The Lonely Island | Page 7

vote for going back to Otaheite, Heywood?" asked
Young.
"Because it is to Otaheite that they will send to look after us, and I
should like to be there to give myself up, the instant a man-of-war
arrives, and declare my innocence of the crime of mutiny."
"You are right, Heywood," said Stewart; "I, too, would like to give
myself up the moment I get the chance. Captain Bligh knows that you
and I had no hand in the mutiny, and if he reaches England will clear us
of so foul a stain. It's a pity that those who voted for Otaheite were not
in the majority."
"That's all very well for you, who were seen to go below to fetch your
clothes, and were detained against your will," said Young, "but it was
not so with me. I was forcibly detained below. They would not allow
me to go on deck at all until the launch had left, so that it would go
hard with me before a court-martial. But the die is now cast, and there's
no help for it. Although I took no part in the mutiny, I won't risk falling
into the hands of justice, with such an unprincipled scoundrel as Bligh
to witness against me. My future fortunes now lie with Fletcher
Christian. I cannot avoid my fate."

Young spoke sadly, yet with some bitterness of tone, like one who has
made up his mind to face and endure the worst.
On reaching the remote island of Toubouai the mutineers were much
impressed with its beauty. It seemed exceedingly fertile, was wooded to
the water's edge, and surrounded by a coral reef, with one opening
through which a ship might enter. Altogether it seemed a most suitable
refuge, but here they met with an insurmountable difficulty. On
drawing near to the shore they saw hundreds of natives, who, armed
with clubs and spears, lined the beach, blew their shell-horns, and
resolutely opposed the landing of the strangers.
As all efforts to conciliate them were fruitless, resort was had to cannon
and musketry. Of course the terrible thunder of the white man's artillery
had its usual effect on the savages. They fled inland, and the mutineers
gained a footing on the island.
But the natives continued their opposition so vigorously, that this
refuge proved to be the reverse of a place of rest.
Christian therefore changed his plan, and, re-embarking in the Bounty,
set sail for Otaheite.
On the way thither the mutineers disagreed among themselves. Some of
those who had been forcibly detained even began to plot the retaking of
the ship, but their intentions were discovered and prevented.
On the 6th of June they reached their former anchorage in Otaheite,
where the natives received them with much joy and some surprise, but
a story was trumped up to account for this sudden re-appearance of the
mutineers.
Christian, however, had not yet given up his intention of settling on the
island of Toubouai. He foresaw the doom that awaited him if he should
remain at Otaheite, and resolved to return to the former island with a
quantity of livestock. He began to barter with the friendly Otaheitans,
and soon had as many hogs, goats, fowls, cats, and dogs as he required,
besides a bull and a cow which had been left there by Captain Cook.

With these and several natives he sailed again for Toubouai. Arriving
there in nine days, he found that a change had come over the spirit of
the natives. They were decidedly and unaccountably amiable. They not
only permitted the white men to land, but assisted them in warping the
ship into a place of shelter, as well as in landing provisions and stores.
Fletcher Christian, whatever his faults may have been, seems to have
had peaceful tendencies. He had not only secured the friendship of the
Otaheitans by his just and considerate treatment of them while engaged
in barter, but he now managed to conciliate some of the chiefs of
Toubouai. As a precaution, however, he set about building an
entrenched fortress, in the labours connected with which he took his
full share of work with the men. While the building was in progress the
natives, despite the friendly chiefs, threw off the mask of good-will,
which had doubtless been put on for the purpose of getting the white
men into their power. Strong in overwhelming numbers, they made
frequent attacks on the mutineers, which these latter, being strong in
arms, successfully repelled. It soon became evident that warfare, not
peace, was to be the lot of the residents on Toubouai, and, finally, it
was agreed that the Bounty should be got ready for sea, and the whole
party should return to Otaheite.
The resolution was soon carried into effect, and the