Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/429

 OR, VULCAN S PEAK. 1S9 into the Western Passage, following the colonists who pre ceded them, keeping just out of gun-shot. The Western Passage was somewhat crooked, and dif ferent reaches were of very frequent occurrence. This sometimes aided a vessel in ascending, or going to wind ward, and sometimes offered obstacles. As there were many other passages, so many false channels, some of which were culs-dv-sacs, it was quite possible for one igno rant of the true direction to miss his way ; and this cir cumstance suggested to the governor an expedient which was highly approved of by his friend and counsellor, cap tain Betts, when it was laid before that plain, but expe rienced, seaman. There was one false passage, about a league within the group, which led off to the northward, and far from all- the settlements, that offered several in ducements to enter it. In the first place, it had more of, the appearance of a main channel, at its point of junction, than the main channel itself, and mighfeasily be mistaken for it ; then, it turned right into the wind s eye, after beat ing up it for a league; and at the end of a long reach that ran due-south-east, it narrowed so much as to render it questionable whether the Anne and Martha could pass be tween the rocks, into a wide bay beyond. This bay was the true cul-de-sac, having no other outlet or inlet than the narrow pass just mentioned ; though it was very large, was dotted with islands, and reached quite to the vicinity of Loam Island, or within a mile, or two, of the Reef. The main question was whether the schooner and the sloop could pass through the opening which communicated between the reach and the bay. If not, they must inevi tably fall into the hands of the pirates, should they enter the false channel, and be followed in. Then, even admit ting that the Anne and Martha got through the narrow passage, should the pirates follow them in their boats, there would be very little probability of their escaping; though they might elude their pursuers for a time among the islands. Captain Betts was of opinion that the two vessels could get through, and was strongly in favour of endeavouring to lead the enemy off the true course to the Reef, by entangling them in this cul-dc-sac. If nothing but delay was gained, delay would be something. It was L