Although the governor was much in earnest, he was riot half as bloodthirsty as his fleeing enemies imagined.  Every dictate of prudence told him not to close with the canoes until he had plenty of sea-room.  The course they were steering would take them all out of the group, into the open water, in the course of three or four hours, and he determined to follow at a convenient distance, just hastening the flight by occasional hints from his guns.  In this manner, the people of the Abraham had much the easiest time of it, for they did little besides sail, while the savages had to use all their paddles to keep out of the schooner’s way; they sailed, also, but their speed under their cocoa-nut canvas was not sufficient to keep clear of the Friend Abraham White, which proved to be a very fast vessel, as well as one easily handled.

At length, Waally found his fleet in the open ocean, where he trusted the chase would end.  But he had greatly mistaken the course of events, in applying that ‘flattering unction.’  It was now that the governor commenced the chase in good earnest, actually running down three of the canoes, and making prisoners of one of the crews.  In this canoe was a young warrior, whom Bill Brown and Wattles at once recognised as a favourite son of the chief.  Here was a most important conquest, and, Mark turned it to account.  He selected a proper agent from among the captives, and sent him with a palm-branch to Waally himself, with proposals for an exchange.  There was no difficulty in communicating, since Brown and Wattles both spoke the language of the natives with great fluency.  Three years of captivity had, at least, taught them that much.

A good deal of time was wasted before Waally could be brought to confide in the honour of his enemies.  At last, love for his offspring brought him, unarmed, alongside of the schooner, and the governor met this formidable chief, face to face.  He found the latter a wily and intelligent savage.  Nevertheless, he had not the art to conceal his strong affection for his son, and on that passion did Mark Woolston play.  Waally offered canoes, robes of feathers, whales’ teeth, and every thing that was most esteemed among his own people, as a ransom for the boy.  But this was not the exchange the governor desired to make.  He offered to restore the son to the arms of his father as soon as the five seamen who were still prisoners on his citadel island should be brought alongside of the schooner.  If these terms were rejected, the lad must take the fate of war.

Great was the struggle in the bosom of Waally, between natural affection, and the desire to retain his captives.  After two hours of subterfuges, artifices, and tricks, the former prevailed, and a treaty was made.  Agreeably to its conditions, the schooner was to pilot the fleet of canoes to Betto’s group, which could easily be done, as Mark knew not only its bearings, but its latitude and longitude.  As soon as this