270 NARRATIVE OF THE MUTINY, &c. 



gates and tower. At 9 P. M. a reinforcement of one serjeant, one 

 corporal, one gunner, and seven matrosses, joined ray guard ; 

 making tlie total number, one lieutenant, one serjeant, two cor- 

 porals, one gunner, sixteen matrosses, and one private. Some of 

 the mutineers having heard that this party was ordered to rein- 

 force High-Knoll, told them to inform me, ' that they would 

 soon be after them, and perhaps be there as soon as they would.' 

 Between ten and eleven at night, I was employed in serving out 

 ammunition to the difl'erent parties, and getting out the field- 

 pieces, &c. for the volunteers : and at this time, about twenty 

 volunteers joined my post. They did not, however, long remain 

 with me, as I thought it better to order them to Plantation-house. 

 At a quarter before 10 P. M. the general alarm was fired at 

 Ladder-Hill. I immediately repeated it. At half-past 10 P. M. 

 I perceived a light going up Side-path : hailed it, and ordered 

 them to stop ; but it proved to be Mr. Balcombe. I kept a good 

 look-out for the mutineers during the night, with the night-glasses ; 

 but could not perceive them, — keeping my portfires constantly 

 lighted, and hailing every body in sight, passing and re-passing. 

 Tuesday morning, at about half-past 12 A. M. I received in- 

 formation, by a running-hand from the picquet guard under 

 High-Knoll, that the mutineers had been at Long Wood, and had 

 taken the Lieutenant-Governor prisoner, as well as Mr. Hall, the 

 conductor ; that they had pressed Serjeant Lassels, and some 

 artillerymen, to assist them in manning a three-pounder, — the 

 only one of the west brigade that had not been spiked, — and that 

 they were approaching Plantation-house with the Lieutenant- 

 Governor in their centre. At half past one, A. M. I perceived 

 two lights coming round under the Alarm-house, and at times 

 could see, with our night-glasses, a great number of men. Con- 

 jecturing thes were the mutineers, I immediately gave informa- 



