not likely to take us by surprise,
captain; and as with the crew and passengers we can muster a pretty
strong force, we ought to be able to beat off any open attack."

"Yes, I think we could do that," the captain agreed. "If I did not think
so I would not put in, but would take the chance of our making our way,
crippled as we are, to New Zealand. The thing we shall have to guard
against is a sudden and treacherous onslaught; the crews of many ships
have been massacred owing to carelessness and over-confidence. However,
we will not be caught napping, and I therefore hope to get off
unscathed."

As they neared the land the passengers were delighted with the aspect of
the shore. Groves of trees came down to the very edge of the water; in
the interior the land was high, but was covered to the summit of the
hills with foliage. As they approached, and the captain gave orders to
prepare for anchoring, they could see a number of natives gathered on
the narrow strip of sands close to the water. They were waving boughs of
trees in token of friendship, and were, as far as could be seen by the
aid of a telescope, unarmed.

"They look friendly, mother," Marion said after watching them through
the glass. "Won't it be nice to land and take a walk among those
feathery-looking trees. There will be no fear of fogs or cold here, the
temperature is quite perfect."

"You will not land, I can assure you, young lady," the captain, who was
passing by and overheard her, said. "Those fellows look friendly enough,
I agree, but there are no more treacherous rascals among the islanders
of the Pacific. I shall give them as wide a berth as I can, and get them
if possible to cut a spar and tow it out to us, instead of sending a
party on shore to fetch it. No one will leave this ship with my
permission, unless it be a boat's party armed to the teeth to fetch
water. These fellows are as treacherous as the natives of Tierra del
Fuego, and vastly more warlike and dangerous."

"Are they cannibals, captain?" Mrs. Renshaw asked.

"That I cannot tell you for certain, Mrs. Renshaw. They are thieves and
murderers, but whether they eat human flesh is more than I can tell. It
does not concern me greatly whether if they kill me they eat me
afterwards or not; but I do not mean to give them the chance of killing
me or any of us, I can assure you."

"After the character you have given me of them I have no longer the
slightest inclination to land, captain."