Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/462

222 THE CRATER; Friend Martha Belts being much in the practice of regu lating her conduct by that of Friend Bridget Woolston. Betts sold his brig, and consented to go in the Rancocus as a passenger, having no scruples, now he had become comparatively wealthy, about eating with his old shipmate, and otherwise associating with him, though it was always as a sort of humble companion. The Heatons determined to remain in America, for a time at least. Mr. Heaton felt the ingratitude of the co lonists even more keenly than his brother-in-law ; for he knew how much had been done for them, and how com pletely they had forgotten it all. Anne regretted the Peak, and its delicious climate; but her heart was mainly concentred in her family, and she could not be otherwise than happy, while permitted to dwell with her husband and children. When the Rancocus sailed, therefore, she had no one on board her but Mark Woolston and Belts, with the ex ception of her proper crew. Her cargo was of no great intrinsic value, though it consisted in articles much used, and consequently in great demand, in the colony. As the vessel had lain some months at Philadelphia, where she had been thoroughly repaired and new-coppered, she sailed well, and made an excellent run to Rio, nor was her passage bad as far as the straits of La Mai re. Here she encountered westerly gales, and the Cape may be said to have been doubled in a tempest. After beating about for six weeks in that stormy ocean, the ship finally got into the Pacific, and went into Valparaiso. Here Mark Woolston received very favourable offers for most of his cargo, but, still feeling desirous to serve his colony, he refused them all, setting sail for the islands as soon as he had made a few repairs, and had a little refreshed his crew. The passages between Valparaiso and the Crater had usually consumed about five weeks, though somewhat de pendent on the state of the trades. On this occasion the run was rather long, it having been attempted to find a new course. Formerly, the vessels had fallen in with the Crater, between Betto s group and the Reef, which was bringing them somewhat to leeward, and Mr. Woolston