Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/361

 or ETNTG. i66 who was rushing about with a bayonet in his hand and '^'^^ using violent threats^ he handed him over to the guards and ordered the people to disperse. The order was at once obeyed. But from this point the affair took a serious turn. The soldiers, excited though they were at the time, did not venture to resist King^s authority, but they called upon Lieutenant Abbott to give Bannister his liberty. Lieu- tenant Abbott refused their request, and advised them to retire to their barracks. This they did ; but, from a statement made to Lieutenant Abbott by a drummer named Coulston, it appeared that they had formed a determination to release a mutinous detachment their comrade, Bannister, by force if their request was not complied with by the oflScers. On the following day. Lieu- tenant Abbott, having heard something of what was going on, ^^ read to the detachment the oath of fidelity, and spoke to them, saying that he would support his authority while on this island.^' When the men got into the barracks the ques- tion was discussed, and one of the number, a private named Cardell, said that " they must support their authority too> and that no men of the detachment should ever be punished on this island on account of a prisoner, which was said like- wise by Wilkinson, and the men all consented to."* Although, as it turned out, only a portion of the detach- }^?^^ ^, ment was seriously disaffected, it was apparent to King *^*^®- that a dangerous mutiny was on foot. The position was one of gravity, and immediate action was necessary. If the mutineers chose to carry their intention into effect, there Was no force to stop them. They had possession of arms, and, if they acted together, the settlement was at their mercy. King, after mature consideration, made up his mind that the best course to pursue was to deprive the mutineers of their arms, to appeal to the loyalty of the The soidiera well-disposed, and to enrol as a militia the men of the marines who had taken up land as settlers, and were thus interested in the preservation of order. The plan was^ ♦ Historical Becordd, vol. ii, p. 190. - VOL. II. — U