th equal solemnity after meat. Then
the tables were cleared, and games became the order of the evening.
When a point of semi-exhaustion was reached, a story was called for, and
the nautical pastor at once launched into oceans of imagination and
fancy, in which he bid fair to be wrecked and drowned. During the
recital of this the falling of a pin would have been heard, if there had
been such a thing as a pin at Pitcairn to fall.

Last, but not least, came blind-man's-buff. This exhausted the last
spark of physical energy left even in the strongest. But the mental and
spiritual powers were still vigorous, so that when they all sat down in
quiescence round the room, and Toc took down the family Bible from its
accustomed shelf and set it before Adams, they were all, young and old,
in a suitable state of mind to join in the worship of Him who had given
them the capacity, as well as the opportunity, to enjoy that glorious
and ever memorable day.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

ANOTHER VISIT FROM THE GREAT WORLD.

If ever there had been a doubt of the truth of the proverb that example
is better than precept, the behaviour of the young men and maidens of
Pitcairn, after the wedding just described, would have cleared that
doubt away for ever.

The demands upon poor Adams's services became ridiculous, insomuch that
he began to make laws somewhat in the spirit of the Medo-Persic
lawmakers, and sternly refused to allow any man to marry under the age
of twenty years, or any woman under eighteen. Even with this drag on
the wheels, the evil--if evil it were--did not abate, but as time went
on, steadily increased. It seemed as if, the ice having been broken,
the entire population kept on tumbling into the water.

Among others, our once little friend Matthew Quintal married Bessy
Mills.

The cares of the little colony now began to tell heavily on John Adams,
for he was what is termed a willing horse, and would not turn over to
another the duties which he could perform with his own hands. Besides
acting the part of pastor, schoolmaster, law-maker, and law-enforcer, he
had to become the sympathetic counsellor of all who chose to call upon
him; also public registrar of events, baptiser of infants, and medical
practitioner. It is a question whether there ever was a man placed in
so difficult and arduous a position as this last mutineer of the
_Bounty_, and it is not a question at all, but an amazing and memorable
fact, that he fi