Franchere says that it was because young Stuart put a pistol to the
captain's head and swore that he would blow out his brains unless he
went back for the boat. The captain's account to Mr. Astor is that a
sudden shift of wind compelled him to come about and this gave the boat
an opportunity to overhaul him. There was a scene of wild
recrimination when the boat reached the ship, shortly after six bells
(3 P. M.), but it did not seem to bother Thorn in the least.

On the 18th of December, they were south and east of Cape Horn. The
weather was mild and pleasant, but before they could make headway
enough against the swift easterly current to round that most dangerous
point it came on to blow a regular Cape Horn gale. After seven days of
hard beating they celebrated Christmas under pleasanter auspices in the
southern Pacific.

{267}

Their run northward was uneventful, and on the 11th of February, 1811,
they sighted the volcano of Mauna Loa in the Sandwich Islands. They
landed on the 12th and spent sixteen days among the different islands,
visiting, filling the water-casks, and buying fresh meat, vegetables,
and live-stock from Kamehameha I.

While Captain Thorn was hated by the passengers, he was not loved by
his officers. Singularly enough, he seems to have been well liked by
the crew, although there were some exceptions even there. Anderson,
the boatswain, left the ship at Hawaii. There had been difficulties
between them, and the captain was glad to see him go. A sample of
Thorn's method of administering discipline is interesting.

The day they sailed a seaman named Aymes strayed from the boat party,
and was left behind when the boat returned to the ship. In great
terror Aymes had some natives bring him aboard in a canoe. A longboat
loaded with fodder for the live-stock lay alongside. As Aymes
clambered into the long-boat, the captain, who was furiously angry,
sprang down into the boat, seized Aymes with one hand and a stout piece
of sugar-cane with the other. With this formidable weapon the
unfortunate sailor was beaten until he screamed for mercy. After
wearing out the sugarcane upon him, with the remark that if he ever saw
him on the sloop again, he would kill him, the captain pitched him into
the water. Aymes, who was a good swimmer, made the best of his way to
the shore, and stayed there with Anderson. Twenty-four natives were
shipped at Hawaii, twelve for the crew and twelve for the new
settl