The lads now offered them their hand, and escorted them with grave ceremony to the hut.

The palm leaves which did service as a door were placed before it, and the boys proceeded to dance, one after the other in solemn order, fourteen times round the hut.
They then signified to the natives that provisions, fruit, and water must be daily brought for the use of their future wives; and having made another harangue, thanking the natives for their exertions, and signifying future protection and benefits, they retired under the shelter of the shed, and the village subsided to its ordinary state of tranquility.
"There are two difficulties in the way of making our escape," Ned said.

"In the first place, it is useless to think of leaving this island, until we have a sufficient stock, of provisions and water to put in a canoe, to last us until we can get back to Ternate.

Did we put into any island on the way, our position might be ten times as bad as it now is.

Here at least we are well treated and honored and, did we choose, could no doubt live here in a sort of heathen comfort, for the rest of our lives; just as many white sailors on the western isles have turned natives, and given up all thought of ever returning to their own country.
"The Golden Hind was four days on her journey from Ternate to the place where she refitted; another two to the spot where she went on the reef.