to be assailed by a dozen enemies,
and all the suggestions of prudence were in favour of remaining quiet,
until the Friend Abraham White could, at least, be made available in the
contest. Supported by that vessel, indeed, matters would be changed; and
Mark thought it would be in his power to drive in Waally, and even to
depose him and place Ooroony at the head of the natives once more. To
finish and launch the schooner, therefore, was now the first great
object, and, after a week of indecision and consultations, it was
determined to set about that duty with vigour.

It will be easily seen, that the getting of the Abraham into the water
was an affair of a good deal of delicacy, under the circumstances. The
strait between the Peak and Cape South was thirty miles wide, and it
was twenty more to the crater. Thus the party at work on the vessel
would be fully fifty miles from the main abodes of the colony, and
thrown quite out of the affair should another invasion be attempted. As
for bringing the Neshamony, the Dido, the Bridget, and the fighter, into
the combat, everybody was of opinion it would be risking too much. It is
true, one of the swivels was mounted on the former, and might be of
service, but the natives had got to be too familiar with fire-arms to
render it prudent to rely on the potency of a single swivel, in a
conflict against a force so numerous, and one led by a spirit as
determined as that of Waally's was known to be. All idea of righting at
sea, therefore, until the schooner was launched, was out of the
question, and every energy was turned to effect the latter most
important object. A separation of the forces of the colony was
inevitable, in the meanwhile; and reliance must be placed on the
protection of Providence, for keeping the enemy aloof until the vessel
was ready for active service.

The labour requiring as much physical force as could be mustered, the
arrangement was settled in council and approved by the governor, on the
following plan, viz:--Mark was to proceed to the Reef with all the men
that could be spared, and a portion of the females. It was not deemed
safe, however, to leave the Peak with less than three defenders, Heaton,
Peters and Unus being chosen for that important station; the former
commanding, of course. Mark, Betts, Bigelow, Socrates, and Jones, formed
the party _for_ the Reef, to which were attached Bridget, Martha,
Teresa, and the blacks. Bigelow went across, indeed, a day or