Page 210 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

brig through the Gates until morning; and so the boats be-
ing secured astern, a strict watch was set, lest the helpless
Bates should attempt to rescue the vessel. During the eve-
ning—the excitement attendant upon the outbreak having
passed away, and the magnitude of the task before them be-
ing more fully apparent to their minds—a feeling of pity for
the unfortunate party on the mainland took possession of
them. It was quite possible that the Osprey might be recap-
tured, in which case five useless murders would have been
committed; and however callous in bloodshed were the ma-
jority of the ten, not one among them could contemplate in
cold blood, without a twinge of remorse, the death of the
harmless child of the Commandant.
John Rex, seeing how matters were going, made haste to
take to himself the credit of mercy. He ruled, and had al-
ways ruled, his ruffians not so much by suggesting to them
the course they should take, as by leading them on the way
they had already chosen for themselves. ‘I propose,’ said he,
‘that we divide the provisions. There are five of them and
twelve of us. Then nobody can blame us.’
‘Ay,’ said Porter, mindful of a similar exploit, ‘and if we’re
taken, they can tell what we have done. Don’t let our affair
be like that of the Cypress, to leave them to starve.’ ‘Ay, ay,’
says Barker, ‘you’re right! When Fergusson was topped at
Hobart Town, I heard old Troke say that if he’d not refused
to set the tucker ashore, he might ha’ got off with a whole
skin.’
Thus urged, by self-interest, as well as sentiment, to
mercy, the provision was got upon deck by daylight, and

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