ged canoe was a very
different boat to the light bark, which had yielded so easily to
their strokes. Fortunately, however, they met with no misadventure.
The weather continued calm. They were unseen, or at least not
followed, from any of the islands that they passed on their way.
But it was ten days after their final start before a large island,
which they all recognized as Ternate, was seen rising above the
water.

"Easy all," Ned said. "We may be thankful, indeed, that we have
arrived safely in sight of the island. But now that we are close,
and there is no fear of tempests, had we not better talk over
whether, after all, we shall land at Ternate?"

"Not land at Ternate?" the others exclaimed in consternation; for
indeed, the work during the last few days had been very heavy, and
they were rejoicing at the thought of an end to their labors "Why,
we thought it was arranged, all along, we should stop at Ternate."

"Yes, but we arranged that because at Ternate, alone, there seemed
a certainty of a welcome. But, as you know, Tidore only lies twelve
miles away from Ternate; and from the position we are now in, it
will not be more than five or six miles farther.

"You see, when we were there, the king was preparing for a war with
the Portuguese in Tidore, and he would certainly expect us to
assist him, and probably to lead his fighting men."

"But we should have no objection to that," Reuben said.

"Not in the least," Ned replied. "But you see, if we are ever to
get back to England, it must be through the Portuguese. Their ships
alone are to be found in these seas, and were we to join the King
of Ternate in an attack upon them, whether successful or not, we
could never hope to be received in Portuguese ships; and should
probably, indeed, be taken to Goa, and perhaps burned there as
heretics, if we were to seek an asylum on board.

"What do you think?"

Viewed in this light, it certainly appeared more prudent to go to
Tidore, and after some little discussion the boat's head was turned
more to the west, and the lads continued their weary work in
paddling the water-logged canoe. So slowly did she move that it was
late at night before they approached the island. They determined
not to land till morning, as they might be mistaken for natives,
and attacked. They therefore lay down in the canoe and went to
sleep, when within about a mile of the island; and the next morning
paddled along its shore until they saw some can