CHAPTER VI.
WE TOUCH AT LA DOMINICA FEARFUL of spending another night at Hytyhoo, Captain Guy caused the ship to be got under way shortly after dark.
The next morning, when all supposed that we were fairly embarked for a long cruise, our course was suddenly altered for La Dominica, or Hivarhoo, an island just north of the one we had quitted.

The object of this, as we learned, was to procure, if possible, several English sailors, who, according to the commander of the corvette, had recently gone ashore there from an American whaler, and were desirous of shipping aboard one of their own country vessels.
We made the land in the afternoon, coming abreast of a shady glen opening from a deep bay, and winding by green denies far out of sight.

"Hands by the weather-main-brace!" roared the mate, jumping up on the bulwarks; and in a moment the prancing Julia, suddenly arrested in her course, bridled her head like a steed reined in, while the foam flaked under her bows.
This was the place where we expected to obtain the men; so a boat was at once got in readiness to go ashore.

Now it was necessary to provide a picked crew--men the least likely to abscond.

After considerable deliberation on the part of the captain and mate, four of the seamen were pitched upon as the most trustworthy; or rather they were selected from a choice assortment of suspicious characters as being of an inferior order of rascality.
Armed with cutlasses all round--the natives were said to be an ugly set--they were followed over the side by the invalid captain, who, on this occasion, it seems, was determined to signalize himself.
Accordingly, in addition to his cutlass, he wore an old boarding belt, in which was thrust a brace of pistols.