But although the villagers were glad to see their friends again, some were full of sorrow. Many had gone away and only seventeen had been brought back. They gathered round Tamate and said:
“Where are the other boys? You have brought joy to some homes, but others are left in sorrow.”
Mr. Chalmers wished them to go with him on the war-ship to tell Commodore Erskine of their friends. The Nelson, on which the Commodore sailed, was then at another part of the island. But the natives were far too frightened to go. One, who had a son away, was willing to give anything he had if the ships would only go quickly to bring back his boy.
“Now go to-day, and we will fill the ship with pigs,” he said.
“Well, come and see the Commodore and tell him you want your son back.”
“No! white fellow speak three moons, no bring him again. You go bring fellow boy back.”
The screw gave a sudden turn. The native darted overboard into his canoe. He thought he was going to be carried off by force. When he saw the water rippling between his canoe and the great war-ship, he shouted:
“Bring boy back!”
CHAPTER VIII
TAMATE AND ANOTHER