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“We know what we have to expect of the savages, sir,” he said. “Without arms, our experience at Tofoa will only be repeated on other islands, and we could not hope to come off so fortunate again.”

Other voices were joined to the master’s; there was no doubt as to the general desire of our company to brave the perils of the sea rather than those certain to be met with on land. Bligh was willing to be persuaded; in fact, I am sure that he himself would have proposed this change of plan had no one else spoken of it. Nevertheless, he wished us to be fully aware of the dangers ahead of us.

“Do you know, Mr. Fryer,” he asked, “how far we must sail before we shall have any expectation of help?”

“Not exactly, sir.”

“To the Dutch East Indies,” Bligh went on; “and the first of their settlements is on the island of Timor, a full twelve hundred leagues from here.”

A moment of silence followed. Not one of us, I believe, but was thinking: “Twelve hundred leagues! What hope, then, have we?”

“Even so,” said Bligh, “our situation is by no means hopeless. Granted that every man of you gives me his full support, I believe we shall reach Timor.”