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228
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MAY, 1902.
I believe Bave'd me some Strokes from him ; saying that I was the person that Stole The Brandy, And that he knew how it was a going Some Time ago. I believe he Spoke Truth Against his Will, Now or at least Unknown to him, for I Make no doubt but his Confident gave him a drink Now and then. The Next that took Me to Task was Lester the Montross, Who asked me by what Authority I Sent for him, and Order him and the 2 Other Montrosses to Assist me, if any Body Should Attempt to take the Remain'dr of the Money ; Adding that he would Lett me know he was My Officer, Being in the Kings Service and I Only in the Merchants. I did not think it Worth my While to Answer him, but he was going on in the Same Abusive Manner the Others Used to do, which provoked me to Call him Villain, and Told him if he did not Leave of his Abusive Language I would knock bim down, with the first thing that came in my way. But be Only laught at me Telling me I was the Greatest Villain, and wish I would offer to Strike him, he would desire no better Sport. The Usage I had Receive from the Rest before and the Abusive Language from this Scoundrell, put me past my Reason, therefore Run towards him; and he Meeting me, which I did not Observe, got the first Blow, which had not in my Power to Return, being taken hold of by Mr Collett and the Best who parted us. By this Time Chisholm who had been out of the Tent Some Time, Came in Swaggering and Asked what Domineering was going on Now, that they would have no More of it; Adding he know what to do with the Boat as well as I when she was a floate. And if I wanted Any Thing to Turn Out with him he would make me Easey presently; Which Challange I did not Care to Except; but told him, if he durst Take on of the Guns, I would Meet bim with Another, which he Refused. And Then the Carpenter, who Refused lickwise, but Upon Second Thought Said he would. Accordingly went out of the Tent and I followe'd. He began to Strip himself and asked what I was for, Stick or fist; Adding he would Lett me See he was Not Afraid of his Flesh, I Said Nothing to him butt Retnin'd into the Tent Again; and he Foilowed, Asking me il taking 2 Guns was the way to try a Man. No Answer! Chisholm a Good Stick or Fist is the way. So this Fray Ended with Tolling me, they did not want any more of my Commanding or Domineering Over them, and That They Were all Upon & Footing, therefore wanted no Commander. To Which I made them no answer. Neither did I Concern my self with any Thing afterwards, till within a day the Boat was to be Launched; but There was wery little to do which Made me quite Easy, and from this Time Would Mess no More with the Carpenter. And indeed Should not have Eat with him at all, if I thought he would have Behaved in the Manner he bas done; for when I divided the people into two Messes Thought by Taking all the Officers into Mine, there would be no danger of the Rest of the People doing any thing Contrary to our Will. But it bappen. I Made Choice of the greatest Sooundrelle. I Enjoyd Being in a Mess by Our Selves Greatly, and so did the Rest of my Mess Mates; Notwithstanding they were Obliged to Cook for themselves, and Often 8 days before we could get the Kettle to Make Broth, which was the Best of Our Food at That Time; it bring Mostly Employd for the Carpenters. And if at any time it was Not, all the Rest Insisted being Served before us. The People Receiv! their Orders from the Carpenter & Chisholm Which was to get w Much Iron as they could, and our Method of Getting it was to Burn it Out of the Wreck, and one day when they had fred it, took the Trouble to Carry the Carrining Blocks I had got up and Terry and threw them in the fire, Beexley was een to throw one in by Yates. About 4 or 5 days before the Boat was Launch Powell Seems to be head Man, giving his Orders to Take the Brandy Cask and Rinch them. M! Collett Assisted to gett them out of the Tent, they being in the Place, where we Mess, and afterwards took The Liberty of Rinching one of them out with a little fresh Water; Which Powell Observing, Damn! his Assurance and Asked what Business he had to do that, Swearing he should not have it, and Callo him all the Infamous Names Could be thought of; Swearing that None of us Shall go of the Island in the Boat, and Indeed Expected that would be the case.
Howsoever 2 days Afterwards the People Came To me to know if I thought proper to have the things Share'd. I Asked Them Whether they were Tantalizing me and if they did not think being Left on the Island was Not Punishment Enough without it.
