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“I then said, ‘What boat are they going to put Captain Bligh into?’ They said, ‘The large cutter.’ ‘Good God!’ I said, ‘the cutter’s bottom is almost out of her, being very much eaten with worms.’ ‘Damn his eyes,’ Sumner and Quintal said, ‘it is too good for him even so!’ I said, ‘I hope they are not going to set Captain Bligh adrift by himself?’ They answered, ‘No. Mr. Samuel, his clerk, and Mr. Hayward and Mr. Hallet are going with him.’

“At last I prevailed on them to call on deck to Christian to give me permission to go up, which, after some hesitation, he granted. Mr. Bligh was standing by the mizzenmast with his hands tied behind his back, and there were several men guarding him. I said, ‘Mr. Christian, consider what you are about.’ ‘Hold your tongue, sir,’ he replied. ‘I have been in hell for weeks past. Captain Bligh has brought all this on himself.’

“Mr. Purcell, the carpenter, had been permitted to come on deck at the same time with myself, and Mr. Christian now ordered him to have the gear for the large cutter brought up. When we came to Mr. Christian, Mr. Byam was talking with him. I said, ‘Mr. Byam, surely you are not concerned in this?’ He appeared to be horrified at such a thought. Mr. Christian said, ‘No, Mr. Fryer, Mr. Byam has no hand in this business.’ I then said, ‘Mr. Christian, I will stay with the ship,’ thinking that, if permitted to do so, a chance might offer for retaking the vessel. Christian replied, ‘No, Mr. Fryer, you will go with Captain Bligh.’ He then ordered Quintal, one of the seamen under arms, to conduct me to my cabin while I collected such things as I should need.