In that at least he tittered no more than the bare truth, and
expressed it very baldly. It was, indeed, as if a door had been
suddenly flung open to the sunlight for escape from a dark prison
in which a man had thought to spend his life.

He was in haste now to be alone, to straighten out his agitated
mind and plan coherently what was to be done. Also he must consult
another. Already he had hit upon that other. For such a voyage a
navigator would be necessary, and a navigator was ready to his hand
in Jeremy Pitt. The first thing was to take counsel with the young
shipmaster, who must be associated with him in this business if it
were to be undertaken. All that day his mind was in turmoil with
this new hope, and he was sick with impatience for night and a
chance to discuss the matter with his chosen partner. As a result
Blood was betimes that evening in the spacious stockade that enclosed
the huts of the slaves together with the big white house of the
overseer, and he found an opportunity of a few words with Pitt,
unobserved by the others.

"To-night when all are asleep, come to my cabin. I have something
to say to you."

The young man stared at him, roused by Blood's pregnant tone out
of the mental lethargy into which he had of late been lapsing as a
result of the dehumanizing life he lived. Then he nodded
understanding and assent, and they moved apart.

The six months of plantation life in Barbados had made an almost
tragic mark upon the young seaman. His erstwhile bright alertness