Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/226

220 THE CRATER; just before the sun set, and to stand all night on a south east course. This invariably brought them in sight of the smoke of the volcano by morning, and shortly after they made the Peak. All of the day that succeeded, was com monly passed in beating up to the v> >lcano, or as near to it as it was thought prudent to go; and tacking to the north ward and eastward, about sunset of the second day, it was found on the following morning, that the Neshamony was drawing near to the cliffs of Vulcan s Peak, if she were not already beneath them. As a matter of course, then, Bob had not far to go, before night shut in, and left him at liberty to steer in whatever direction he pleased. For tunately, that night had no moon, though there was not much danger of so small a craft as the Neshamony being seen at any great distance on the water, even by moonlight. Bob consequently determined to beat up off the north end of the island, or Low Cape, as it was named by the colo nists, from the circumstance of its having a mile or two of low land around it, before the mountains commenced. Once off the cape again, and reasonably well in, he might possibly make discoveries th;it would be of use. It took two or three hours to regain the lost ground, by beating to windward. By eleven o clock, however, the Neshamony was not only off the cape, but quite close in with the landing. The climate rendering fires altogether unnecessary at that season, and indeed at nearly all sea sons, except for cooking, Bob could not trace the encamp ment of the savages, by that means. Still, he obtained all the information he desired. This was not done, how ever, without great risk, and by a most daring step on his part. He lowered the sails of the boat and went alongside of the rock, where the pinnace usually came to, the canoes, &c., having made another, and a less eligible harbour. Bob then landed in person, and stole along the shore in the direction of the sleeping savages. Unknown to himself, he was watched, and was just crouching under some bushes, in order to get a little nearer, when be felt a hand on his shoulder. There was a moment when blood was in danger of being shed, but Betts s hand was stayed by hearing, in good English, the words "Where are you bound, shipmate?"