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“Clear the cutter!” he called. “Mr. Churchill!”

“Aye, aye, sir!”

“Fetch up Mr. Fryer and Mr. Purcell! Burkitt!”

“Here, sir!”

“You and Sumner and Mills and Martin—stand guard here over Mr. Bligh!”

Burkitt took the end of the line in one of his huge hairy fists.

“We’ll mind him, sir! I’ll lay to that!”

“What’s your plan, Mr. Christian? We’ve a right to know,” said Sumner. Christian turned quickly and looked at him. “Mind what you’re about, Sumner!” he said quietly. “I’m master of this ship! Lively, men, with the cutter.”

Several men climbed into the boat to clear out the yams, sweet potatoes, and other ship’s stores which were kept there, while others unlashed it and got ready the tackle for hoisting it over the side. Burkitt stood directly in front of Captain Bligh, holding the point of a bayonet within an inch of his breast. Sumner stood behind him with his musket at ready, and the other men on either side. Thompson excepted, they were the hardest characters among the sailors, and Bligh wisely said nothing to arouse them further. Others of the mutineers were stationed about the decks, and there were three at each of the ladderways. I wondered how the affair had been so well and secretly planned. I searched my memory, but could recall no incident of a character in the least suspicious.