"The plan does not seem to me a very good one," said Captain Fitzgerald
thoughtfully. "I can have no doubt that it has succeeded in time past,
and may probably succeed again, but you cannot expect that the natives,
even if disposed to be peaceful, will accept your message at once. It
may take weeks, perhaps months, before you get them to believe the
gospel, so as to permit of my men going ashore unarmed, and in the
meantime, while you are engaged in this effort, what am I to be doing?"

"Wait God's time," answered Waroonga simply. "But time presses. The
pirate vessel, where-ever it may be, is escaping me," said the captain,
unable to repress a smile. "However, I will at all events let you make
the trial and await the result; reminding you, however, that you will
run considerable risk, and that you must be prepared to accept the
consequences of your rather reckless proceedings."

"I hope, Waroonga," said Orlando, when the captain left them to give
orders as to the course of the ship, "that you will let me share this
risk with you?"

"It will be wiser not. You are a strong man, an' sometimes fierce to
behold. They will want to fight you; then up go your blood, an' you
will want to fight them."

"No, indeed, I won't," said Orlando earnestly.

"I will promise to go in the spirit of a missionary. You know how
anxious I am to get news of my dear father. How could you expect me to
remain idle on board this vessel, when my soul is so troubled? You may
depend on me, Waroonga. I will do exactly as you bid me, and will place
myself peaceably in the power of natives--leaving the result, as you
advise, to God."

The young man's tone was so earnest, and withal so humble, that Waroonga
could not help acceding to his request.

"Well, well," said Captain Fitzgerald, when he heard of it; "you seem
both to be bent on making martyrs of yourselves, but I will offer no
opposition. All I can say is that I shall have my guns in readiness,
and if I see anything like foul play, I'll bombard the place, and land
an armed force to do what I can for you."

Soon the frigate came in sight of Ongoloo's village, ran close in,
brought up in a sheltered bay, and lowered a boat while the natives
crowded the beach in vast numbers, uttering fierce cries, brandishing
clubs and spears, and making other warlike demonstrations--for these
poor people had been more than once visited by so-called merchant
ships--the crews of which had carrie