‘September 27, 1835, Samuel Rotch, mate of the barque _Arab Chief_, comes to me, Benjamin Nodder, carpenter of the said ship, then sitting in my berth forward, smoking a pipe, and asked me if I’d give that matter he’d talked to me afore on another thought. I says yes, and in consideration of his promises I was agreeable to help him, but he must contrive the job so artfully as to make sure I shouldn’t get into trouble. He answers that there could be no risks at all; him and me would be witnesses, and we would take some of the sailors into the lazarette to hear the water running in, and then carry them to Captain Butler’s berth, where we’d find the treenail auger, the sailors looking on. Captain Thomas Butler was master of the said barque _Arab Chief_. The understanding was this: If the plot answered and Rotch got command he was to use his interest and make me mate under him. He was likewise to pay me fifty pounds on our return to England. This money’s still a-owing: he was always putting off the payment with promises, and swore when we started that he’d tell down the money in Spanish dollars at Callao, to which port the _Arab Chief_ was bound when she was burned. It was likewise agreed that I was to have the run of the spirits after we had confined Captain Butler to his cabin. Rotch told me that the punishment for scuttling a ship was light, not like the punishment for actually sinking of her. I didn’t suppose it would come to a term of transportation, or I swear by the blood of my heart I’d never have done it. It was to be a small punishment, Rotch says, that would put Butler out of the way for a spell--long enough to enable Rotch to get command and to give me a berth at good wages. I made the holes and plugged the inner skin, and Rotch hid the auger. It was all Rotch’s planning, and I helped. I’d have owned up several times when we were going home in the ship-of-war along with Captain Butler for the trial, but Rotch told me it was too late, that I’d already committed perjury before the Consul at Rio, and both him and me stood to be transported for life if I confessed. Captain Butler was nothing to me one way or the other; I never liked nor disliked him. Rotch, he hated the man; never said why. I allow he was ate up with jealousy; from his toes to his hair he was fired with it. I’ll make no excuses for myself. Drink was at bottom and not caring. I never reckoned it would have come to fourteen years’ transportation. I hope this here confession will clear Captain Butler’s character, and set him right again in the eyes of the world. And now, willing to sign this document in the presence of witnesses, I’ve got nothing more to say.’ Bates ceased to read. ‘Some one fill my pannikin,’ said Nodder. ‘Hearing that yarn over again’s taken it out of me.’