Parker. So enraged
were our people with these orders, that one of the quarter-masters, John
Aynsley, came aft, and in the name of the ship's company, begged that
they might heave the delegates overboard.

"Sir Harry, however, to whom all matters were referred, while he sat
quietly in his cabin out of sight, ordered our delegates to express
their readiness to comply with Admiral Parker's orders; and at length
the mutineers, satisfied that we were about to do as directed, left the
ship.

"As soon as they were gone, we got springs on our cable, so as to cast
inwards, and all was made ready to run, as was at first intended, into
Sheerness. In heaving, however, the spring broke, and we cast outward.
The effect of this was to carry us right among the mutinous fleet.

"At this critical juncture, Sir Harry, whose presence of mind never
forsook him, directed one of the quartermasters to appear on deck as if
in command, while he and all the officers concealed themselves in
different parts of the ship--he posting himself so that he could,
unseen, issue his orders. In a moment every sail was sheeted home, and
we stood in between the two line-of-battle ships, which, as the
delegates had told us, had all their guns double shotted, while their
crews stood ready, lanyards in hand, to sink us with their broadsides.

"On we stood, the ship gathering good way, when, as we got in among the
mutinous fleet, Sir Harry gave the order to let fly all the sheets.
This so completely took the mutineers by surprise that they, believing
the ship was coming about, did not fire a shot at us. Sir Harry then
ordered the helm to be put `hard a port,' which caused the ship to shoot
ahead of the _Inflexible_ and clear of her. He immediately sprang on
deck, crying out, `Well done, my lads!' A loud murmur of applause was
heard fore and aft along the deck, but we had no time for cheering.
`Now clear away the bulk-heads, and mount the guns,' he added. Scarcely
were the words out of his mouth, than the whole fleet of thirty-two sail
opened their fire. The shot fell thick as hail around us on every side.
The men stood at their stations without flinching. Of course it would
have been worse than useless to have returned their fire.

"On we stood. Never ship passed through such a fire so slightly
scathed. Not that we escaped altogether; now a shot struck us, now
another. The _Director_ alone might have sunk us; but, as far as we
could judge, not a s