emselves, while the muskets, cutlasses,
tomahawks, and boarding-pikes were placed in a side cabin kept locked.
The captain, however, knowing that the men had the right to put into
port, informed them, after we had finished stowing the oil from the last
whale caught, that he was about to steer for the coast of South America.

In about a week we made the land near the Gulf of Guayaquil, and thence
ran down to Tumbez, an open roadstead, in which we brought up about a
mile from the mouth of a river with a bar across it. Here the crew,
instead of enjoying the rest they expected, were employed in towing off
rafts of wood and water through the heavy surf setting on the shore. It
was very hard work under a blazing sun, but still necessary, and the
true men did not complain, though the others did pretty loudly,
notwithstanding that few captains were more considerate in not
overworking their crews than was ours. I heard him tell the first mate
that as soon as the task was performed he intended to let them all go on
shore, a watch at a time, to amuse themselves.

The first day's work was over, the boats hoisted up, and the anchor
watch set, when I turned into my bunk. It seemed but a moment
afterwards that Medley called me to keep the middle watch. I had just
got on deck and was looking aft when I saw four figures lowering, as it
seemed to me, the starboard quarter boat. Suspecting that something was
wrong I looked round for the officer of the watch, but could nowhere see
him. He must, I guessed, have gone below. I was about to hurry into
the cabin, but before I could make many steps aft I was seized, gagged,
and dragged forward, where I was lashed to the windlass. I could just
make out through the gloom that the boat was no longer in her place, and
presently I saw several figures carrying some bags go forward and
disappear from the spritsail yard. I knew, therefore, that the men I
had seen intended to run away, and that they were probably some of the
fellows whose complaints I had overheard. In vain I struggled to get
free that I might give the alarm. These very men must have formed the
watch, for no one came near me.

Daylight came at last, and the morning watch appearing on deck, I was
released and taken to the captain, to whom I gave an account of what I
had seen. Two boats were instantly sent in chase of the fugitives, who
were the armourer, two boat-steerers, and three seamen. After some time
the boats return