rlton, however, was not to be
defeated. Pulling off to a little distance from the shore, he consulted
with Tatai. "If we land without arms and offer them food, that will
show that we wish to be friends," he said. Tatai agreed to this, and
offered to accompany the lieutenant, provided the boat kept near enough
to render them assistance if required.

Again the boat pulled in, and Mr Charlton told Ben that he might land
with him, as the savages would see by a boy being of the party that no
treachery could be intended. Again the boat touched the beach, at a
spot where she could easily be shoved off, and, having deposited his
sword and pistols and rifle in the boat, Mr Charlton with his two
companions proceeded towards a group of natives who had been watching
their proceedings. The natives, instead of coming towards them, seemed
to be holding a consultation together. Mr Charlton and his companions,
seeing this, sat down, and, taking the provisions out of the basket Ben
carried, commenced eating. After a short time, placing the food on a
flat rock, and retiring to a little distance, they made signs to the
natives to come and eat.

The natives now without hesitation came down, led by their old chief,
who took the lion's share of the food, which he seemed to enjoy very
much. When the old man had finished eating, Tatai addressed him. He no
longer said, "go away," but listened attentively. The interpreter told
him that the English had come to his island as friends; that their only
object was to do him good; that they had heard that certain wicked
people in vessels had visited some of the islands in their seas, and
carried off the natives to make slaves of them; and that, as the English
did not like having people made slaves, they were seeking for those bad
men to punish them.

The old chief listened attentively to all that was said, and then made a
long speech, which Tatai translated. He remarked that everything he had
heard was very good; that two suspicious-looking vessels had appeared
off the coast not long before; that several boat-loads of armed men had
attempted to land; but that, a gale springing up at that moment, they
could not effect their purpose, and that the vessels were compelled to
bear away.

Mr Charlton, on this, showed the British flag, and told them that,
while they behaved well, under that flag they would ever find
protection.

The old chief seemed clearly to comprehend what was said. A new l