lly observed its bearings and locality from
the ship, so that when ashore we should run no chance of missing it.

In all this the leading object we had in view was to seclude ourselves
from sight until the departure of the vessel; then to take our chance as
to the reception the Nukuheva natives might give us; and after remaining
upon the island as long as we found our stay agreeable, to leave it the
first favourable opportunity that offered.

CHAPTER V

A specimen of nautical oratory--Criticisms of the sailors--The
starboard watch are given a holiday--The escape to the mountains.

Early the next morning the starboard watch were mustered upon the
quarter-deck, and our worthy captain, standing in the cabin gangway,
harangued us as follows:--

"Now, men, as we are just off a six month's cruise, and have got through
most all our work in port here, I suppose you want to go ashore. Well, I
mean to give your watch liberty to-day, so you may get ready as soon as
you please, and go; but understand this, I am going to give you liberty
because I suppose you would growl like so many old quarter gunners if I
didn't; at the same time, if you'll take my advice, every mother's son of
you will stay aboard, and keep out of the way of the bloody cannibals
altogether. Ten to one, men, if you go ashore, you will get into some
infernal row, and that will be the end of you; for if these tattooed
scoundrels get you a little ways back into their valleys, they'll nab
you--that you may be certain of. Plenty of white men have gone ashore here
and never been seen any more. There was the old _Dido_, she put in here
about two years ago, and sent one watch off on liberty; they never were
heard of again for a week--the natives swore they didn't know where they
were--and only three of them ever got back to the ship again, and one with
his face damaged for life, for the cursed heathens tattooed a broad patch
clean across his figure head. But it will be no use talking to you, for go
you will, that I see plainly; so all I have to say is, that you need not
blame me if the islanders make a meal of you. You may stand some chance of
escaping them though, if you keep close about the French encampment, and
are back to the ship again before sunset. Keep that much in your mind, if
you forget all the rest I've been saying to you. There, go forward: bear a
hand and rig yourselves, and stand by for a call. At