The governor now sent another note down to Heaton, with a request that orders might be forwarded along the cliffs, for every one to keep out of sight; as well as directions that care should be taken not to let any smoke even be seen to rise from the plain.  This message was speedily followed by another, directing that all the men should be assembled, and the usual preparations made for defence.  He also asked if it were not possible to send a whale-boat out, by keeping immediately under the cliffs, and going well to windward, in such a manner as to get a communication across to the Reef, in order to put the people on their guard in that quarter.  One or two whale-boats were always in the cove, and there were several crews of capital oarsmen among the people of the Peak.  If such a boat could be prepared, it was to be held in readiness, as the governor himself might deem it expedient to cross the strait.

All this time the strange vessels were not idle, but drew nearer to the Peak, at a swift rate of sailing.  It was not usual for mere merchantmen to be as weatherly, or to make as much way through the water, as did all these craft.  On account of the great elevation at which the governor stood, they appeared small, but he was too much accustomed to his situation not to know how to make the necessary allowances.  After examining her well, when she was within a league of the cliffs, he came to the opinion that the ship was a vessel of about six hundred tons, and that she was both armed and strongly manned.  So far as he could judge, by the bird’s-eye view he got, he fancied she was even frigate-built, and had a regular gundeck.  In that age such craft were very common, sloops of war having that construction quite as often as that of the more modern deep-waisted vessel.  As for the brigs, they were much smaller than their consort, being of less than two hundred tons each, apparently, but also armed and strongly manned.  The armaments were now easily to be seen, as indeed were the crews, each and all the vessels showing a great many men aloft, to shorten sail as they drew nearer to the island.

One thing gave the governor great satisfaction.  The strangers headed well up, as if disposed to pass to windward of the cliffs, from which he inferred that none on board them knew anything of the existence or position of the cove.  So much care had been taken, indeed, to conceal this spot from, even the Kannakas, that no great apprehension existed of its being known to any beyond the circle of the regular colonists.  As the ship drew still nearer, and came more under the cliffs, the governor was enabled to get a better view of her construction, and of the nature of her armament.  That she was frigate-built was now certain, and the strength of her crew became still more evident, as the men were employed in shortening and making sail almost immediately under his eye.