Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/249

 OR, VULCAN S PEAK. 9 about to take a fresh start from their resting-place, the Peak being visible from the volcano. Mark Questioned these two friends concerning the con templated movement of Waally, with great minuteness, Unsus was intelligent for a savage, and appeared to under stand himself perfectly. He was of opinion that his coun trymen would endeavour to cross, the first calm day, or the first day when the breeze should be light; and that was just the time when our colonists did not desire to meet the savages out at sea. He described the party as formidable by numbers and resolution, though possessing few arms besides those of savages. There were half a dozen old muskets in the canoes, with a small supply of ammunition; but, since the desertion of Jones and Peters, no one re mained who knew how to turn these weapons to much account. Nevertheless, the natives were so numerous, possessed so many weapons that were formidable in their own modes of fighting, and were so bent on success, that Unus did not hesitate to give it as his opinion, the colo nists would act wisely in standing off for some other isl and, if they knew where another lay, even at the cost of abandoning most of their effects. But, our governor had no idea of following any^such advice. He was fully aware of the strength of his position on the Peak, and felt no disposition to abandon it. His great apprehension was for the Reef, where his territories were much more assailable. It was not easy to see how the crater, and ship, and the schooner on the stocks, and all the other property that, in the shape of hogs, poultry, &,c., was scattered far and wide in that group, could be protected against a hundred canoes, by any force at his command. Even with the addition of Unus, who took service at once, with all his heart, among his new friends, Mark could muster but eight men; viz., himself, Heaton, Betts, Bigelow, Socrates, Peters, Jones arid Unus. To these might possibly be added two or three of the women, who might be serviceable in carrying ammunition, and as sentinels, while the remainder would be required to look after the children, to care for the stock, &c. All these facts passed through Mark s mind, as Peters translated tha communication of Unus, sentence by sentence.