ble from the marooned party at the
last moment. Then, having shouted to them a parting promise that we
would make known the fact of their presence on the island to the first
British man-o'-war we met with, together with the cause of their being
left there, we paddled quietly on board again, and set to work to
provide ourselves with a much-needed breakfast.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

A PACIFIC HURRICANE.

Our meal over, the three remaining prisoners were released, and offered
their choice between being landed on the island to join the other men,
and returning to duty. I reminded them that their conduct in having
aided and abetted the more active among the mutineers to seize the ship
rendered them guilty of the crime of piracy--a crime punishable with
death--and that it still remained with me to clap them in irons, if I
pleased, and keep them prisoners until an opportunity should arrive to
hand them over to justice, charged with that offence. I added that as
it appeared, however, that they, the three men in question, seemed only
to have passively consented to the deed of the others, I had no desire
to be severe with them; I was anxious rather to give them an opportunity
of retrieving their character; and would willingly do so could I but
feel assured that, separated as they would be from their more guilty
comrades, they would henceforward serve me faithfully, I said that if
they were prepared to do this, I, on my part, was willing to forgive
them their share in the mutiny, and to treat them as though the incident
had never occurred. I warned them, however, that unless they were fully
prepared, not only to solemnly pledge themselves to fidelity, but also
to faithfully fulfil that pledge, it would be infinitely better for them
to elect to be landed on the island to take their chance with the rest;
for I assured them that, should they take the pledge of fidelity, and
afterwards break it, I would, upon the first symptom of insubordination,
clap them in irons and hand them over to the authorities, as pirates, at
the first port we might happen to touch. This address had precisely the
effect upon the fellows that I desired; the mention of the word
"piracy," and the reminder of the penalty due to that crime, thoroughly
frightened them; while my promise, on the other hand, of forgiveness as
the reward for faithful service in the future, had all the reassuring
influence that I intended it to have; and upon the conclusion of my