your minds to remain in the
ship return to your duty."

On this the men on the starboard side went forward, but the remaining
seven mutineers stood where they were with their arms folded. I was in
hopes that, as they were no longer under the influence of Muggins, they
would yield, but they would make no promises. At length, tired of
standing where they were, they moved lazily along forward. Dr Cockle
told me that the captain intended to put into the Marquesas, where he
could get rid of the men and obtain others.

I found the next day that we were steering in that direction. After
this not one of them would do any work, though they were allowed to
remain at liberty. I fully expected that they would try to rescue their
companion, but the captain and mates kept an eye on them, as did Jim and
I.

It was tantalising to us to see whales every day and yet not to go in
chase of them, but the captain wouldn't send any boats away with the
good men in them for fear of what the others might do in their absence.

At length we reached Witahoo, one of the Marquesas, and brought up in a
beautifully sheltered bay. Had there been any English authorities in
the place the men would have been imprisoned, but as it was all the
captain could do was to release Muggins from his handcuffs, and to send
him and the other men ashore. The second mate went in one boat, and I
had command of the other. The mutineers were ordered to get into them,
and we pulled for the beach. Though they had only their clothes and a
few articles put up in bundles, they stepped on shore with as jaunty an
air as if they were going among friends, and having walked a little
distance they turned round and jeered and laughed at us.

"I pity you poor fellows who have to toil away on board that filthy
whaler," cried Muggins. "It's a shame that you haven't spirit enough to
lead the happy easy lives we are going to enjoy."

Before we shoved off several natives came down to the beach, with whom
the mutineers shook hands, as if they were old friends. Presently a
huge fellow appeared, who, judging from the way the rest treated him, we
supposed to be a chief. Though the others were of a gigantic size and
magnificent proportions, he was taller than any of them. Every part of
his body that we could see was tattooed over a deep blue colour, from
the crown of his head to his feet. His head was shaven, and every hair,
even to the eyelashes, was plucked out.

He intr