242 THE SEA. 



And now to follow the fortunes of Lieutenant Bligh and his companions. Their first 

 consideration was to examine their resources. There were sixteen pieces of pork, weighing 

 two pounds each, the bread and water as before mentioned, six quarts of rum, and six 

 bottles of wine. Being near the island of Tofoa, they resolved to seek a supply of bread- 

 fruit and water, so as to preserve their other stock, and they did obtain a small quantity 

 of the former, but little water. The natives seeing their defenceless condition meditated 

 their destruction, and speedily crowded the beach, knocking stones together, the preparatory 

 signal for an attack. With some difficulty the seamen succeeded in getting their things 

 together, and got all the men, except John Norton, one of the quartermasters, into the 

 boat, the surf running high. The poor man was literally stoned to death within their 

 sight. They pushed out to sea in all haste, and were followed by volleys of big stones, 

 some of the canoes pursuing them. Their only expedient left to gain time was to throw 

 overboard some of their clothing, which, fortunately, induced the natives to stop and pick 

 them up. Night coming on, the canoes returned to the shore. 



The nearest place where they could expect relief was Timor, a distance of full 1,200 

 leagues, and the men agreed to be put on an allowance, which on calculation was found 

 not to exceed one ounce of bread per diem, and a gill of water. Recommending them, 

 therefore, in the most solemn manner, not to depart from their promises, "we bore away/' 

 says Bligh, "across a sea where the navigation is but little known, in a small bout, 

 twenty-three feet long from stem to stern, deeply laden with eighteen men. ... It 

 was about eight at night on the 2nd of May when we bore away under a reefed lug- 

 foresail; and having divided the people into watches, and got the boat into a little order, 

 we returned thanks to God for our miraculous preservation, and in full confidence of His 

 gracious support, I found my mind more at ease than it had been for some time past." 

 Next morning the sun rose fiery and red, a sure indication of a gale, and by eight o'clock 

 it blew a violent storm, the waves running so high that their sail was becalmed when 

 between the seas. They lightened the boat by throwing overboard all superlluous 

 articles, and removing the tools, put the bread, on which their very existence depended, 

 in the chest. Miserably wet and cold as were all, Bligh administered a tea-spoonful of 

 rum to each at dinner time. The sea still rose, and the fatigue of baling became very 

 great. Next morning at daylight the men's limbs were benumbed, and another spoonful 

 of spirit was administered. Whatever might be said of Bligh's previous conduct, there 

 is no doubt that at this juncture he exerted himself wonderfully and very judiciously to 

 save the lives of all. Their dinner this day consisted of five small cocoa-nuts. On the 

 night of the 4th the gale abated, and they examined the bread, much of which was found 

 to be damaged and rotten, but it was still preserved for use. On the Oth they hooked 

 a fish, "but/' says the commander, "we were miserably disappointed by its being lost 

 in trying to get it into the boat." They were terribly cramped for want of room on board, 

 although Bligh did for the best by putting them watch and watch, so that half of them 

 at a timo could lie at the bottom of the boat. On the 7th they passed close to some 

 rocky isles, from which two large sailing canoes came out and pursued hotly, but gave 

 over the chase in the afternoon. This day heavy rain fell, when everybody set to work 

 to catch some, with such success that they not merely quenched their thirst, but increased 



