. But his duty was clear, and the order
was given. Leaving the blazing capital behind them, the sailors
retraced their steps to the ships, having completed the devastation of
the valley that a day before was so peaceful, fertile, and lovely. The
spirit of the Typees was thoroughly broken by this crushing blow; and
for the next few days the ships were besieged by ambassadors from all
the island tribes, begging for peace.

Feeling assured that he should have no further trouble with the
natives, Porter now exerted all his energies to complete the repairs
on the ships, that he might again take the sea. So rapidly did the
work progress, that by the 9th of December the "Essex" and "Essex
Junior" were refitted, and stocked with fresh provisions of hogs,
cocoanuts, and bananas; the "New Zealander," loaded with oil from the
other prizes, was ordered to proceed to New York; while the
"Greenwich," "Seringapatam," and "Hammond" were to remain at the
islands until the "Essex" should return for them. These arrangements
being made, the war-ships made ready to depart.

But now arose a difficulty, ludicrous in its cause, but which
threatened to be serious in its effects. The ships had been lying in
harbor for about two months; and during that time the sailors, with
unlimited shore liberty, had made such ties as bound them closely to
the native people. The young girls of the islands, with their comely
faces and fair complexions, had played sad havoc with the hearts of
the gallant tars of the "Essex;" and deep was the grumbling among the
sailors when they heard that the time had come for them to bid
farewell to their sweethearts. No openly mutinous demonstration was
made; but so old a commander could not overlook the fact that some
disaffection existed among his crew, and a little investigation
disclosed the trouble. There could be no half-way measures adopted in
the case, and Porter at once gave orders that all further intercourse
with the shore should cease. That very night three sailors slipped
into the sea, and swam ashore to meet their sweethearts; but the wily
captain had stationed a patrol upon the beach, and the three luckless
Leanders were sent back to the ship in irons. All the next day the
native girls lined the shore of the bay, and with pleading gestures
besought the captain to let the sailors come ashore, but to no avail.
Some fair maidens even swam off to the ship, but were gruffly ordered
away by the officers. All this w