r canoes at night, and make
no noise. They must land and hide in the bush, and stay there till my
father speaks."

Early on the following morning the captain again landed, and was pleased
to find Kaibuka's father, accompanied by some unarmed men and eight or
ten handsome young women, awaiting him on the beach. He had, he said,
brought but five turtle that day, but would fetch an equal number or
more on the morrow if they could be obtained. The captain was pleased.
Fresh food, he said, he was very anxious to obtain, as they had nothing
on board but salt beef and mouldy biscuit. He gave old Takai (Kaibuka's
father) some tobacco, and a knife, and said that the young women might
go on board and dance for the amusement of the sailors. This was exactly
what the old man desired, for he could, from them, obtain definite
information as to the condition of affairs on board the ship, for it was
very evident that the captain was determined not to be led into fancied
security by the friendly demeanour of the natives, but meant to keep
himself and crew well prepared to resist a surprise.

During this time the young Kaibuka and the interpreter--the white man
from Temana--had become quite friendly, and that evening, whilst the
young women were still on board, he came on shore alone, and calling
Kaibuka aside from the other natives, said he wanted to speak to him
privately. As soon as they were alone, he boldly avowed his intention of
capturing the ship, and murdering all the other white men if Kaibuka and
his people would assist him. The matter, he said, could be easily
done. He and some other white men--two of whom were now living at Makin
Island--had once stolen a ship when they were prisoners in Van Diemen's
Land, had killed five or six soldiers and some of the crew, and sailed
away with her to Fiji; and they had got much plunder from her.

"What is to be got from _this_ ship?" asked Kaibuka, who had heard this
particular story from some traders and knew it to be true.

"Casks and casks of rum, and kegs of powder and bullets, hundreds of
muskets, swords, knives, and axes and beads--all that man can want--for
this ship is going to a far-off cold country to barter these things for
furs."

Kaibuka then inquired what share of the plunder he and his people should
have if they captured the ship.

Half, replied the white man. Half of everything that was in the
ship's hold and in the cabin, except some small square boxes of silver
mo