eighteen portions. Then one of the sailors was made to turn his back upon the feast, while another sailor pointed separately to each portion, saying "Who shall have this?" Thus every one felt that he had an equal chance with the rest of getting the best portion, and all grumbling at supposed unfairness was avoided. Curiously enough the poor commander fared worst upon this occasion, for, much to the amusement of the men, the beak and claws were included in the share that fell to him!

On the same evening several boobies approached, and one of them was caught and divided in the same manner. It was about the size of a duck. The blood was given to three of the men who had been most distressed for want

of food. Of course it was eaten raw. Even had they possessed the means of cooking it, these half famished men would not have delayed their meal for such a trifle. On the 26th another booby was caught.

The heat of the sun now became even more distressing than cold and rain had been before, and some of the people were seized with a languor and faintness that rendered them indifferent to life.

At last, on the 28th, about one in the morning, the sound of breakers was heard by the man at the helm, and soon after they approached the "barrier reef," which runs along the eastern coast of New Holland. The sea broke furiously over this reef, but within the water was as smooth as a pond. Along it they steered until an opening was found, and passing in with a strong stream, they at last found themselves in smooth water, and returned thanks to God who had brought them thus far in safety. But their terrible voyage was not yet done. Here they could only rest and recruit their strength for a few days.

Oysters were found on the rocks in great abundance. Fresh water was also found; but above all, rest-sound, sweet, refreshing repose to their wearied limbs and minds -was obtained.

With returning health, as is too often the case in such circumstances, came a mutinous spirit. Bligh ordered some of the crew to go along the shore to gather supplies. They grumbled at what they considered too severe duty, and one of them told his commander that he was as good a man as himself.

Bligh says, "It was not possible for one to judge where this might have an end if not stopped in time. To prevent, therefore, such disputes in future, I determined either to preserve my command or die in the attempt; and, seizing a cutlass, I ordered him to lay hold of another and defend himself; on which he called out that I was going to kill him, and immediately made concessions. I did not allow this to interfere further with the harmony of the boat's crew, and everything soon became quiet."

About this time-June 1st- Nelson, the botanist, became very ill; two of the men also began to show symptoms of sinking under the effects of the exposure and suffering they had endured, notwithstanding their recent rest. But the voyage to the nearest habitable part of the globe could not be delayed on this account; so, on the 3d, the little boat once more launched out into the open sea.

Soon they were again reduced to the old allowance—the twenty-fifth of an ounce of biscuit, carefully weighed in the cocoa-nut scales, with the pistol bullet; and ere long they were reduced to worse straits than before. The surgeon and one of the stoutest sailors broke down.

"On the morning of the 10th, after a comfortless night," says Bligh, "there was a visible alteration for the worse in many of the people, which gave me great apprehensions. An extreme weakness, swelled legs, hollow and ghastly countenances, a more than common inclination to sleep, with an apparent debility of understanding, seemed to me the melancholy presage of an approaching dissolution. The surgeon and Lobogue, in particular, were most miserable objects. I occasionally gave them a few tea-spoonfuls of wine out of the little that remained, which greatly assisted them. The hopes of being able to accomplish the voyage was our principal support. The boatswain very innocently told me that he really thought I looked worse than any in the boat. The simplicity with which he uttered such an opinion amused me, and I returned him a better compliment."

But the sufferings of this much 'enduring crew were soon to terminate; with some in restoration to health and to their native land; with others in the last quiet restingplace of man. On the 11th, Mr. Bligh told his companions that they were approaching Timor; and, accordingly, the next day they arrived at that island, where the people received them with the utmost hospitality and kindness; vieing with each other in acts of kindness, while they gazed in horror and pity at the living skeletons who, with tears streaming from their eyes, and words of thankfulness to God upon their lips, landed on their shores.

Two months they remained here to recruit; then they set forth on their return to England. But all of them did not reach it. Of the nineteen who were forced from the Bounty by the mutineers, thirteen survived to tell the tale of their wonderful voyage and almost miraculous escape.

Besides John Norton, who was stoned by the savages of Tofoa, Nelson, the botanist, perished at Timor. Two others died at Batavia, and another on the passage home. The surgeon, Mr. Ledward, was left behind, and never again heard of.

"Thus happily ended," says Bligh, in conclusion, “ through the assistance of Divine Providence, without accident, a voyage of the most extraordinary nature that ever happened in the world."

CHAPTER XI.

PITCAIRN ISLAND.

MUCH has been said, in preceding chapters, of the mutiny of the Bounty and its consequences; but we have not yet done with it. The most remarkable result of that mutiny has yet to be told.

The inspired psalmist says, "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee, the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain;" and never, probably, was the truth of this prophecy more strikingly or evidently set forth than in the colonization and finally the conversion of

women.

PITCAIRN ISLAND.

When Fletcher Christian left Otaheite in the Bounty, he took with him, as has been said, several native men and The following were the comrades who accompanied him:-Edward Young, midshipman; John Mills, gunner's mate; Matthew Quintal, seamen; William M'Coy, seaman; Alexander Smith alias John Adams, seaman; John Williams, seaman ; Isaac Martin, seaman; and William Brown, gardener.

These, with Christian and the Otaheitans, numbered altogether twenty-eight souls. They sailed from Matavai Bay, in 1790; and a long but fruitless search was made for them; in the course of years they were forgotten, and the story of the mutiny of the Bounty, and all connected with, became at last a tale of other days.