104 THE CRATER; This scheme was connected with his contemplated success, and formed no small part of the policy of the day. The appearance of so formidable a force as was now brought against Waally, reduced that turbulent chief to terms without a battle. About twenty of his canoes had got separated from the rest of the fleet in a squall, while returning from the unsuccessful attempt on the Reef, and they were never heard of more ; or, if heard of, it was in uncertain rumours, which gave an account of the arrival of three or four canoes at some islands a long way to-lee ward, with a handful of half-starved warriors on board. It is supposed that all the rest perished at sea. This disaster had rendered Waally unpopular among the friends of those who were lost ; and that unpopularity was heightened by the want of success in the expedition itself. Success is all in all, with the common mind ; and we daily see the vulgar shouting at the heels of those whom they are ready to cru cify at the first turn of fortune. In this good land of ours, popularity adds to its more worthless properties the sub stantial result of power ; and it is not surprising that so many forget their God in the endeavour to court the peo- pie. In time, however, all of these persons of mistaken ambition come to exclaim, with Shakspeare s Wolsey Had I but served ray God with half the zeal I served my kin!?, he would not in mine age Have left me naked to mine enemies." Waally s power, already tottering through the influence of evil fortune, crumbled entirely before the force Gover nor Woolston now brought against it. Although the latter had but forty whites with him, they came in ships, and provided with cannon; and not a chief dreamed of stand- ing by the offender, in this his hour of need. 9 Waally had the tact to comprehend his situation, and the wisdom to submit to his fortune. He sent a messenger to the gover nor with a palm-branch, offering to restore young Oon,ony to all his father s authority, and to confine himself to his strictly inherited dominions. Such, in fact, was the basis of the treaty that was now made, though hostages were taken for its fulfilment. To each condition Waally con-
