w up, his
eyes blackened with the dark fire of his soul--"whether you put me on
parole, or try me by court-martial, or hang me from the yard-arm. I've
done a piece of work of which I'm not ashamed. I've brought a mutinous
ship out of mutiny, sailed her down the seas for many weeks, disciplined
her, drilled her, trained her, fought her; helped to give the admiral of
the West Indian squadron his victory. I enlisted; I was a quota man. I
became a common sailor--I and my servant and friend, Michael Clones. I
shared the feelings of the sailors who mutinied. I wrote petitions and
appeals for them. I mutinied with them. Then at last, having been made
leader of the ship, with the captain and the lieutenants sent safely
ashore, and disagreeing with the policy of the Delegates in not
accepting the terms offered, I brought the ship out, commanding it from
the captain's cabin, and have so continued until to-day. If I'm put
ashore at Jamaica, I'll keep my parole; if I stay a prisoner here, I'll
keep my parole. If I've done you service, admiral, be sure of this, it
was done with clear intent. My object was to save the men who, having
mutinied and fled from Admiralty control, are subject to capital
punishment."

"Your thinking came late. You should have thought before you mutinied,"
was the sharp reply.

"As a common sailor I acted on my conscience, and what we asked for the
Admiralty has granted. Only by mutiny did the Admiralty yield to our
demands. What I did I would do again! We took our risks in the Thames
against the guns that were levelled at us; we've taken our risks down
here against the French to help save your squadron, and we've done it.
The men have done it, because they've been loyal to the flag, and from
first to last set to make the Admiralty and the people know they have
rights which must be cherished. If all your men were as faithful to the
Crown as are the men on the Ariadne, then they deserve well of the King.
But will you put for me on paper the written word that every man now
aboard the Ariadne shall be held guiltless in the eyes of the admiral
of this fleet; that the present officers shall remain officers, that the
reforms I have made shall become permanent? For myself, I care not; but
for the men who have fought under me, I want their amnesty. And I want
Michael Clones to be kept with me, and Greenock, the master, and Ferens,
the purser, to be kept where they are. Admiral, I think you know my
demands are just