The fumes of the wine soon disordered their brains, already affected by the presence of danger and want of food.  Thus inflamed, these men, become deaf to the voice of reason, desired to implicate, in one common destruction, their companions in misfortune; they openly expressed their intention to rid themselves of the officers, who they said, wished to oppose their design, and then to destroy the raft by cutting the ropes which united the different parts that composed it.  A moment after, they were proceeding to put this plan in execution.  One of them advanced to the edge of the raft with a boarding-axe, and began to strike the cords:  this was the signal for revolt:  we advanced in order to stop these madmen:  he who was armed with the axe, with which he even threatened an officer, was the first victim:  a blow with a sabre put an end to his existence.  This man was an Asiatic, and soldier in a colonial regiment:  a colossal stature, short curled hair, an extremely large nose, an enormous mouth, a sallow complexion, gave him a hideous air.  He had placed himself, at first, in the middle of the raft, and at every blow of his fist he overthrew those who stood in his way; he inspired the greatest terror, and nobody dared to approach him.  If there had been half-a-dozen like him, our destruction would have been inevitable.

Some persons, desirous of prolonging their existence, joined those who wished to preserve the raft, and armed themselves:  of this number were some subaltern officers and many passengers.  The mutineers drew their sabres, and those who had none, armed themselves with knives:  they advanced resolutely against us; we put ourselves on our defence:  the attack was going to begin.  Animated by despair, one of the mutineers lifted his sabre against an officer; he immediately fell, pierced with wounds.  This firmness awed them a moment; but did not at all diminish their rage.  They ceased to threaten us, and presenting a front bristling with sabres and bayonets, they retired to the back part, to execute their plan.  One of them pretended to rest himself on the little railing which formed the sides of the raft, and with a knife began to cut the cords.  Being informed by a servant, we rushed upon him—­a soldier attempted to defend him—­threatened an officer with his knife, and in attempting to strike him, only pierced his coat—­the officer turned round—­overpowered his adversary, and threw both him and his comrade into the sea!

After this there were no more partial affairs:  the combat became general.  Some cried lower the sail; a crowd of madmen instantly threw themselves on the yards and the shrouds, and cut the stays, and let the mast fall, and nearly broke the thigh of a captain of foot, who fell senseless.  He was seized by the soldiers, who threw him into the sea:  we perceived it—­saved him, and placed him on a barrel, from which he was taken by the seditious; who were going to cut out his eyes with a penknife.  Exasperated by so many cruelties, we no longer kept any measures, and charged them furiously.  With our sabres drawn we traversed the lines which the soldiers formed, and many atoned with their lives for a moment of delusion.  Several passengers displayed much courage and coolness in these cruel moments.