{"id":"01KG8AM8EP0A61NXSY0JXEQC2Z","cid":"bafkreih5wdtok6u4wcmuk3rs26jfpbvojx4gn2slic6aq7jiua2kyxng5m","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":10721,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.203Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 6","source_file":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","start_line":10666,"text":"the sea and hurled their javelins at us. Some of the weapons passed\r\nquite as close to us as was desirable, but no one was wounded, and the\r\nmen pulled away gallantly. But although soon out of the reach of the\r\nspears, our progress was extremely slow; it blew strong upon the shore,\r\nand the tide was against us; and I saw Karakoee, who was steering the\r\nboat, give many a look towards a jutting point of the bay round which we\r\nhad to pass.\r\n\r\nFor a minute or two after our departure, the savages, who had formed\r\ninto different groups, remained perfectly motionless and silent. All\r\nat-once the enraged chief showed by his gestures that he had resolved\r\nwhat course he would take. Shouting loudly to his companions, and\r\npointing with his tomahawk towards the headland, he set off at full\r\nspeed in that direction, and was followed by about thirty of the\r\nnatives, among whom were several of the priests, all yelling out\r\n‘Roo-ne! Roo-ne!’ at the very top of their voices. Their intention was\r\nevidently to swim off from the headland and intercept us in our course.\r\nThe wind was freshening every minute, and was right in our teeth, and it\r\nwas one of those chopping angry seas in which it is so difficult to\r\nrow. Still the chances seemed in our favour, but when we came within a\r\nhundred yards of the point, the active savages were already dashing into\r\nthe water, and we all feared that within five minutes’ time we should\r\nhave a score of the infuriated wretches around us. If so our doom\r\nwas sealed, for these savages, unlike the feeble swimmer of civilized\r\ncountries, are, if anything, more formidable antagonists in the water\r\nthan when on the land. It was all a trial of strength; our natives\r\npulled till their oars bent again, and the crowd of swimmers shot\r\nthrough the water despite its roughness, with fearful rapidity.\r\n\r\nBy the time we had reached the headland, the savages were spread right\r\nacross our course. Our rowers got out their knives and held them ready\r\nbetween their teeth, and I seized the boat-hook. We were all aware that\r\nif they succeeded in intercepting us they would practise upon us the\r\nmanoeuvre which has proved so fatal to many a boat’s crew in these seas.\r\nThey would grapple the oars, and seizing hold of the gunwhale, capsize\r\nthe boat, and then we should be entirely at their mercy.\r\n\r\nAfter a few breathless moments discerned Mow-Mow. The athletic islander,\r\nwith his tomahawk between his teeth, was dashing the water before him\r\ntill it foamed again. He was the nearest to us, and in another instant\r\nhe would have seized one of the oars. Even at the moment I felt horror\r\nat the act I was about to commit; but it was no time for pity or\r\ncompunction, and with a true aim, and exerting all my strength, I dashed\r\nthe boat-hook at him. It struck him just below the throat, and forced\r\nhim downwards. I had no time to repeat the blow, but I saw him rise\r\nto the surface in the wake of the boat, and never shall I forget the\r\nferocious expression of his countenance.\r\n\r\nOnly one other of the savages reached the boat. He seized the gunwhale,\r\nbut the knives of our rowers so mauled his wrists, that he was forced to\r\nquit his hold, and the next minute we were past them all, and in safety.\r\nThe strong excitement which had thus far kept me up, now left me, and I\r\nfell back fainting into the arms of Karakoee.\r\n\r\n           . . . . . . . .\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 6"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJRVDJBA69QAZAJFQP7KX","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AM8EP0AKJNZT1EZP1VPHK","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AM2RV3EK5ZZ5NRFQ8ABZJ","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:31.190Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:44.112Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}