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“ ‘That will do, Mr. Tinkler,’ I was told. I was ushered out of the room, and ... well, old lad, here we are!”

“You know, Byam,” Tinkler went on, after a moment of silence, “I’ve often wondered whether that affair of the coconuts was not the actual cause of the mutiny. Do you remember how Bligh abused Christian?”

“I’m not likely to forget that,” I replied.

“I can recall Bligh’s very words: ‘Yes, you bloody hound! I do think so! You must have stolen some of mine or you would be able to give a better account of your own!’ What a thing to say to his second-in-command! I more than half believe that was what goaded Christian to desperation. What do you think?”

“Let’s not talk of it, Tinkler,” I said. “I’m sick to death of the business.”

“Forgive me, lad. Of course you are.”

“But I’d like nothing better than to hear about your voyage in the launch to Timor.”

“I say this, Byam: in that situation, Bligh was beyond all praise. He was the same old blackguard, and he ruled us with an iron hand, but, by God, he brought us through! I don’t believe there’s another man in England who could have done it.”