dvantage at home," the governor
said, noting the glance of surprise with which the boys had viewed
them. "But in a country like this, with such great heat and no real
occasion for more than appearances, it is hopeless to expect them
to keep up the smartness which would, at home, be necessary. The
natives are very docile and quiet, and give us no trouble whatever;
and were it not for interference from Ternate, where the people are
of a much more warlike nature, the guard which I have would be
ample for any purposes. I am expecting a vessel which calls here
about once in six months, very shortly, and anticipate that she
will bring me some twenty more soldiers, for whom I wrote to the
viceroy at Goa when she last called here."

"What is your latest news from Ternate?" Ned asked.

"I have no direct news," he said. "What we know we gather from the
natives, who, by means of canoes and fishing boats, are often in
communication with those of the opposite island. They tell me that
great preparations are being made, that several of the largest-sized
canoes have been built, and that they believe, when it is full moon,
which is generally the era at which they commence their adventures,
there will be a descent upon this island."

"Then you have seven days in which to prepare," Ned said. "Have you
been doing anything to enable you to receive them hotly?"

"I have not," the governor said. "But now that you gentlemen have
come, I doubt not that your experience in warfare will enable you
to advise me as to what steps I had better take. I stand at present
alone here. The officer who, under me, commanded the garrison died
two months since; and I myself, who was brought up in a civil
rather than a military capacity, am, I own to you, strange
altogether to these matters."

Ned expressed the willingness of himself and his friends to do all
in their power to advise and assist the governor; and with many
mutual compliments they now entered the house, where a goodly room
was assigned to them; some natives told off as their servants; and
the governor at once set two native seamsters to work, to
manufacture garments of a proper cut for them, from materials which
he had in a storehouse for trading with the neighboring chiefs;
who, like all savages, were greatly given to finery. Thus, by the
end of the week, the boys were able once more to make a show which
would have passed muster in a European capital.

At the governor's request, they had