eated them not to set him
adrift, but to return to their duty, and promising to land them wherever
they chose, and to take no steps for bringing them to justice. He might
as well have spoken to the winds. Two of the ruffians seized him by the
arms and hurled him over the brig's side into the boat, which had been
lowered while the mate went below. The four men who were lying on the
deck were then untied and ordered to follow, which they did without
attempting any resistance--Augustus being still left in his painful
position, although he struggled and prayed only for the poor
satisfaction of being permitted to bid his father farewell. A handful of
sea-biscuit and a jug of water were now handed down; but neither mast,
sail, oar, nor compass. The boat was towed astern for a few minutes,
during which the mutineers held another consultation--it was then
finally cut adrift. By this time night had come on--there were neither
moon nor stars visible--and a short and ugly sea was running, although
there was no great deal of wind. The boat was instantly out of sight,
and little hope could be entertained for the unfortunate sufferers who
were in it. This event happened, however, in latitude 35 degrees 30'
north, longitude 61 degrees 20' west, and consequently at no very great
distance from the Bermuda Islands. Augustus therefore endeavored to
console himself with the idea that the boat might either succeed in
reaching the land, or come sufficiently near to be fallen in with by
vessels off the coast.

All sail was now put upon the brig, and she continued her original
course to the southwest--the mutineers being bent upon some piratical
expedition, in which, from all that could be understood, a ship was to
be intercepted on her way from the Cape Verd Islands to Porto Rico. No
attention was paid to Augustus, who was untied and suffered to go about
anywhere forward of the cabin companion-way. Dirk Peters treated him
with some degree of kindness, and on one occasion saved him from
the brutality of the cook. His situation was still one of the most
precarious, as the men were continually intoxicated, and there was no
relying upon their continued good-humor or carelessness in regard to
himself. His anxiety on my account be represented, however, as the most
distressing result of his condition; and, indeed, I had never reason to
doubt the sincerity of his friendship. More than once he had resolved
to acquaint the mutineers with the secret of