As this news would have had to travel right across the big island, little dependence was to be placed on it.
The steamer from Sydney, the _Kammambo_, broke the quietude of Berande for an hour, while landing mail, supplies, and the trees and seeds Joan had ordered.

The _Minerva_, bound for Cape Marsh, brought the two cows from Nogi.

And the _Apostle_, hurrying back to Tulagi to connect with the Sydney steamer, sent a boat ashore with the orange and lime trees from Ulava.

And these several weeks marked a period of perfect weather.
There were days on end when sleek calms ruled the breathless sea, and days when vagrant wisps of air fanned for several hours from one direction or another.

The land-breezes at night alone proved regular, and it was at night that the occasional cutters and ketches slipped by, too eager to take advantage of the light winds to drop anchor for an hour.
Then came the long-expected nor'wester.