CHAPTER III

THE MUTINY

     That,—­Captain Bligh,—­that is the thing;—­I am in hell!—­I am
     in hell!—­FLETCHER CHRISTIAN.

     —­Horror and doubt distract
     His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir
     The hell within him; for within him hell
     He brings, and round about him, nor from hell
     One step no more than from himself can fly
     By change of place; now conscience wakes despair
     That slumber’d, wakes the bitter memory
     Of what he was, what is, and what must be
     Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue.

’In the morning of the 28th April, the north-westernmost of the Friendly Islands, called Tofoa, bearing north-east, I was steering to the westward with a ship in most perfect order, all my plants in a most flourishing condition, all my men and officers in good health, and in short, everything to flatter and insure my most sanguine expectations.  On leaving the deck I gave directions for the course to be steered during the night.  The master had the first watch; the gunner, the middle watch; and Mr. Christian, the morning watch.  This was the turn of duty for the night.

’Just before sun-rising on Tuesday the 28th, while I was yet asleep, Mr. Christian, officer of the watch, Charles Churchill, ship’s corporal, John Mills, gunner’s mate, and Thomas Burkitt, seaman, came into my cabin, and seizing me, tied my hands with a cord behind my back, threatening me with instant death if I spoke or made the least noise.  I called, however, as loud as I could in hopes of assistance; but they had already secured the officers who were not of their party, by placing sentinels at their doors.  There were three men at my cabin door, besides the four within; Christian had only a cutlass in his hand, the others had muskets and bayonets.  I was hauled out of bed, and forced on deck in my shirt, suffering great pain from the tightness with which they had tied my hands[4] [behind my back, held by Fletcher Christian, and Charles Churchill, with a bayonet at my breast, and two men, Alexander Smith and Thomas Burkitt behind me, with loaded muskets cocked and bayonets fixed].  I demanded the reason of such violence, but received no other answer than abuse, for not holding my tongue.  The master, the gunner, Mr. Elphinstone, the master’s mate, and Nelson, were kept confined below; and the fore-hatchway was guarded by sentinels.  The boatswain and carpenter, and also Mr. Samuel the clerk, were allowed to come upon deck, where they saw me standing abaft the mizen-mast, with my hands tied behind my back, under a guard, with Christian at their head.  The boatswain was ordered to hoist the launch out, with a threat, if he did not do it instantly, to take care of himself.

’When the boat was out, Mr. Hayward and Mr. Hallet, two of the midshipmen, and Mr. Samuel, were ordered into it.  I demanded what their intention Was in giving this order, and endeavoured to persuade the people near me not to persist in such acts of violence; but it was to no effect—­“Hold your tongue, Sir, or you are dead this instant,” was constantly repeated to me.