"There are others detained on the island besides slaves. There are
several who are here for debt, and would be glad enough to spread
their wings. There's a fellow Nuttall, now, who follows the trade
of a shipwright, whom I happen to know would welcome such a chance
as you might afford him."

"But how should a debtor come with money to buy a boat? The question
will be asked."

"To be sure it will. But if you contrive shrewdly, you'll all be
gone before that happens."

Blood nodded understanding, and the doctor, setting a hand upon his
sleeve, unfolded the scheme he had conceived.

"You shall have the money from me at once. Having received it,
you'll forget that it was I who supplied it to you. You have friends
in England - relatives, perhaps - who sent it out to you through the
agency of one of your Bridgetown patients, whose name as a man of
honour you will on no account divulge lest you bring trouble upon
him. That is your tale if there are questions."

He paused, looking hard at Blood. Blood nodded understanding and
assent. Relieved, the doctor continued:

"But there should be no questions if you go carefully to work. You
concert matters With Nuttall. You enlist him as one of your
companions and a shipwright should be a very useful member of your
crew. You engage him to discover a likely sloop whose owner is