They did not venture at once to lay hold of the ship till they had first inquired if they might come on board; and on permission being granted, they sprang up the side and shook every officer by the hand with undisguised feelings of gratification.
The activity of the young men, ten in number, outstripped that of old Adams, who was in his sixty-fifth year, and somewhat corpulent.

He was dressed in a sailor's shirt and trousers, and a low-crowned hat, which he held in his hand until desired to put it on.

He still retained his sailor's manners, doffing his hat and smoothing down his bald forehead whenever he was addressed by the officers of the _Blossom_.
The young men were tall, robust, and healthy, with good-natured countenances, and a simplicity of manner, and a fear of doing something that might be wrong, which at once prevented the possibility of giving offence.

Their dresses were whimsical enough; some had long coats without trousers, and others trousers without coats, and others again waistcoats without either.

None of them had either shoes or stockings, and there were only two hats among them, 'neither of which,' Captain Beechey says, 'seemed likely to hang long together.' Captain Beechey procured from Adams a narrative of the whole transaction of the mutiny, which however is incorrect in many parts; and also a history of the broils and disputes which led to the violent death of all these misguided men (with the exception of Young and Adams), who accompanied Christian in the _Bounty_ to Pitcairn's Island.
It may be recollected that the _Bounty_ was carried away from Otaheite by nine of the mutineers.