Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/368

 128 THE CRATER; that each colonist should have one share, or &quot; lay,&quot; as it was termed, in the expected cargo; which share, or &quot;lay,&quot; was to be paid for in provisions. Those actually engaged in the business had as many &quot; lays&quot; as it was thought they could earn ; the colony in its collected capacity had a cer tain number more, in return for articles received from the public stores; and the governor, as owner of the vessels employed, received one-fifth of the whole cargo, or cargoes. This last was a very small return for the amount of capital employed ; and it was so understood by those who reaped the advantages of the owner s liberality. The Rancocus was not fitted out as a whaler, but was reserved as a ware-house to receive the oil, to store it until a cargo was collected, and then was to be used as a means to convey it to America. For this purpose she was stripped, had her rigging thoroughly overhauled, was cleaned out and smoked for rats, and otherwise was prepared for ser vice. While in this state, she lay alongside of the natural quay, near and opposite to some extensive sheds which had been erected, as a protection against the heats of the cli mate. The Henlopen, a compact clump of a brig, that was roomy on deck, and had stout masts and good rigging, was fitted out for the whaler ; though the Anne was sent to cruise in company. Five whale-boats, with the necessary crews, were employed ; two remaining with the Anne, and three in the brig. The Karmakas were found to be inde fatigable at the oar, and a good number of them were used on this occasion. About twenty of the largest boys be longing to the colony were also sent out, in order to accus tom them to the sea. These boys were between the ages of eight and sixteen, and were made useful in a variety of ways. Great was the interest awakened in the colony when the Henlopen and the Anne sailed on this adventure. Many of the women, the wives, daughters, sisters, or sweethearts of the whalers, would gladly have gone along; and so in tense did the feeling become, that the governor determined to make a festival of the occasion, and to offer to take out himself, in the Mermaid, as many of both sexes as mi^ht choose to make a trip of a few days at sea, and be wit-