in and again, each time expressing by signs his
wonder, and of course utterly unable to comprehend how the objects he
saw through it were brought so near. I was very glad when we got him
safe alongside.

Stepping on deck, he gazed about him with almost as much astonishment as
he had exhibited when looking through the telescope. Harry stood ready
to receive him, and told Sam to say how happy he was to have him come on
board. We then showed him some of the articles which we had brought for
trading, and gave him to understand that a certain number of them should
be his, as soon as the mast was ready. Sam also was told to explain to
him that till then he must remain on board, and that, should his
countrymen offer any violence to our people, he would be the sufferer.
He seemed to understand this perfectly well. The difficulty, however,
was to let the natives know why we had carried him off, as we could not
allow him to return to tell them so. The only way of accomplishing our
object was to bring off one or two more natives, who might convey any
message he desired to send. After some persuasion, we induced him to go
down to a spare space in the hold, when some food likely to suit his
taste was placed before him, and the mate and Dick sat down to eat with
him.

As soon as they were thus engaged, Charlie and I shoved off, and pulled
for the shore. At first the natives, though they had been eager to
accompany their chief, seemed unwilling to embark; but at last we
persuaded two to trust themselves with us. On pulling back we amused
them as we had the chief, and as soon as they got on board we conducted
them down below. We placed some food before them, and when their meal
was over, we got Sam to try and explain to them that we intended to keep
their chief as a hostage, while our people were on shore cutting down
the tree; that he would be well treated, and ample payment made to him.
They seemed to understand this clearly, and after they had had a
conversation with the chief, we told them that we would convey them back
to the shore. They appeared to be in no way dissatisfied with the
arrangement, and willingly got into the boat, leaving their chief on
board.

"Please, sir, we must keep a sharp look-out on that chap," observed Sam,
"or maybe he'll jump overboard and swim ashore."

"He'll lose the goods we promised him if he does," said Harry.

"But he does not think so; for he knows the schooner cannot get away,
an