ves.

Fletcher Christian, who had taken the command hitherto by the consent of
his companions, now proceeded to divide the whole island into nine equal
parts, one of which he gave to each of the English sailors who
accompanied him, choosing for his own portion a piece of land at the
farther end of the island, where he made for himself a retreat among the
steep rocks which overlooked the sea.

But though the new colony was so small, it had in it all the seeds of
dissension and of unhappiness. Even these nine men, though bound
together by a common fate and by a common fear, could not agree, could
not bear with nor yield to each other in any of the little differences
or misunderstandings which arose between them from time to time. Still
less could they live in peace with the natives who had accompanied them.
They looked on these poor men and women as their slaves, and treated
them so unjustly that the Tahitians, who had at first been attached and
faithful, now determined on revenge. They were as much less guilty than
the English as they were more ignorant; they had never been taught to be
merciful, to forgive injuries, to be patient under wrongs; the blessed
name of Jesus was not familiar to their ears, nor the lessons of His
life and death to their hearts. They knew no law but that of violence
and might, and finding themselves unjustly treated by those who had
promised to be their friends, they formed a plot to put them all to
death, and so to make themselves masters of the island.

Five out of the nine Englishmen were shot, and amongst them was their
leader, Fletcher Christian. Ever since he had come to Pitcairn's Island,
he had appeared sunk in sorrow and remorse. All day long he had remained
hidden among the rocks, away from his comrades, his eyes fastened on the
wide ocean, the barrier which he knew must now divide him for ever from
his home and from all he loved. In this solitude his companion was the
Bible, brought on shore by him from the ship. In this he was observed to
be often reading, and though we know nothing of his thoughts nor of his
prayers, it may be that God spake through His word to the heart of His
erring child, and bade him, not in vain, to seek His face once more.

Let us hope that this Bible charged with such a blessed mission in years
to come, was sent also with a message to this desolate heart, and that
ere he died, Christian had sought and found the forgiveness which is
given through the cross