MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. I97 



kind, except a few mufket-cartridges, were in 

 our pofTeflion, and that nothing was wanting, 

 but for him to draw his fword and exert him- 

 felf ; but that if he thought attacking them on 

 deck would be attended with more danger than 

 he deemed prudent to encounter, we had ftill 

 another and a fafer refource ; that, as well as the 

 ammunition, we were mafters of the provifions ; 

 that we had only to defend the hatchways, and 

 keep the mutineers where they were; and that, 

 having neither bread nor water in their reach, 

 want of refreihment and reft would foon reduce 

 them to fue for mercy on their knees : I even pro- 

 pofed to him to choak the rudder, and cut away 

 the mafts between decks, in which cafe the wreck 

 would have fallen on their heads, and they had 

 not one implement of any kind to clear it with j 

 but fuch meafures he did not chufe to adopt, 

 and repeated his delire of giving up the fhip; 

 the Captain likewife again folicited me to 

 communicate his and Eniign Minchin's propo- 

 litions to the mutineers, as the probable means 

 oi preventing more murders. 



I went therefore to the hatchway, where the 

 centinels prefentcd their pieces to my head; 

 but three Frenchmen, a German, and ievcral 

 Irifh at that moment appearing, I communi- 

 cated my bufinefs. They remained upon deck, 

 and myfclf below ; and while we were in that 



O 3 lituation^ 



