Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/292

 52 THE CRATER; islands was owing altogether to the activity and audacity of a few wicked men, rather than to the inclination of the mass. The people greatly preferred the mild sway of their lawful chief, to the violence and exactions of the turbulent warrior who had worked his way into the ascendant ; and, if a portion of the population had, unwittingly, aided the latter in his designs, under the momentary impulses of a love of change, they now fully repented of their mistake, and would gladly see the old condition of things restored. There was one island, in particular, which might be con sidered as the seat of power in the entire group. Ooroony had been born on it, and it had long been the residence of his family; but Waally succeeded in driving him off of it, and of intimidating its people, who, in secret, pined for the return of their ancient rulers. If this island could be again put in his possession, it would, itself, give the good chief such an accession of power, as would place him, at once, on a level with his competitor, and bring the war back to a struggle on equal terms. Could this be done with the assistance of the schooner, the moral effect of such an alliance would, in all probability, secure Ooroony s ascendency as long as such an alliance lasted. It would not have been easy to give a clearer illustration of the truth that &quot; knowledge is power,&quot; than the case now before us affords. Here was a small vessel, of less than a hundred tons in measurement, with a crew of twelve men, and armed with three guns, that was not only deemed to be sufficient, but which was in fact amply sufficient to change a dynasty among a people who counted their hosts in thousands. The expedients of civilized life gave the governor this ascendency, and he determined to use it justly, and in moderation. It was his wish to avoid blood shed ; and after learning all the facts he could, he set about his task coolly and with prudence. The first thing done, was to carry the schooner in, with in reach of shot of Waally s principal fortress, where his ruling chiefs resided, and which in fact was the hold where about a hundred of his followers dwelt ; fellows that kept the whole island in fear, and who rendered it subservient to Waally s wishes. This fortress, fort, or whatever it should be called, was then summoned, its chief being com-