134 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



which might warn the Commander of impending disaster ; 

 and that probably happened only because of one master- 

 spirit, and his sudden resolve. Bligh was in good heart 

 with his prospects, and had no forebodings. There was 

 nothing in the conduct of any one on board which could 

 awaken any misgivings as to his due arrival at the West 

 Indies. Yet, early on the morning of April 28, the 

 Captain was awakened roughly from his sleep, bound and 

 thrust into the ship's launch which was already hoisted 

 out, together with eighteen members of his crew. This 

 daring outrage was the work of Fletcher Christian, 

 master's mate. He was twenty-four years of age only, 

 a gentleman's son with good education, and a promising 

 sailor. He had previously been on voyage in company 

 with Bligh. To the last, the two had been on quite proper 

 and apparently friendly terms. 



The Bounty sailed away, to return to Otaheite, leaving 

 the launch adrift. Provisions, a compass, and a few 

 necessaries were thrown over to her occupants, now 

 absolutely helpless but for what energy and good fortune 

 might do for them. A memorandum book was luckily 

 among these things, so that Bligh was enabled to keep a 

 log. Bligh soon came to the determination to make 

 for the nearest Danish Settlement in the Indian archi- 

 pelago, more than three thousand miles distant. After 

 undergoing great hardships, and losing one man at the 

 hands of savages, he made Timor on June 14. Here they 

 were very hospitably treated ; and after recruiting their 

 strength the survivors of the party reached Batavia, 

 and eventually embarked for Europe in October. The 

 exceptions were Ledward, the surgeon's mate, who is 

 supposed to have gone up country and settled there, 

 and five others who died from the results of fatigue and 

 exposure. One of these was David Nelson, the gardener. 

 Nelson's assistant, Brown, was one of the mutineers, 

 among whom were also the three wretches who had 



