agreed to accompanying me, saying that he should
be content with any wages I could afford to give him. Though a
first-rate seaman, he cannot be much of a navigator, so that had you,
Ned, not come out I should have been obliged to get another mate; and
now that you have come, we will forthwith commence our preparations."

"The first thing to be done is to find a suitable craft," I said.

"I have had my eye on one--a schooner, the _Dainty_, of a hundred and
twenty tons, built for a fruit-trader, which was brought out here from
England by a settler only a month ago," he answered.

"Then let us go at once and have a look at her, and, if she is in good
condition, secure her," I exclaimed; for, after the account Harry had
given me, I had become very eager to undertake the expedition.

We started forthwith. The _Dainty_ was even more suited for our object
than we had expected. She had well fitted up cabins, like those of a
yacht, with a hold large enough for all the cargo and stores we might
wish to stow--was well-found and in capital condition; so Harry at once
made an offer for her, which being accepted, the _Dainty_ became his.

In the evening Harry said what he had done.

"You do not intend to leave me behind, I hope," exclaimed Mary.

"Or me either," cried Miss Fanny Amiel. "What should we poor girls do
all alone by ourselves in this little bakehouse?"

"You must let me go as cabin-boy," said Nat. "I'll make myself
tremendously useful."

"I'll talk it over with Mary," answered Harry, who looked not at all ill
pleased at the thoughts of having his wife to accompany him of her own
free will. The result of the talk was that the next morning it was
settled that we were all to go, the house and business being left in
charge of a trustworthy old clerk, Mr Simon Humby, who had accompanied
Harry when he came out the first time from England. We were very busy
for the next few days in making preparations for the voyage--the ladies
in the house assisted by Nat, and Harry, and I in refitting the
schooner--purchasing provisions, stores, and articles for bartering with
the natives. We procured also four small brass guns, with some muskets,
pistols, boarding-pikes, and cutlasses.

"We shall not, I hope, have to use them," said Harry. "But, now
especially that we are to have ladies on board, we must be well prepared
for defence should we be attacked."

It was easy enough to prepare the vessel for sea, but Harry expec