d him with instant death if he
should call for help or offer any kind of resistance. He was taken up to
the quarter deck in his nightclothes, and made to stand against the
mizzen mast with four men to guard him.

Christian then gave orders to lower the boat in which he intended to
cast them adrift, and one by one the men were allowed to come up the
hatchways, and made to go over the side of the ship into it. Meanwhile
no heed was given to the remonstrances, reasoning, and prayers of the
captain, saving threats of death unless he was quiet.

Some twine, canvas, sails, a small cask of water, and a quadrant and
compass were put into the boat, also some bread and a small quantity of
rum and wines. When this was done the officers were brought up one by
one and forced over the side. There was a great deal of rough joking at
the captain's expense, who was still made to stand by the mizzen-mast,
and much bad language was used by everybody.

When all the officers were out of the ship, Christian said, 'Come,
Captain Bligh, your officers and men are now in the boat, and you must
go with them; if you make the least resistance you will be instantly put
to death.'

He was lowered over the side with his hands still fastened behind his
back, and directly after the boat was veered astern with a rope.

Someone with a little pity for them threw in some pieces of pork and
some clothes, as well as two or three cutlasses; these were the only
arms given.

There were altogether nineteen men in this pitiful strait. Although much
of the conduct of the mutineers is easily understood with regard to the
captain, the wholesale crime of thrusting so many innocent persons out
on to the mercy of the winds and waves, or out to the death from hunger
and thirst which they must have believed would inevitably overtake them,
is incomprehensible.

As the 'Bounty' sailed away, leaving them to their fate, those in the
boat cast anxious looks to the captain as wondering what should then be
done. At a time when his mind must have been full of the injury he had
received, and the loss of his ship at a moment when his plans were so
flourishing and he had every reason to congratulate himself as to the
ultimate success of the undertaking, it is much in his favour that he
seems to have realised their unfortunate position and to have been
determined to make the best of it.

[Illustration: THE SAVAGES ATTACK THE BOAT]

His first care was to see how much food t