Tig6 THE LIFE OF 



eafy pofture, and then afked my opinion of our 

 Htuation. I frankly told him, that although 

 the prefcrvation of the fhip was no way difficult, 

 yet I had no hope of it, as I found no difpofi- 

 tion in thofe who had the power, to make any 

 attempt; neverthelefs, if any adlive meafures 

 fhould be deterniined upon, I was ready to lead 

 the way to the deck. The Captain, the agony 

 of whofe wounds was encreafcd by feeing that 

 he had nothing to hope for, feeling the approach 

 of death, was difpofed rather to expire in peace, 

 than iingly, and unable to ftand, to oppofe the 

 fury of the mutineers; Mr. Minchin likewife, 

 who had now fallied from his retreat, joined the 

 Captain in conjuring me to go to the hatchway, 

 to alTure the mutineers that no refinance would 

 be made, and to entreat that, as they had no op- 

 pofition to expedl, no more mifchief might be 

 done. To the Captain I anfwered, that what- 

 ever might, in his own opinion, tend to his ad- 

 vantage or convenience, I fliould moft readily 

 do, but to Enlign Minchin, I felt myfelf, as a 

 foldier, obliged to fpeak in another tone. Him 

 I told, that HE, and he only, was the proper 

 perfon to fpeak to the mutineers ; that they were 

 committed to his charge, and that it was his 

 duty TO SUBDUE THEMOR DIE ! I Called to his 

 recolledtion, that he had more than force fufficient 

 to infurefuccefs; thatallthe ammunition of every 



kind^j 



