the reply of the Dutch was a contemptuous refusal. Before his envoy returned he had worked out for himself a complete plan of defence based on the idea that he would have to rely upon his own resources probably for a considerable period. He dismantled the Defence and had her guns and stores removed to Nailaka, which he converted into a fortified camp sufficiently strong to resist almost any attack that the Dutch were likely to make upon it. The empty ship, he contemplated, should be moored near the shore so that she could not be readily attacked, or if attacked might be destroyed to save her from capture.
The scheme was probably as sound a one as could have been devised in the peculiar circumstances in which Courthope was placed, but there were traitors in camp and one night the Defence was cut adrift and taken by the mutineers into Neira, where she was surrendered to the Dutch. Courthope's only satisfaction was that a number of loyal men put off in a boat at some peril to themselves and succeeded in rejoining him.
This additional blow was a heavy one, but Courthope, though now completely isolated, declined to give up the fight. His spirit of determination, indeed, seems to have taken a sterner form as his position became more difficult.
Laurence Reaal, the Governor-General, had himself at this time taken over the direction of affairs in the Eastern Islands, and being desirous of making if possible an amicable arrangement sent an invitation to Courthope for a conference. The English commander attended and entered into a long debate on the position of affairs which had been created by recent events. Reaal offered to return the captured ships and men, to pay compensation
