Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/404

 1G4 THE CRATER; company with the squadron as it circled the island. From time to time, he sent messages to the governor, in order to let him know the movements of the strangers. While this was going on, the men were all called in from their seve ral occupations, and the prescribed arrangements were made for defence. As a circuit of the island required several hours, there was time for everything; and the whale-boat was fairly out of sight from even the Peak, when Heaton despatched a messenger to say that the squadron had reached the southern extremity of the island, and was standing off south-east, evidently steering towards the volcano. Doubts now began to be felt whether the colonists would see anything more of the strangers. It was natural that navigators should examine unknown islands, cursorily at least; but it did not follow that, if trade was their object, they should delay their voyage in order to push their inves tigations beyond a very moderate limit. Had it not been for the undoubted presence of savages in the ship, and the strong probability that Waally was one of them, the go vernor would now have had hopes that he had seen the last of his visitors. Nevertheless, there was the chance that these vessels would run down to Rancocus Island, where not only might a landing be easily effected, but where the mills, the brick-yards, and indeed the principal cluster of houses, were all plainly to be seen from the offing. No sooner was it certain, therefore, that the strangers had stood away to the southward and eastward, than another boat was sent across to let the millers, brickmakers, stone- quarriers, and lumbermen know that they might receive guests who would require much discretion in their recep tion. The great policy of secrecy was obviously in serious danger of being defeated. How the existence of the co lony was to be concealed, should the vessels remain any time in the group, it was not easy to see; and that advan tage the governor and Heaton, both of whom attached the highest importance to it, were now nearly ready to aban don in despair. Still, neither thought of yielding even this policy until the last moment, and circumstances ren dered it indispensable; for so much reflection had been .