acious, informed me that this plan was
necessary in securing complete isolation from his people; and he
instructed me to tell my people that any member of our colony found
beyond the lines would be punished with death. In addition to this, the
king, seemingly hurt that we should have questioned the propriety of
his actions, said that thenceforward he himself would make the
selections of our people for deportation. The man's evident superiority
of character impressed me with no little effect, and the sincerity with
which he regarded us as belonging to a race inferior to his in mental
and moral strength confounded me and placed me at a disadvantage.

When I took the news to the colony, a mood bordering upon hopelessness
came upon our people. The ones of hastier temper suggested a revolt and
a seizure of the island; but this was so insane an idea that it was put
away at once.

Not long afterwards the king sent for Absalom Maywood, one of our young
men, unmarried, but with a mother among us. Maywood, at first very low
with scurvy on the brig, had drifted into other ailments, and was now
an invalid and much wasted. I will not dwell upon the pathetic parting
between him and his aged mother, nor upon the deeper gloom that fell
upon the colony. What was becoming of these men? None might know
whither they were taken and none could guess their after-fate. Behind
our efforts to be cheerful and industrious there were heavy hearts, and
possibly thoughts and fears that dared not seek expression.

The third man was taken--again a sickly one--this time a consumptive
farmer, named Jackson; and some time afterward a fourth, an elderly
woman, with a cancer; she was Mrs. Lyons, formerly a milliner in South
Boston. Then the patience and hope which had sustained us gave way, and
we were in a condition close upon despair. The cooler ones among the
men assembled quietly apart and debated what to do. Our captain, a man
quiet and brave, still the leader in our councils, and always advising
patience and obedience, presided at this meeting. There was one
dreadful thought upon every mind, but no man had the courage to bring
it forth; but after there had been some discussion without any profit,
Captain Campbell made this speech:

"My friends, it does not become us longer to seek to conceal the
thought which all of us have, and which, sooner or later, must be
spoken. It is a matter of common knowledge that upon many of the
islands of these seas t