First thing next morning the carpenter set to work fitting up a stout partition in the schooner's hold, so that the Chinamen might be kept apart from the 'black-birders'; and on its completion the latter were again placed on board.
Meanwhile, all hands had been busily collecting stores for shipment, water from a good spring was filled into every available cask, a fresh stock of pork was killed, and, to mark their sense of gratitude, the islanders presented an enormous stock of vegetables and fruit.
At length the schooner set all her canvas, and amidst the regrets of the natives left Camp Bay.
CHAPTER XVII
A FORTUNATE ESCAPE
'After all, Sennit,' the old man exclaimed, as the vessel cleared the island on her passage to Honolulu, 'it has turned out most fortunate that our boats were broken up by that gale. We have been allowed to help those unfortunate people.'
'Yes, sir,' the mate replied; 'and help to choke the rascals down below, I hope.'
The little schooner proved to be a smart sailer, and ripped along in such splendid style that without further adventure she arrived at her destination, where all the prisoners went to gaol to await trial.
Captain Thorne, however, presently discovered that unless he was prepared to incur considerable expense in taking his men to San Francisco by steam, there was nothing left for him to do but to sail there in the captured vessel. He decided to take the latter course.
The Chinamen at first made complaint of their cramped quarters, but on finding that the entire hold was now at their service they agreed to remain. Whereupon more fresh stores and water were shipped, and exactly ten days after entering Honolulu harbour they again sailed for their original port of discharge.