to one.  Two were quickly killed and three made prisoners.  The other four seamen sprang overboard and swam for land.  They saw that the beach was lined with warriors waiting for them.  Accordingly they turned to one side and swam several miles to a promontory, where they were safe for the time.

Seeing that their friends had gained possession of the ship, several boatloads of natives rowed out to it, took possession, plundered and then tried to run it ashore, that they might break out the metal work at their leisure.

Meanwhile the two seamen stationed near shore by the captain saw what had taken place and ran back to him with the alarming news.  He instantly ordered all into the second boat and hurried down the river, hoping to reach the vessel in time to recapture it.  The boat was pursued by the natives along the bank, but it managed to reach the mouth of the river, where it would have perished in the surf but for the help of a friendly member of an adjoining tribe, who sprang from his armed coasting schooner and swam to their assistance.  He helped them through the surf, and, when confronted by the native armed boats, made such threats and flourishes with his sword (none of the Americans being armed) that he kept the miscreants at bay and the white men succeeded in reaching the open sea.

Seeing that it would be sure death to go to the vessel, the boat was rowed to a small town about twenty miles distant, where the occupants found three American merchant vessels.  The officers and crews were enraged upon learning what had taken place, and, although it was night, they made sail at once for Qualla Battoo, reaching it next day.  In reply to the demand that the Friendship should be returned, the insolent Rajah told them to take her if they could.  The three ships moved as close to shore as was safe and opened fire with such guns as they had.  All merchant vessels carried some kind of armament against pirates in that part of the world.  Impatient with the delay involved in recapturing the Friendship, by attacking at long range, as it may be called, three boats were filled with armed men who rowed straight for the vessel.  It was swarming with armed natives, who kept up a vicious but ill directed fire, the result of which was the sailors rowed the faster, eager to get close enough to punish the miscreants for their murderous work.

When they were almost to the ship the Malays sprang overboard and swam frantically for land.  Captain Endicott regained possession of his vessel, and, upon examination, found it had been rifled from stem to stern.  Among the plunder taken away was $12,000 in specie.  Altogether the loss was $40,000 to the owners of the ship and the captain was compelled to give up his voyage and return home.