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He turned to the boatswain. “Mr. Cole, see that the casks are all filled and placed in the boat.”

I went off oystering with Nelson, both of us able to walk pretty well by now. When we returned, preparations for dinner were under way. Mr. Bligh held in his hand the last of our pork, a piece of about two pounds’ weight, well streaked with lean. He handed it to Hall, motioning him to cut it up for the pot.

“We’ll sail with full bellies,” he remarked. “Since some villain robbed his mates of their pork, we’ll put it out of his power to play that scurvy trick again.”

He looked hard at Lamb as he spoke, and it seemed to me that the man hung his head with some slight expression of guilt.

With plenty of oysters, about a couple of ounces of pork for each man, and the usual ration of bread, we dined sumptuously; had we had a little pepper to season it, the stew would have been pronounced excellent anywhere. We had scarce finished eating when the captain spoke:—

“We shall set sail about two hours before sunset. With this moon coming on, we can avoid the danger of canoes by traveling as much as possible by night. Mr. Nelson and I will remain to guard the launch; the rest of you gather oysters for a sea store.”