allow the arms and ammunition upon their accounts. They told him that, as
to the ship's longboat, which they had taken to bring them on shore, they
knew it was necessary to him, and they were very willing to restore it to
him, and if he pleased to send for it, it should be very honestly delivered
to his men, and not the least injury offered to any of those who came for
it, nor the least persuasion or invitation made use of to any of them to
stay with them; and, at the bottom of the letter, they very humbly besought
him that, for their defence, and for the safety of their lives, he would be
pleased to send them a barrel of powder and some ammunition, and give them
leave to keep the mast and sail of the boat, that if it was possible for
them to make themselves a boat of any kind, they might shift off to sea, to
save themselves in such part of the world as their fate should direct them
to.

Upon this the captain, who had won much upon the rest of his men by what he
had said to them, and was very easy as to the general peace (for it was
very true that the most mutinous of the men were gone), came out to the
quarter-deck, and, calling the men together, let them know the substance of
the letter, and told the men that, however they had not deserved such
civility from him, yet he was not willing to expose them more than they
were willing to expose themselves; he was inclined to send them some
ammunition, and as they had desired but one barrel of powder, he would send
them two barrels, and shot, or lead and moulds to make shot, in proportion;
and, to let them see that he was civiller to them than they deserved, he
ordered a cask of arrack and a great bag of bread to be sent them for
subsistence till they should be able to furnish themselves.

The rest of the men applauded the captain's generosity, and every one of
them sent us something or other, and about three in the afternoon the
pinnace came on shore, and brought us all these things, which we were very