304 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES. 



all events ; and that the natives might be convinced 

 that I was in earnest, I resolved to go after them myself. 



" Accordingly, I set out the next morning with two 

 armed boats, being accompanied by the chief himself. 

 I proceeded, as he directed, without stopping anywhere, 

 till we came to the middle of the east side of Otaha. 

 But when we got to the place where we expected to find 

 them, we were told that they 'had quitted this island, 

 and gone over to Bolabola the day before. I did not 

 think proper to follow them thither, but returned to 

 the ships, fully determined, however, to have recourse 

 to a measure which I guessed would oblige the natives 

 to bring them back. 



" Soon after daybreak, the chief, his son, daughter, 

 and son-in-law came on board the Resolution. The three 

 last I resolved to detain till the two deserters should be 

 brought back. With this view Captain Clerke invited 

 them to go on board his ship, and as soon as they arrived 

 there confined them in his cabin. The chief was with 

 me when the news reached him. He immediately ac- 

 quainted me with it, supposing that this step had been 

 taken without my knowledge, and consequently without 

 my approbation. I instantly undeceived him ; and then 

 he began to have apprehensions as to his own situation, 

 and his looks expressed the utmost perturbation of mind. 

 But I soon made him easy as to this, by telling him that 

 he was at liberty to leave the ship whenever he pleased, 

 and to take such measures as he should judge best calcu- 

 lated to get our two men back ; that if he succeeded, 

 his friends on board the Discovery should be delivered up ; 

 if not, that I was determined to carry them away with me. 



" Oreo himself did not give way to unavailing lamenta- 

 tions, but instantly began his exertions to recover our 

 deserters, by despatching a canoe to Bolabola with a 

 message to Opoony, the sovereign of that island, ac- 

 quainting him with what had happened, and requesting 

 him to seize the two fugitives and send them back. The 

 messenger, who was no less a man than the father of 

 Pootoe, Oreo's son-in-law, before he set out came to 

 receive my commands. 



" The consequence, however, of the prisoners was so 

 great, that the natives did not think proper to trust to the 

 return of our people for their release, or at least their 

 impatience was so great, that it hurried them to meditate 

 an attempt which might have involved them in still 

 greater distress, had it not been fortunately prevented. 

 Between five and six o'clock in the evening I observed 

 that all their canoes in and about the harbour began to 



