seem everywhere sunk in heathen darkness. When Bent sees
that some of our men are going on shore, he urges that they may be at
once recalled; but Captain Fuller says that the supercargo, Taro, and
Tony Hinks, will take care they do not get into mischief. The
half-naked chiefs, with their clubs in their hands, and many other
people are wandering about the deck, examining everything they see, and
now and then standing and talking, as if expressing their wonder. I
observe Bent moving quietly among them. Soon afterwards he comes up to
me.

"Mate," he says, in an ordinary tone, as if there was nothing the
matter, "These men are plotting to take the ship. The fellows on shore
will all be murdered, and so shall we unless we manage well. My advice
is to get the chiefs into the cabin on pretence of giving them a feast,
and then seize them and hold them as hostages. Directly that is done,
run the after-guns inboard and clear the decks. It will be better to
knock away the bulwarks than to be clubbed."

The captain seems unwilling to believe this.

"I have little to thank you for in saving my life if you do not now take
my advice," says Bent, earnestly. "You, and I, and all on board may be
numbered with the dead before many minutes are over. Look at those
men's arms, and at their heavy clubs. Whose head would stand a single
blow from one of them?"

I urge the point with the captain, for I am convinced that Bent is
right. He is still irresolute, when we see some more canoes coming off
from the shore. This decides him. Fortunately the men's dinner is
ready. The captain sends for it into the cabin, and the steward covers
the table with all other food he has at hand. We then fix upon four of
the leading chiefs whom Bent points out, and by signs invite them to
feast below. They look suspicious, and, we are afraid, will not come.
Bent stands by to hear what they say. He whispers to me that one of
them proposes coming, as it will throw us more off our guard. Again, by
signs, we press them to come below. When at length they comply, we
endeavour not to show too much satisfaction. We treat them with great
courtesy seemingly, keeping our eyes, however, constantly fixed on them.
We have the steward and two other men concealed with ropes ready to
spring out and secure them. The captain, Festing, and Bent, go below,
while I remain in charge of the deck, and Festing hands me up a brace of
pistols and a cutlass, through