Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/257

OR, VULCAN S PEAK. 17 and the stoutest heart among them must have entertained some such sensations as were impressed on the spirits of Columbus and his companions, when they drew near to the shores of Guanahani. In the mean time, Juno came confidingly on, shaping her course rather more to windward than usual even, on account of the lightness of the breeze. This effectually prevented tier seeing or being seen from the canoes ; the parties diagonally drawing nearer, in utter ignorance of each oher s existence. As for Urius, he manoeuvred quite skilfully. After getting a couple of miles off the land, he swam directly to windward ; and it was well he did, the course of the boat barely permitting his getting well on her weather-bow, when it was time to think of boarding. Unus displayed great judgment in this critical part of the affair. So accurately did he measure distances, that he got alongside of the Dido, with his hand on her weather gunwale, without Juno s having the least idea that he was anywhere near her. At one effort he was in the boat; and while the girl was still uttering her scream of alarm, he stood holding out the note, pronouncing the word " Missus" as well as he could. The girl had acquired too much knowledge of the habits of the South Sea islanders, while passing through and sojourning in the different groups she had visited, to be overwhelmed with the occurrence. What is more, she recognised the young Indian at a glance; some passages of gallantry having actually taken place be tween them during the two months Heaton and his party remained among Ooroony s people. To be frank with the reader, the first impression of Juno was, that the note thus tendered to her was a love-letter, though its contents in stantly undeceived her. The exclamation and changed manner of the girl told Unus that all was right; and he went quietly to work to take In the sail, as the most effectual method of concealing the presence of the boat from the thousand hostile and searching eyes in the canoes. The moment Mark saw the canvas come in, he cried out all is well, and descended swiftly from the Peak, to hasten to a point where he could give the necessary attentions to the movements of Waally and his fleet. 2*