THE FIRST GREAT PASTORALIST 47 



probability its inspirer. He had spurned a warrant 

 for his apprehension on account of his blameless con- 

 nection with a trading schooner, and asserted in writing 

 that he would never submit to " the horrid tyranny " 

 of BHgh till he was forced to submit, adding that he 

 looked upon it (the innocent warrant), as on the persons 

 directing its execution, " with scorn and contempt." 

 He was promptly lodged in gaol for his bold defiance 

 of the constituted authorities. The six military officers 

 composing the court urged that he should be re-admitted 

 to bail. As soon as he lea,rned that this recommenda- 

 tion had been made, Bhgh summoned the recalcitrant 

 officers to appear before him at Government House on 

 the following day (January 27), to answer charges of 

 " certain crimes," or on account of " practices which " 

 Bligh " considered treasonable." They never did 

 appear before the irate Governor. His last coup gave 

 the finishing stroke to the endurance of the long-suffering 

 officers and better class of settlers ; for we cannot yet 

 properly speak of the people. They appealed to their 

 commanders to place Bligh under immediate arrest. 

 It was feared that McArthur would be privily made 

 away with. Major Johnston then arrived at the 

 barracks on the afternoon of the 26th and at once 

 issued a warrant to the gaoler to deliver up McArthur, 

 who was brought to the security of the barracks. Then 

 McArthur, who was evidently the real leader, writing 

 on a gun in the square of the barracks, drafted a re- 

 quisition, calhng on Johnston to place Bligh under 

 arrest. The document was at once signed by McArthur 

 and other prominent colonists, and afterwards more 

 numerously. An angry mob surged towards Govern- 

 ment House. Stricken with mortal terror, Bhgh, who 

 had plaj^ed the man in far more dangerous crises, seems 

 to have shown the white feather, and was found under 

 circumstances that compromised his manhood, Hke 

 Claudius, elected Roman emperor ; but an angry mob 

 is said to be more terrible than an embattled host. His 

 heroic daughter fought more bravely for him than he 



