himself. No
sooner, therefore, did this faithful Indian girl become mistress of the
intended plan, than she gave her brother no peace until he consented to
put off into the ocean with her, in a canoe she had brought from home,
and which was her own property. Had not Unus been disaffected to his new
chief, this might not so easily have been done, but the young Indian was
deadly hostile to Waally, and was a secret friend of Ooroony: a state of
feeling which disposed him to desert the former, at the first good
opportunity.

The two adventurers put off from Rancocus Island just at dark, and
paddled in the direction that they believed would carry them to the
Peak. It will be remembered that the last could not be seen from the
ocean, until about half the passage between the islands was made, though
it was plainly apparent from the heights of Rancocus, as already
mentioned. Next morning, when day returned, the smoke of the volcano was
in sight, but no Peak. There is little question that the canoe had been
set too much to the southward, and was diagonally receding from its
desired point of debarkation, instead of approaching it. Towards the
smoke, Unus and his sister continued to paddle, and, after thirty-six
hours of nearly unremitted labour, they succeeded in landing at the
volcano, ignorant of its nature, awe-struck and trembling, but compelled
to seek a refuge there, as the land-bird rests its tired wing on the
ship's spars, when driven from the coast by the unexpected gale. When
discovered, Peggy and her brother were about to take a fresh start from
their resting-place, the Peak being visible from the volcano.

Mark questioned these two friends concerning the contemplated movement
of Waally, with great minuteness, Unus was intelligent for a savage, and
appeared to understand himself perfectly. He was of opinion that his
countrymen would endeavour to cross, the first calm day, or the first
day when the breeze should be light; and that was just the time when our
colonists did not desire to meet the savages out at sea. He described
the party as formidable by numbers and resolution, though possessing few
arms besides those of savages. There were half a dozen old muskets in
the canoes, with a small supply of ammunition; but, since the desertion
of Jones and Peters, no one remained who knew how to turn these weapons
to much account. Nevertheless, the natives were so numerous, possessed
so many weapons that were formidable in th