Since the schooner _Fair_ _Hathaway_, recruiting labour for the Queensland plantations, had been captured by the natives and all hands slain fifteen years before, no vessel, with the exception of the _Arangi_, had dared to venture into Su'u.

And most white men condemned Van Horn's recklessness for so venturing.
Far up the mountains, that towered many thousands of feet into the trade- wind clouds, arose many signal smokes that advertised the coming of the vessel.

Far and near, the _Arangi's_ presence was known; yet from the jungle so near at hand only shrieks of parrots and chatterings of cockatoos could be heard.
The whaleboat, manned with six of the boat's crew, was drawn alongside, and the fifteen Su'u boys and their boxes were loaded in.

Under the canvas flaps along the thwarts, ready to hand for the rowers, were laid five of the Lee-Enfields.

On deck, another of the boat's crew, rifle in hand, guarded the remaining weapons.