They fully recognised that without the white men's help the marauders would have had their will, and matters would in all probability have gone very differently. In their way they were grateful, and by no means blind to the advantages of the white alliance. That their gratitude was based in no small degree on a sense of favours to come, in no way lessened its utility as a factor in the solution of political difficulties. They too would share the benefits reaped by the western men from the white men's friendship, and when differences arose amongst them at once as to the choice of a headman, it was the most natural thing in the world to refer the rival claims to Blair, who might reasonably be expected to be without local bias in the matter. The opportunity was too good to be lost. Blair was at pains to make clear to them the great advantages which would accrue from the union of all the communities under one head, and finally they argued the matter out among themselves and agreed to accept Ha'o as chief, with local headmen chosen by him and Blair. They reaped their harvest at once and were content. Their houses were rebuilt, tools were given them, and they were initiated into the mysteries of the new foods and fruits introduced by the white men. A proper road was promised to further communication between the opposite sides of the island, and, so far, the descent of the Blackbirds made for good. In another and quite unexpected direction also the invasion wrought in the direction of Blair's aims. They were all sitting on the verandah of his house one night, watching the lightning play tremulously up and down the western sky, listening to the surf, and discussing matters generally. Captain Cathie, in the little leisure the refitting of the _Torch_ afforded him, was much exercised in his mind as to what was to be done with the prisoners. Aunt Jannet had just expressed the opinion that it was a very great pity they had not all been scuttled. "It does seem a pity you could not have made a clean sweep of them like Captain Cathie did, Kenneth," said she. "Well, you see, we couldn't kill them in cold blood, Aunt Jannet." "And now you've got them alive in cold blood what on earth are you going to do with them?" "I see nothing for it but shipping them off home as soon as they are fit to travel. What do you say, Cathie?" "I suppose there's nothing else for it," said Cathie gloomily. "We don't want them here, and yet I'm loth to turn them loose." "I don't think they'll ever come back, after the reception they had this time." "I don't know that they will, but they'll be at the same game somewhere else. I look on them as I do on mad dogs--best got rid of." "Right!" said Aunt Jannet with emphasis. "The trouble is that men are not dogs, you see----" "That they're not. Dogs are mostly honest and good to look at," said Aunt Jannet again.