ST. HELENA 53 



the mutineers. Major Graeme was sent back to Ladder Hill 

 Fort to give alarm, and to procure arms, while the Governor 

 proceeded on his journey to town, where he met them. 



His reasoning had some effect, but he was foolish enough 

 to open the punch-houses again for them. The evil effect 

 of giving way to them was soon apparent. When too late 

 the Governor saw it, and repenting of his leniency secured 

 Sergeant Tooley as a prisoner. He then went with the main 

 guard to the barracks, hoping to find the mutineers, but they 

 were cunning, and had gone off to the country to seize Alarm 

 House, which overlooked the town and near which was a 

 guard with guns. Major Graeme was sent on horseback to 

 cut off the mutineers. He galloped up Side Path, and taking 

 short cuts with his horse, was enabled to reach Alarm House 

 before them, as they had started on foot up a steep circuitous 

 path. At one time he was dangerously near them, and 

 they fired several shots at him. With the assistance of the 

 six men on duty he fired grape-shot on the mutineers ; but it 

 was getting dark, and they knew sufficient to throw them- 

 selves flat when the discharge came. They succeeded in 

 surrounding him, and chased him some distance, firing 

 several times. Eventually he arrived again in Jamestown. 



In the meantime the Governor had sent off Major Bazett 

 and seventy men, who went by an indirect road, hoping to 

 take the mutineers unawares; but he found them well 

 prepared, with their position fortified on all sides by the 

 Alarm House guns. They received him with a discharge of 

 grape, but, nothing daunted, he and his party rushed and 

 secured the gun from which they were firing, threw the 

 gunners into confusion, and, following up the attack quickly 

 with musketry, they overcame the rebels. Many of the 

 mutineers in the darkness deserted their side, and joined 

 Bazett ; the others took refuge in the Alarm House. On 

 Major Bazett's side two were killed, several mutineers were 

 wounded, and 103 taken prisoners. These were all tried by 

 Court Martial, and, except fourteen, were condemned to 

 death ; the sentence was however remitted for many. Only 

 nine, including Burnet, suffered death. Tooley was sent 

 off the island in a ship bound for England ; this was wrecked 

 off Salby and every soul perished. 



Mr. Corneille resigned, and was followed by Colonel 



