Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/343

OR, VULCAN S PEAK. 103 nearer at hand, than on the Reef. As Rancocus Island supplied the most accessible and the best lumber, the council had determined to make a permanent establish ment on it, for the double purposes of occupation and building vessels. As the resources of that island were de veloped, it was found important on other accounts, also. Excellent clay for bricks was found, as was lime-stone, in endless quantities. For the purposes of agriculture, the place was nearly useless, there not being one thousand acres of good arable land in the whole island ; but the mountains were perfect mines of treasure in the way of necessary supplies of the sorts mentioned. A brick-yard was immediately cleared and formea, and a lime-kiln constructed. Among the colonists, it was easy to find men accustomed to work in all these familiar branches. The American can usually turn his hand to a dozen different pursuits ; and, though he may not abso lutely reach perfection in either, he is commonly found useful and reasonably expert in all. Before the governor sailed on his expedition against Waally, a brick-kiln and a lime-kiln were nearly built, and a vast quantity of lumber had been carried over to the Reef. As sandal-wood had been collecting for the twelve months of her late absence, the Rancocus had also been filled up, and had taken in a new cargo for Canton. It was not the intention of the governor to command his ship this voyage ; but he gave her to Saunders, who was every way competent to the trust. When all was ready, the Rancocus, the Mermaid, the Abraham, and the Anne, as the new pilot-boat schooner was called, sailed for Betto s group; it being a part of the governor s plan to use the ship, in passing, with a view to intimidate his enemies. In consequence of the revolution that had put Waally up again, every one of the Kannakas- who had gone out in the Rancocus on her last voyage, refused to go home, knowing that they would at once be impressed into Waally s service ; and they all now cheer fully shipped anew, for a second voyage to foreign lands. By this time, these men were very useful ; and the governor had a project for bringing up a number of the lads of the islands, and of making use of them in the public service.