so near the land as not to be cut off from it, she would be of particular service; since no enemy could approach in that quarter, without being seen; and Bigelow’s familiarity with the channels would enable him, not only to save his schooner by running in, but would put it in his power to give notice throughout the whole group, of the position and apparent intentions of the strangers.  The Abraham, accordingly, hauled by the wind, to beat back to her station, while the Anne kept off for the Needle.

At the rendezvous, the governor found most of his craft waiting for him.  The Neshamony was still behind; but all the rest had executed their orders, and were standing off and on, near the cape, ready to report.  Nothing had been seen of the strangers!  It was certain they had not approached the group, for two of the boats had just come out of it, having left the colonists busy with the preparations for defence, but totally undisturbed in other respects.  This information gave the governor increased uneasiness.  His hope of hearing from the pirates, in time to be ready to meet them, now depended on his reports from to leeward.  The Neshamony ought soon to be in; nor could it be long before the Martha would return.  The great source of apprehension now came from a suspicion that some of the Kannakas might be acting as pirates, along with Waally.  For Waally himself no great distrust was felt, since he had never been allowed to see much of the channels of the group; but it was very different with the sea-going Kannakas, who had been employed by the colonists.  Some of these men were familiar with all the windings and turnings of the channels, knew how much water could be taken through a passage, and, though not absolutely safe pilots, perhaps, were men who might enable skilful seamen to handle their vessels with tolerable security within the islands.  Should it turn out that one or two of these fellows had undertaken to carry the strangers up to windward, and to take them into one of the passages in that quarter of the group, they might be down upon the different fortified points before they were expected, and sweep all before them.  It is true, this danger had been in a measure foreseen, and persons had been sent to look out for it; but it never had appeared so formidable to the governor, as now that he found himself completely at fault where to look for his enemy.  At length, a prospect of fresh reports appeared.  The Neshamony was seen in the southern board, standing across from the Peak; and about the same time, the Martha was made out in the south-western, beating up from Rancocus Island direct.  As the first had been ordered to land, and had also been round by the volcano, the Anne hauled up for her, the governor being impatient to get her tidings first.  In half an hour, the two vessels were alongside of each other.  But the Neshamony had very little that was new to tell!  The pirates had remained on the island but a short time after Bigelow and his companions got away, doing all the