24 THE MUTINY. 
butes much to the health of the ship's com- 
pany, but enables them more readily to exert 
themselves in cases of sudden emergency." * 
On the evening before the mutiny, Bligh 
invited Christian to supper in his cabin ; an 
invitation which was declined. Christian had 
the watch for two hours. That night, the 
27th of April, 1789, was remarked for its 
beauty, even in the tropical regions, all 
nature being calm and lovely around ; but it 
was the eve of a day of consternation and 
terror. 
Full of desperate intentions, Christian, at 
the next morning's watch, which was from 
4 to 8, began to sound Matthew Quintal, and 
some others, and soon gained over the greater 
part of the men. Having rapidly arranged 
their plans, they got at the arms, under pre- 
tence of requiring a gun to shoot a shark, 
which was astern of the ship. At the dawn 
of day, they roughly awoke Bligh, who, 
starting up in amazement, on seeing men 
about him armed with cutlasses and pistols, 
called out loudly for assistance. On his 
* Voyage to the South Sea, undertaken by command 
of hia Majesty, &c., published by Bligh, in 1790, page 21. 
