! Remember, no falsehood! I shall cross-question the
others. If you are obstinate, overboard you go."

Badham, surprised by the sudden seizure, and confused, was completely
cowed. In an abject tone he whined out, "Spare my life, sir, and I will
tell you all."

"Out with it then!" answered the captain. "We have no time to spare."

"Well, sir, then I will tell you all. We didn't intend to injure any
one, that we didn't, believe me, sir; but some of us didn't want to go
back to Sydney, so we agreed that we would just wreck the ship, and as
there are plenty of seals to be got hereabouts, go sealing on our own
account, and sell the oil and skins to the ships passing through the
straits, and, when we should get tired of the work, go home in one of
them."

"And so, for the sake of gaining a few hundred dollars for yourself, you
deliberately planned the destruction of this fine ship, and very likely
of all on board. Now, understand, you will be put in irons, and if I
find the slightest attempt among the crew to rescue you, up you go to
the yard-arm, and the leader of the party will keep you company on the
other."

Badham, in his whining tone, acknowledged that he understood clearly
what the captain said, and hoped never again to offend. On this he was
led by two of the mates to one of the after store-rooms, where he could
be under their sight, when irons were put on him, and he was left to his
meditations, the door being locked on him. The next morning the crew
went about their work as usual, Badham's dupes or accomplices being
easily distinguished by their downcast, cowed looks, and by the unusual
promptness with which they obeyed all orders. The officers and I
continued to wear our pistols and side-arms as a precautionary measure,
though we might safely have dispensed with them.

A short time before this, in 1802, a settlement had been formed in Van
Diemen's Land, and lately Hobart Town, the capital, had been commenced.
It was, however, a convict station, and no ships were allowed to land
cargoes there except those which came from England direct with stores or
were sent from Sydney,--in consequence of which restriction the
colonists were several times nearly on the point of starvation.

The heads of Port Jackson at length hove in sight, and we entered that
magnificent harbour, the entrance of which Cook saw and named. Wanting
in his usual sagacity, he took it for a small boat harbour, and passed
by without