ington."

"I think it will be a little light, sir," Mr. Ryan said, "by the time we
have got it perfectly smooth and even. Still, I have seen lighter spars
in a ship of this size, and I certainly think we are most fortunate in
getting such a stick. When do you think you will get it ready, Watson?"

"I should say we shall have it nearly ready for getting into its place
by to-morrow night, Mr. Ryan," the carpenter replied, "though we may not
quite finish it until next day; for, you see, when it comes to getting
it smoothed, I and my mate must do it by ourselves."

"I should not be particular about smoothing it," the captain said, "but
of course you must make it so that it will take the spare irons we have
got for the topmast. We shall have plenty of time to put the finishing
touches to it when we get to Wellington. I begin to think these natives
are not so black as they are painted, Mr. Ryan."

"Perhaps not, sir; but maybe if they had not seen that we were so ready
for them there would be a different tale to tell."

"That is so," the captain agreed. "There is no doubt that the best way
of dealing with natives is never to give them a chance."

The carpenter's gang continued steadily at their work, while the first
officer got up the sheer-legs and hoisted the stump of the mainmast from
its place. The butt of the new mainmast was cut to match this, and on
the second day after it arrived alongside it was hoisted into its
position. The whole of the stays and rigging of the mainmast had been
cut away as soon as it went overboard; but there was plenty of spare
rope on board, and before evening the new mast was firmly stayed in its
place, and all was in readiness for hoisting the spar that was to serve
as topmast.

The natives had watched the proceedings with great interest. Quite a
crowd of canoes gathered round the ship, and were greatly surprised at
seeing the heavy spar raised by the sheers and dropped into its place;
and they replied to the hearty cheers that rose from the crew and
passengers when this was accomplished by wild yells and cries and the
sounding of their horns.

"I begin to think," the captain said to Mr. Atherton, "that the natives
have got a worse name than they deserve. I do not mean, of course, that
they have not perpetrated several atrocious massacres, but I expect
these must have been the result of extreme carelessness on the part of
those on ships, or perhaps of rough treatment, for some captains