note off to the captain, informing him that the price of his
liberation was the sum demanded for the pilotage of the vessel over
the bar of the river. He said further, that he was strictly guarded,
but that, notwithstanding this, he did not despair of making his
escape, if Lake could wait a little for him. The vessel had been
brought into the river about three months before, but Lake would
never pay the pilotage, and all he did was to send Mr. Spittle a
little bread and beef. The amount demanded was about fifty pounds
worth of goods, which it was quite out of the question that Lake
would ever pay.

Meanwhile King Boy, full of gloomy forebodings, had been lingering
about the deck. He had evidently foresight enough to suspect what was
to take place, and he appeared troubled and uneasy, and bewildered in
thought. The poor fellow was quite an altered person; his habitual
haughtiness had entirely forsaken him, and given place to a cringing
and humble demeanor. A plate of meat was presented to him, of which
he ate sparingly, and showed clearly that he was thinking more of his
promised goods, than his appetite, and a quantity of rum that was
given to him was drunk carelessly, and without affording any apparent
satisfaction.

Knowing how things were likely to terminate, the Landers endeavoured
to get Boy into a good humour, by telling him that he should
certainly have his goods some time or other; but it was all to no
purpose; the attempt was a complete failure; the present was the only
time in his mind. The Landers really pitied him, and were grieved to
think that their promises could not be fulfilled. How gladly would
they have made any personal sacrifice, rather than thus break their
word; for although they had been half starved in his hands, yet they
felt themselves indebted to him for having taken them from the Eboe
people, and bringing them to the vessel. Richard Lander rummaged over
the few things which had been left them from their disaster at
Kirree, and found to his surprise, five silver bracelets wrapped up
in a piece of flannel. He was not aware of having these things, but
he immediately offered them to him, along with a native sword, which
being a very great curiosity, they had brought with them from
Yarriba, with the intention of taking it to England. Boy accepted of
them, and John Lander then offered him his watch, for which he had a
great regard, as it was the gift of one of his earliest and best
friends. Thi