She was firing a salute, which afterwards turned out to be in honour of a treaty; or rather--as far as the natives were concerned--a forced cession of Tahiti to the French, that morning concluded.
The cannonading had hardly died away, when Jermin's voice was heard giving an order so unexpected that everyone started.

"Stand by to haul back the main-yard!" "What's that mean ?" shouted the men, "are we not going into port ?" "Tumble after here, and no words!" cried the mate; and in a moment the main-yard swung round, when, with her jib-boom pointing out to sea, the Julia lay as quiet as a duck.

We all looked blank--what was to come next?
Presently the steward made his appearance, carrying a mattress, which he spread out in the stern-sheets of the captain's boat; two or three chests, and other things belonging to his master, were similarly disposed of.
This was enough.

A slight hint suffices for a sailor.
Still adhering to his resolution to keep the ship at sea in spite of everything, the captain, doubtless, intended to set himself ashore, leaving the vessel, under the mate, to resume her voyage at once; but after a certain period agreed upon, to touch at the island, and take him off.

All this, of course, could easily be done without approaching any nearer the land with the Julia than we now were.
Invalid whaling captains often adopt a plan like this; but, in the present instance, it was wholly unwarranted; and, everything considered, at war with the commonest principles of prudence and humanity.