ss abreast of the cove for
another hour.

About an hour passed, and then they heard the sound of oars, and the
_Venus_ boat was seen sweeping round the headland of the cove. The crew
seemed thoroughly exhausted, and many of them were cut and bleeding. In
a few moments they told their story, which was, that just after the ship
got under weigh, Kelly and the convicts sprang upon the second mate,
stunned him and pitched him below. Then, before those of the crew who
were not in league with the mutineers could offer any resistance, they
were set upon by the pilot, Thompson, the soldier, Darra, the earless
cook and the two women, all of whom were armed with pistols and swords.

'Into the boat, all of you fellows,' said Kelly, pointing a pistol at
the five seamen; 'into the boat; quick! or you are all dead men!'

The boat was towing astern, and the five seamen, seeing that the _Venus_
was now in the absolute possession of the mutineers, and that Kelly
would not hesitate to shoot them if they disobeyed him, went into the
boat quietly.

As soon as the mutineers cast off the boat's painter, Kelly came aft
with Kitty Hegarty, and placing his arms around her waist, jocularly
called out to the men in the boat to 'look at the pirate's bride, and
give his compliments and "Mrs Kelly's" compliments to Captain Chace,
Lieutenant House, and the Lieutenant-Governor.' He also charged them to
tell Lieutenant House that he was much obliged to him for lending Chace
(on a former occasion) the _Narrative of Lieutenant Bligh and the Mutiny
of the Bounty_, which had so much interested him (Kelly) and 'Kitty'
that they had 'decided to do Fletcher Christian's trick, and take a
cruise among the South Seas.' He then, with much accompanying laughter
from merry Miss Hegarty, put a wooden bucket on her head, and called out
to the people in the boat to look at 'Her Majesty, Queen Kitty Hegarty
of the Cannibal Islands.' Immediately after this badinage he ordered
Thompson, who was at the helm, to put it hard up; and then wore ship and
sailed out seawards.

* * * * *

News of the mutiny was at once sent to Lieutenant-Governor Paterson. But
the mutineers were not heard of for a long time. Then it was learnt that
Kelly had sailed the _Venus_ to the coast of New Zealand and, by means
of selling a number of casks of rum to the Maoris, had acquired a
quantity of small arms, and two brass cannons, each throwing a 6-lb.
shot. A