out one day to gather gulls' eggs among
the cliffs. The women were all in the habit of doing this at times, and
they had become expert climbers, as were also the men, both white and
brown.

When day began to close, they wondered why Mrs Williams was so late of
returning. Soon her husband became uneasy; then, taking alarm, he went
off to search for her, accompanied by all the men. The unfortunate
woman was found dead at the base of the cliffs. She had missed her
footing and fallen while searching for eggs.

This accident had at first a deeply solemnising effect on the whole
community. Accustomed though these men were to the sight of death in
some of its worst forms in war, they were awed by this sudden and
unexpected assault of the great enemy. The poor mangled body lying so
quietly among the rocks at the foot of the awful precipice, the sight of
the husband's grief, the sad and silent procession with the ghastly
burden in the deepening gloom of evening, the wailing of the women, and
the awestruck gaze of such of the children as were old enough to know
that something terrible had occurred, though unable to understand it,--
all conspired to deepen the impression, even on those among the men who
were least easily impressed; and it was with softened feelings of pity
that Quintal and McCoy, volunteering their services on the occasion, dug
the first grave at Pitcairn.

Time, however, soon wore away these feelings. Williams not only got
over his bereavement easily, but soon began to wish for another wife.
It was, of course, impossible to obtain one righteously in the
circumstances; he therefore resolved to take the wife of Talaloo the
Otaheitan.

It must not be supposed that all Williams', comrades supported him in
this wicked design. Christian, Young, and Adams remonstrated with him
strongly; but he was obstinate, and threatened to take the boat and
leave the island if they interfered with him. As he was an expert
blacksmith, his comrades could not afford to lose him, and ceased
remonstrating. Eventually he carried out his intention.

This was, as might have been expected, the beginning of trouble. The
coloured men made common cause of it, and from that time forward began
to plot the destruction of their white masters. What made matters worse
was that Talaloo's wife was not averse to the change, and from that time
became a bitter enemy of her Otaheitan husband. It was owing to this
wicked woman's preferenc