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“Now,” he said. “Stand up and defend yourself. Stand up, I say! If you are as good a man as myself, you shall prove it, here and now!”

There was no doubt of the seriousness of Bligh’s intent. Despite the gravity of the situation, as I think of it now, there was something faintly comic in it as well. In the mind’s eye I have the scene clearly in mind: The sandy spit of beach, backed by the naked rocks; the little group of spectators, their cloathes hanging in rags on their emaciated bodies, looking on at these two, who, despite starvation and hardships incredible, still had fight in them. At least, so I thought at first; but the carpenter quickly showed that his relish for it was faint indeed. He rose, holding his cutlass slackly, and gazed at Bligh with a frightened expression.

“Stand back, you others!” said Bligh. “Up with your weapon, you mutinous villain! I’ll soon prove whether you are a man or not!”

He advanced resolutely toward the carpenter, who backed away at his approach.

“Fight, damn you!” Bligh roared. “Defend yourself or I’ll cut you down as you stand!”