o complain of, but said
they must do like their friends around them. They would have landed him
with every mark of respect; but he declared that, after such conduct,
not one of them should ever row him again, and he hailed a waterman to
put him on shore. Still, though he had reproached them in no measured
terms, they manned the side, and gave him three cheers when he left the
ship.

Even Sir Edward Pellew, popular as he was, and though he might well
expect that a crew which had fought with him two successful actions
within the past year would be too proud of their ship and commander ever
to fail in their duty, yet felt it necessary to take precautions, when
mutinies were occurring around him without the smallest reasonable
cause. Determined to maintain his authority at all hazards, he prepared
for the worst, and provided himself with weapons such as he deemed would
be the most effectual, if he should be compelled to the dreadful
necessity of a personal conflict with his crew. A pointed and two-edged
blade, four inches long, was fixed in a rough buckhorn handle, with a
groove for the thumb across the top. A pair of these were carried in
sheaths, secured in each waistcoat-pocket. With these, a strong and
active person, in the midst of a crowd where he could not use a sword,
could strike right and left with terrible effect.

Once a mutiny was planned in the _Indefatigable_, but he checked it
before it broke out. She was lying with the _Phoebe_ in Falmouth
harbour, and the frigates were to sail next morning, when the crews were
determined not to proceed to their station until they had received their
pay. A sailor who had overstayed his leave came in the dead of the night
to inform his commander of the plot; and assured him, that though all
the crew were privy to it, more than half of them would support their
officers. Sir Edward professed to discredit the information, and,
apparently, took no steps in consequence. But when the ship was to be
got under weigh, the lieutenant complained to him that the men were
sulky, and would not go round with the capstan. He then came forward,
and declaring his knowledge of their intentions, drew his sword, and
ordered the officers to follow his example. "You can never die so well,"
he said, "as on your own deck quelling a mutiny; and now, if a man
hesitate to obey you, cut him down without a word." The crew, accustomed
to prompt obedience, and attached to their officers, at once returned