He agreed with me as to that, but told me he was perfectly at a loss what measures to take, for that there were still six-and-twenty hands on board, who, having entered into a cursed conspiracy, by which they had all forfeited their lives to the law, would be hardened in it now by desperation, and would carry it on, knowing that if they were subdued they would be brought to the gallows as soon as they came to England, or to any of the English colonies, and that, therefore, there would be no attacking them with so small a number as we were.
Hij stemde zulks toe, maar bekende, dat hij volstrekt niet wist wat maatregelen te nemen, want dat er nog zesentwintig man aan boord waren, die daar zij in eene muiterij hadden deel genomen, waardoor zij volgens de wet het leven verbeurd hadden, thans door wanhoop gedreven, daarin zouden volharden, wetende, dat als zij zich onderwierpen, de galg hun lot zou zijn, zoodra zij in Engeland of een der Engelsche koloniën kwamen, en dat het derhalve ongeraden zou zijn hen met ons klein getal aan te tasten.