The two boys were soon satisfied; but the old man appeared ashamed and conscious of his guilt; and although he was frequently afterwards with us, yet he always hung down his head and sneaked into the background.
During the day the people were employed about the rigging, and in the evening before sunset the natives were again admitted on board for half an hour.

In the afternoon Mr.Montgomery went to Green Island and shot a few parrakeets and waterbirds, some of which he gave to the natives after explaining how they had been killed, which of course produced great applause.
December 26.
The next day was employed in wooding and watering, in which the natives, particularly our friend Jack, assisted.

We had this day twenty-one natives about us and among them were five strangers.

They were not permitted to come on board until four o'clock in the afternoon, excepting Jack, who was privileged to come and go as he liked, which, since it did not appear to create any jealousy among his companions, enabled us to detain him as a hostage for Mr.Cunningham's safety, who was busily engaged in adding to his collections from the country in the vicinity of the vessel.
In the evening Jack climbed the rigging as high as the top masthead, much to the amusement of his companions but to the mortification of Bundell who had never taken courage to mount so high.
The waterholes yielded about a ton of water a day; but a stream was found in the sandy bay to the eastward of the entrance, running over the beach, which we used when the holes were emptied of their contents; the latter were however preferred, since our people worked at them under an immediate protection from the vessel's deck.

Near the stream we found some felled trees and the staves of a cask.* (*Footnote.