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“Is this to be for good, Mr. Christian?” McCoy asked.

“Yes. Let there be no mistake about that. I have already said that if we go ashore we go to stay.”

“Then I don’t favour it.”

“For what reason?”

“The place is too sma’. We’d do better for ourselves on that island we raised after the mutiny, on our way to Tupuai.”

“Rarotonga, you mean.”

“Aye. It’s a likelier place.”

Christian reflected for a moment.

“I will say this, McCoy. I seriously considered taking the vessel to Rarotonga, but there are the best of reasons why I decided against the plan. The place is known to those of the Bounty’s company who remained on Tahiti, and amongst them are men who will be sure to speak of it to the officers of whatever vessel may be sent in search of us. Furthermore, it is but little more than a hundred leagues from Tahiti. We could never feel safe there.... Have you anything further to say?”

He waited, glancing from one to another of the mutineers. Mills avoided his gaze and stood with his arms folded, scowling at vacancy. Martin looked at Quintal and kicked him with his bare foot as though urging him to speak, but no further objections were offered.