She had also sprung a leak, and a number of stores were landed, to enable her to be taken up into shallow water and heeled over, in order that the leak might be got at.
The captain hurried on the work with all speed.
"Had it not been for this," Charlie heard him say to Mr.Ashmead, "I would have rigged a jury-mast and proceeded; but I can't stop the leak from the inside, without shifting a great portion of the cargo, and our hold is so full that this would be difficult in the extreme.

But I own that I do not like delaying a day longer than necessary, here.

The natives have a very bad reputation, besides which it is suspected that one, if not more, pirates have their rendezvous in these seas.

Several of our merchantmen have mysteriously disappeared, without any gale having taken place which would account for their loss.
"The captain of a ship which reached England, two or three days before we sailed, brought news that when she was within a fortnight's sail of the Cape, the sound of guns was heard one night, and that afterwards a ship was seen on fire, low down on the horizon.

He reached the spot soon after daybreak, and found charred spars and other wreckage; but though he cruised about all day, he could find no signs of any boats.
Complaints have been made to government, and I hear that there is an intention of sending two or three sloops out here to hunt the pirates up.