s crew is strengthened by our arrival,
perhaps they'll abandon their designs."

He told me that he had been arranging with a chief for leave to cut down
a tree from which to make a mainmast. "It will take some time," he
continued, "but it must be done, and as the natives cannot cut down the
tree, we must manage to do it ourselves. It did occur to me that, while
we were thus engaged, they might think it a favourable opportunity to
attack us, unless we are on our guard."

"From what Hogan told Sam, we were much afraid that they might attempt
to cut you off even before our arrival," I observed. "The old sailor
had, by some means or other, gained intelligence of their designs,
although he acknowledged that he was very uncertain whether he should be
able to put you on your guard in time to save you."

"One thing is positive, that we cannot leave this harbour till we have
obtained a mast. And we must have it, therefore, at all risks," said
Harry.

"I advise that we should get hold of a chief, or some other person of
influence, and keep him as a hostage on board, while our people are
working on shore," said Charlie Tilston. "The wildest savages know what
that means, and will not venture to attack us while we have a chief in
our power."

"A capital idea!" said Harry; "but the question is, how are we to bell
the cat, or rather, get hold of a chief?"

"I will go on shore with Sam Pest, and try to induce one of them to come
off," said Charlie. "It would be useless to take either the New
Zealander or the Sandwich Island man, as neither of them speak a word of
the language of these people, but Sam can make himself understood."

Harry thought that there was much risk in the undertaking, but Sam, when
told of the plan, was ready enough to go, and I begged that I might
accompany Charlie, as I did not like the idea of his going alone. We
were all to be well armed, and to be on the watch to prevent any savage
from getting behind us--this, should they have any treacherous
intentions, they were sure to attempt doing. Charlie proposed carrying
a few articles to present to the chief, with the promise of others, in
exchange for provisions and such things as we should require, if he
would come to receive them. This was considered more politic than
carrying on the trading first, and promising the presents afterwards, as
the chief might doubt whether they would be delivered. From what we
gleaned from Sam, they had more than onc