that, although the cutter had no
rudder, she would steer very well with a sweep; and then he informed us
there was good running water within a couple of cables' length of the
cutter, also plenty of wood, and offered to take us to the place. We
need not, he said, apprehend any attack by the natives, as our party was
too large, and the spot where we could fill the casks was in fairly open
country, and by stationing a sentry or two on each side of the creek, we
could both wood and water with safety.

"There is a village about six miles along the coast from here, and no
doubt it was the people from there who boarded me the other night, for
I saw a lot of canoes on a little beach there. I think it must be the
largest village for many miles hereabout. Now, do you see all those
columns of smoke? Some, you will notice, are very thin and bluish, while
others are almost black; the thin ones are only from native ovens, the
others are signals to the various smaller villages to the eastward--by
this time every nigger within fifty miles of us knows that your ship is
at anchor. I hope you left plenty of men on board?" "Plenty, and ours is
a well-armed crew." Just as he was stepping into the captain's boat, I
asked him what was the matter with his hand. He replied carelessly that
he had "managed to get a bit of a knock," and would be glad if I would
look at it when we returned to the cutter, as it was rather painful at
times.

The boats were soon under way for the shore, and in a quarter of an hour
we entered a narrow but deep creek, not wide enough to permit us using
our oars; but this was of no consequence, for each boat carried half
a dozen canoe paddles. Within a hundred yards up from the entrance we
found the water to be quite fresh, and while some of the men started to
fill the casks, the rest, except the sentries, made for a clump of
about a dozen coconut-trees growing close beside a magnificent grove of
areca-palms. Every nut that was young enough to drink was quickly thrown
down, and carried to the boats. Then we set to work to collect firewood,
and two or three dry, solid logs were dragged down into the creek,
lashed together, and then, with them and the filled water casks in tow,
we returned merrily to the _Franceses_ hoisted up our water casks, swept
up all the glass, shovelled it into a hogshead standing on the
deck, hoisted her mainsail, and hove up her anchor, glad of having
accomplished our task so easily and so quickl