Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/402

 162 THE CRATER; showing a great many men aloft, to shorten sail as they drew nearer to the island. One thing gave the governor great satisfaction. The strangers headed well up, as if disposed to pass to wind ward of the cliffs, from which he inferred that none on board them knew anything of the existence or position of the cove. So much care had been taken, indeed, to con ceal this spot from even the Kannakas, that n great appre hension existed of its beihg known to any beyond the cir cle of the regular colonists. As the ship drew still nearer, and came more under the cliffs, the governor was enabled to get a better view of her construction, and of the nature of her armament. That she was frigate-built was now certain, and the strength of her crew became still more evident, as the men were employed in shortening and making sail almost immediately under his eye. Great care was taken that no one should be visible on the Peak. Of the whole island, that was the only spot where there was much danger of a man s being seen from the ocean; for the fringe of wood had been religiously preserved all around the cliffs. But, with the exception of the single tree already mentioned, the Peak was entirely naked ; and, in that clear atmosphere, the form of a maa might readily be distinguished even at a much greater elevation. But the glasses were levelled at the strangers from covers long before prepared for that purpose, and no fear was entertained of the look-outs, who had their in structions, and well understood the importance of caution. At length, the vessels got so near, as to allow of the glasses being pointed directly down upon the upper deck of the ship, in particular. The strangers had a little diffi culty in weathering the northern extremity of the island, and they came much closer to the cliffs than they other wise would, in order to do so. While endeavouring to ascertain the country of the ship, by examining her people, the governor fancied he saw some natives on board her. At first, he supposed there might be Kannakas, or Mow- rees, among the crew; but, a better look assured him that the Indians present were not acting in the character of Bailors at all. They appeared to be chiefs, and chiefs in their war-dresses. This fact induced a still closer exami-