n into her, so you'd better come along and see to the
stowin' of 'em. And Mr Bainbridge have agreed to let you have the gig
also; so you ought to be as happy and comfortable as sandboys. But
don't forget what I told yer about our not wantin' to have no trouble
nor bloodshed. The ship's ours, and we means to keep her, so if you
wants to go away with whole skins, what you've got to do is to get from
alongside as quick as possible, and without makin' no trouble; for as
sure as any of ye attempts to make trouble there'll be bloodshed, and
don't you forget it. Mr Bligh, you and Mr Johnson be to go first and
see to the stowin' of the passengers; and when the longboat's got her
complement the rest of yer can foller."

"You are not taking any chances, Lloyd, are you?" laughed Mr Bligh
sarcastically, as he rose to his feet. "Although all hands of you
appear to be armed, you are not going to run the risk of having too many
of us loose out on deck at once, for fear of what we might do, eh?
Well, you are a fine, courageous lot of mutineers, I must say! You
wouldn't even chance a fight with a single one of us when you started
out to take the ship, but must needs entice us for'ard, one man at a
time, upon the pretence that fire had broken out in the hold. Ugh! I
don't envy Bainbridge his crew of bold buccaneers--not a little bit!"
and with a scornful laugh he swaggered out on deck, followed by the
second mate.

A minute later we heard his voice speaking to the passengers and calling
upon them by name, one by one, to pass down the side, the women and
children first. And it was pitiful to hear the low moaning and sobbing
of some of the poor creatures as they reluctantly left the firm,
spacious deck of the ship and fearfully clambered down the side ladder
into the dancing longboat, which looked so small and dangerous a refuge
in comparison with the bulk of the barque. The embarkation of the
passengers proceeded slowly, because of the women and children among
them, all of whom were frightened, while many of them were weeping
bitterly, despite the best efforts of husbands, fathers, brothers, and
male friends to encourage them. But at length the last passenger went
down over the side and was assigned his place in the longboat, and then
Lloyd again came forward and summoned those of us who remained in the
house to follow him; and as we passed out on deck and started to walk
aft to the gangway, the five armed seamen who had mount