"Well," said I, "we may now expect the mutineers to return at any moment, and we must be ready for them when they appear.  I will therefore ask you all to have your weapons at hand; and when the longboat heaves in sight the ladies must immediately go below, out of harm's way, while you distribute yourselves along the bulwarks, with your firearms levelled at the boat.  You must arrange yourselves in such a manner that the mutineers may be able to see that you are all armed, and prepared to fight if necessary.  By this means I hope to overawe them and bring them to reason."