"Get the bastard up on deck," shouted Churchill and the cord was pulled with such vigour that my hands suffered the severest torture. Christian, at my side, held his bayonet at my chest while Smith and Thompson fell in behind with loaded muskets. Flints were cocked, bayonets fixed and all were pointed at me as I was hauled up the aft hatch. I reached the deck dressed only in my nightshirt. Suddenly more mutineers emerged all aggressively displaying their weapons. I escorted aft to stand beside the mizzen mast where I was placed under guard by Churchill and Smith.
         Smith had an an evil grin and said, "We will soon be back in Tahiti Mr Bligh never you fear."
         "Aye that we will," enjoined Quintal. They were so certain they and others nearby rejoiced in their plans. I looked about me for some hope of rescue or at least assistance. Sadly there was none.
         Mr Hayward and Mr Hallet, though in Christian's watch, were like me caught completely unprepared. They had no idea of what was happening and they possessed no weapons. Also the arms were secured by the mutineers and well guarded. Mr Elphinstone the master's mate was held below in his hammock and Mr Nelson and Mr Peckover in their cabins. The fore-hatchway was well guarded by mutineers.
         Suddenly Mr Cole appeared followed by Mr Purcell. They both looked aft and observed me near the mizzen mast my hands tightly bound behind my back and under guard. Christian stood nearby. "Mr Cole" I cried, "they have taken the ship. We must do something, it is our sworn duty! Be alive to any chance sir." The mutineer's muskets immediately swung from me and towards my boatswain Mr Cole and the carperter's mate Mr Peckover. Christian's bayonet still pressed against my neck however.
         "Stand or I shall fire! Take great care Mr Cole," yelled Christian. Then he said, "If you do not hoist out the small cutter or you will instantly be taken care of yourself."
         This alarmed and confused Mr Cole and Mr Peckover but seeing no alternative they began loosening the stays holding the ship's boat. Quickly Mr Cole turned from the boat "But Mr Christian," he pleaded, "the cutter is rotten and full of leaks – it will sink."
         "'Tis true Mr Christian," said Peckover.
         "Then you shall have the launch." I could see that Christian was becoming impatient. "Hoist it out." So the launch was hoisted out with the assistance of some of the crew allowed on deck solely for that purpose. "Mr Burkitt put Mr Hallet, Mr Hayward and Mr Samuels into the boat," ordered Christian. The two young midshipmen and my clerk were collared and roughly shoved by the sailor Burkitt towards the boat.
         Seeing the way they were forced into the boat I spoke up. "What was the meaning of this Mr Christian, why are you ordering them off and by what authority do you do this.... Where is your duty sir?" I demanded Christian answer me.
         "Hold your tongue, or you are dead this instant," shouted Christian and his eyes turned bloody. At that moment I feared for my life. Then another threat. "I will do it Mr Christian; I will kill the bastard right now." Mathew Quintall advanced towards me his bayonet held low as if intending to disembowel me. His weapon stopped an inch from my groin and he hissed, "Keep your mouth shut mister! If I should make a mistake it will never be righted in your lifetime! What do you say Mr Christian, shall I do it?"
         I held my breath till at the last instant Christian stayed his hand. I understood then that my appeal had only the effect of arousing more violence. But I fear not to stop in my duty and in any opportunity I saw to retake the ship even though the mutineers, with Christian at their head, still held me capture isolated and abaft the mizzen mast.
         Later Christian spoke up. "Mr Burkitt, take some of your men and bring those officers and crew who are not with us up on deck ... and take care they are not armed!" Bring them one by one through the aft hatch then assemble them by the launch." Then while the officers and men were gathering on deck, Christian called their attention to him. He grabbed the cord binding my hands and wrists and pulled it high at the same instant placing cold iron at my breast. His demonstration showed everyone he was in charge of my life and it proved to all there was no chance of my escape.
         Again I began to call out to my officers but Christian put his face to mine. "Mr Bligh," he hissed, "you will instantly be put to death if you interfere, I warn you—be silent sir." He changed the bayonet for a cutlass and pressed it to the skin under my neck.
         "Kill me if you will," I challenged. Suddnely the villains around us all cocked their barking irons and others fixed their bayonets. It only required the slip of a finger and a discharged musket and I knew I was a dead man. All became still. The only movement being the eyes of the villains as they darted about seeking evidence of a combined threat.
         Christian saw none. "Mr Fryer, Mr Leward, Mr Peckover into the boat," he shouted braking the tension. "You too Mr Elphinstone ... and Mr Lebogue if that be your desire. Mr Burkitt hurry them on."
         When I concluded I was to be set adrift with those in the launch I said to Christian, "Sir you cannot be so cruel as to send these people to their doom; they have harmed no one."
         "Someone blow the buggers brains out!" shouted McKoy who overheard. "I have heard enough of this yap."
         "Give all who remain on board a dram of rum," ordered Christian and there was much joy on behalf of the mutineers as one of their number was dispatched below for that purpose.
         I was becoming exceedingly tired by this time and unhappily saw I could do nothing to effect the recovery of HMS.'Bounty' – every chance was threatened with instant death. When the officers and men were all put into the boat some of the mutineers laughed and pointed to the perilous situation of the boat; it being very deep in the water with insufficient room for those who were in her.
         Christian seemed surprised by the large number of the crew that desired to follow me and became dejected. He seemed to be plotting instant destruction on himself and everyone else. For of all diabolical looking men he exceeded every possible description.
         "Mr Christian, could you spare some muskets or cutlasses?" I called.
         McKoy shouted back sarcastically, "But why would you need 'em? You say you know the Indians mightily well and you always said they will welcome you 'ere you go. Now we shall see!" After having to endure much more similar ridicule we were at last cast adrift to our fate in the open ocean. "There goes the Bounty bastard, bread-fruit Bligh!" I heard Churchill call as he tossed one of the plants after us. We were finally set adrift at half past the hour of nine. 'Huzzah for Tahiti' was frequently shouted as we rowed away from the stern of HMS.'Bounty'.'
         So their evil plans had hatched their cruel conspiracy succeeded. They cast us adrift with twenty-five gallons of water, one hundred and fifty pounds of bread, thirty pounds of pork, six quarts of rum and six bottles of wine. The boat was so lumbered and deep in the water that most believed we could never reach the shore and some of the mutineers made their jokes of this.