{"id":"01KG8AKSKJBJ4YFS7PMDQNBE6Q","cid":"bafkreicbi5o3rqxgjb5zoyryz3ro2ur5b6366z73nsbnccsupb4dzdojjy","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":781,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.149Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","start_line":713,"text":"him to clear away another boat, and then darted into the cabin to tell\r\nthe captain the news. Springing on deck again, he drove down into the\r\nforecastle for a couple of oarsmen, but hardly got there before there\r\nwas a cry, and a loud splash heard over the side. It was the Mowree and\r\nthe boat—into which he had just leaped to get ready for\r\nlowering—rolling over and over in the water.\r\n\r\nThe boat having at nightfall been hoisted up to its place over the\r\nstarboard quarter, someone had so cut the tackles which held it there,\r\nthat a moderate strain would at once part them. Bembo’s weight had\r\nanswered the purpose, showing that the deserters must have ascertained\r\nhis specific gravity to a fibre of hemp. There was another boat\r\nremaining; but it was as well to examine it before attempting to lower.\r\nAnd it was well they did; for there was a hole in the bottom large\r\nenough to drop a barrel through: she had been scuttled most ruthlessly.\r\n\r\nJermin was frantic. Dashing his hat upon deck, he was about to plunge\r\noverboard and swim to the corvette for a cutter, when Captain Guy made\r\nhis appearance and begged him to stay where he was. By this time the\r\nofficer of the deck aboard the Frenchman had noticed our movements, and\r\nhailed to know what had happened. Guy informed him through his trumpet,\r\nand men to go in pursuit were instantly promised. There was a whistling\r\nof a boatswain’s pipe, an order or two, and then a large cutter pulled\r\nout from the man-of-war’s stern, and in half a dozen strokes was\r\nalongside. The mate leaped into her, and they pulled rapidly ashore.\r\n\r\nAnother cutter, carrying an armed crew, soon followed.\r\n\r\nIn an hour’s time the first returned, towing the two whale-boats, which\r\nhad been found turned up like tortoises on the beach.\r\n\r\nNoon came, and nothing more was heard from the deserters. Meanwhile\r\nDoctor Long Ghost and myself lounged about, cultivating an\r\nacquaintance, and gazing upon the shore scenery. The bay was as calm as\r\ndeath; the sun high and hot; and occasionally a still gliding canoe\r\nstole out from behind the headlands, and shot across the water.\r\n\r\nAnd all the morning long our sick men limped about the deck, casting\r\nwistful glances inland, where the palm-trees waved and beckoned them\r\ninto their reviving shades. Poor invalid rascals! How conducive to the\r\nrestoration of their shattered health would have been those delicious\r\ngroves! But hard-hearted Jermin assured them, with an oath, that foot\r\nof theirs should never touch the beach.\r\n\r\nToward sunset a crowd was seen coming down to the water. In advance of\r\nall were the fugitives—bareheaded—their frocks and trousers hanging in\r\ntatters, every face covered with blood and dust, and their arms\r\npinioned behind them with green thongs. Following them up, was a\r\nshouting rabble of islanders, pricking them with the points of their\r\nlong spears, the party from the corvette menacing them in flank with\r\ntheir naked cutlasses.\r\n\r\nThe bonus of a musket to the King of the Bay, and the promise of a\r\ntumblerful of powder for every man caught, had set the whole population\r\non their track; and so successful was the hunt, that not only were that\r\nmorning’s deserters brought back, but five of those left behind on a\r\nformer visit. The natives, however, were the mere hounds of the chase,\r\nraising the game in their coverts, but leaving the securing of it to\r\nthe Frenchmen. Here, as elsewhere, the islanders have no idea of taking\r\npart in such a scuffle as ensues upon the capture of a party of\r\ndesperate seamen.\r\n\r\nThe runaways were at once brought aboard, and, though they looked\r\nrather sulky, soon came round, and treated the whole affair as a\r\nfrolicsome adventure.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJG70E1M3AMCAS69C6AAH","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKSKJQNZCM4QJNZ8NPD4J","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.986Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:22.630Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}