A Dreaded Country

           PAGANEL’Sfactswereindisputable.ThecrueltyoftheNewZealanderswasbeyondadoubt,thereforeitwasdangeroustoland.Buthadthedangerbeenahundredfoldgreater,ithadtobefaced.JohnManglesfeltthenecessityofleavingwithoutdelayavesseldoomedtocertainandspeedydestruction.Thereweretwodangers,onecertainandtheotherprobable,butnoonecouldhesitatebetweenthem.

           Astotheirchanceofbeingpickedupbyapassingvessel,theycouldnotreasonablyhopeforit.TheMacquariewasnotinthetrackofshipsboundtoNewZealand.TheykeepfurthernorthforAuckland,furthersouthforNewPlymouth,andtheshiphadstruckjustbetweenthesetwopoints,onthedesertregionoftheshoresofIka-na-Mani,adangerous,difficultcoast,andinfestedbydesperatecharacters.

           "Whenshallwegetaway?"askedGlenarvan.

           "To-morrowmorningatteno’clock,"repliedJohnMangles."Thetidewillthenturnandcarryustoland."

           Nextday,February5,ateighto’clock,theraftwasfinished.Johnhadgivenallhisattentiontothebuildingofthisstructure.Theforeyard,whichdidverywellformooringtheanchors,wasquiteinadequatetothetransportofpassengersandprovisions.Whatwasneededwasastrong,manageableraft,thatwouldresisttheforceofthewavesduringapassageofninemiles.Nothingbutthemastscouldsupplysuitablematerials.

           WilsonandMulradysettowork;theriggingwascutclear,andthemainmast,choppedawayatthebase,felloverthestarboardrail,whichcrashedunderitsweight.