was effected, Waally engaged to send a messenger for the seamen, and to remain himself on board the Abraham until the exchange was completed.  The chief wished to attach terms, by which the colonists were to aid him in more effectually putting down Ooroony, who was checked rather than conquered, but Mark refused to listen to any such proposition.  He was more disposed to aid, than to overcome the kind hearted Ooroony, and made up his mind to have an interview with him before he returned from the intended voyage.

Some delay would have occurred, to enable Mark to let Bridget know of his intended absence, had it not been for the solicitude of Betts.  Finding the sails of the schooner had gone out of sight to leeward, Bob manned the Neshamony, and followed as a support.  In the event of a wreck, for instance, his presence might have been of the last importance.  He got alongside of the Abraham just as the treaty was concluded, and was in time to carry back the news to the crater, where he might expect still to arrive that evening.  With this arrangement, therefore, the parties separated, Batts beating back, through the channels of the Reef and the governor leading off to the northward and westward, under short canvas; all of Waally’s canoes, catamarans, &c. following about a mile astern of him.

Chapter XIX.

    “Nay, shrink not from the word ‘farewell!’
    As if ’twere friendship’s final knell;
    Such fears may prove but vain: 
    So changeful is life’s fleeting day,
    Whene’er we sever—­hope may say,
    We part—­to meet again.”

    Bernard Barton.

The Abraham went under short canvas, and she was just three days, running dead before the wind, ere she came in sight of Waally’s islands.  Heaving-to to windward of the group, the canoes all passed into their respective harbours, leaving the schooner in the offing, with the hostages on board, waiting for the fulfilment of the treaty.  The next day, Waally himself re-appeared, bringing with him Dickinson, Harris, Johnson, Edwards and Bright, the five seamen of the Rancocus that had so long been captives in his hands.  It went hard with that savage chief to relinquish these men, but he loved his son even more than he loved power.  As for the men themselves, language cannot portray their delight.  They were not only rejoiced to be released, but their satisfaction was heightened on finding into whose hands they had fallen.  These men had all kept themselves free from wives, and returned to their colour, that word being now more appropriate than colours, or ensign, unshackled by any embarrassing engagements.  They at once made the Abraham a power in that part of the world.  With twelve able seamen, all strong, athletic and healthy men, to handle his craft, and with his two carronades and a long six, the governor felt as if he might interfere with the political relations of the adjoining states