1777- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 115 



they came to an anchor again. Toward the after- 

 noon, the natives began to shake off their fears, 

 gathering round and on board the ships as usual ; and 

 the awkward transaction of the day before seemed to 

 be forgotten on both sides. 



The following night, the wind blew in hard squalls 

 from south to east, attended with heavy showers of 

 rain. In one of the squalls, the cable, by which the 

 Resolution was riding, parted just without the hawse. 

 We had another anchor ready to let go, so that the 

 ship was presently brought up again. In the after- 

 noon, the wind became moderate ; and we hooked 

 the end of the best small bower cable, and got it 

 again into the hawse. 



Oreo, the chief, being uneasy as well as myself, 

 that no account had been received from Bolabola, set 

 out this evening for that island, and desired me to 

 follow down the next day with the ships. This was 

 my intention ; but the wind which kept us in the 

 harbour, brought Oreo back from Bolabola with the 

 two deserters. They had reached Otaha the same 

 night they deserted; but finding it impossible to get 

 to any of the islands to the eastward (which was their 

 intention), for want of wind, they had proceeded to 

 Bolabola, and from thence to the small island Too- 

 baee, where they were taken by the father of 

 Pootoe, in consequence of the first message sent to 

 Opoony. As soon as they were on board, the three 

 prisoners were released. Thus ended an affair 

 which had given me much trouble and vexation. 

 Nor would I have exerted myself so resolutely on 

 the occasion, but for the reason before-mentioned, 

 and to save the son of a brother officer from being 

 lost to his country. 



The wind continued constantly between the north 

 and west, and confined us in the harbour till eight 

 o'clock in the morning of the 7th of December;, 

 when we took the advantage of a light breeze which 

 then sprung up at north-east, and with the assistance 



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