50 THE CRATER; carronades and a long six, the governor felt as if he might interfere with the political 1 relations of the adjoining states with every prospect of being heard. Waally was, pro bably, of the same opinion, for he made a great effort to extend the treaty so far as to overturn Ooroony altogether, and thus secure to their two selves the control of all that region. Woolston inquired of Waally, in what he should be benefited by such a policy? when the wily savage told him, with the gravest face imaginable, that he, Mark, might retain, in addition to his territories at the Reef, Rancocus Island ! The governor thanked his fellow po tentate for this hint, and now took occasion to assure him that, in future, each and all of Waally s canoes must keep away from Rancocus Island altogether; that island be longed to him, and if any more expeditions visited it, the call should be returned at Waally s habitations. This an swer brought on an angry discussion, in which Waally, once or twice, forgot himself a little; and when he took his leave, it was not in the best humour possible. Mark now deliberated on the state of things around him. Jones knew Ooroony well, having been living in his terri tories until they were overrun by his powerful enemy, and the governor sent him to find that chief, using a- captured canoe, of which they had kept two or three alongside of the schooner for the purpose. Jones, who was a sworn friend of the unfortunate chief, went as negotiator. Care was taken to land at the right place, under cover of the Abraham s guns, and in six hours Mark had the real grati fication of taking Ooroony, good, honest, upright Ooroony, by the hand, on the quarter-deck of his own vessel. Much as the chief had suffered and lost, within the last two years, a gleam of returning happiness shone on him when he placed his foot on the deck of the schooner. His re ception by the governor was honourable and even touch ing. Mark thanked him for his kindness to his wife, to his sister, to Heaton, and to his friend Bob. In point of fact, without this kindness, he, Woolston, might then have been a solitary hermit, without the means of getting ac cess to any of his fellow-creatures, and doomed to remain in that condition all his days. The obligation was now frankly admitted, and Ooroony shed tears of joy when he
