Page 209 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

she caught herself, with some indignation, pitying the mu-
tineers for the tremendous scrape they had got themselves
into. How they would be flogged when papa came back! In
the meantime this sleeping in the open air was novel and
rather pleasant.
Honest Bates produced a piece of biscuit, and, with all
the generosity of his nature, suggested that this should be
set aside for the sole use of the two females, but Mrs. Vick-
ers would not hear of it. ‘We must all share alike,’ said she,
with something of the spirit that she knew her husband
would have displayed under like circumstance; and Frere
wondered at her apparent strength of mind. Had he been
gifted with more acuteness, he would not have wondered;
for when a crisis comes to one of two persons who have lived
much together, the influence of the nobler spirit makes it-
self felt. Frere had a tinder-box in his pocket, and he made a
fire with some dry leaves and sticks. Grimes fell asleep, and
the two men sitting at their fire discussed the chances of
escape. Neither liked to openly broach the supposition that
they had been finally deserted. It was concluded between
them that unless the brig sailed in the night—and the now
risen moon showed her yet lying at anchor— the convicts
would return and bring them food. This supposition proved
correct, for about an hour after daylight they saw the whale-
boat pulling towards them.
A discussion had arisen amongst the mutineers as to
the propriety of at once making sail, but Barker, who had
been one of the pilot-boat crew, and knew the dangers of
the Bar, vowed that he would not undertake to steer the

0 For the Term of His Natural Life