carefully recruited. In Pitt's hut, which he shared with five other
rebels-convict, all of whom were to join in this bid for liberty, a
ladder had been constructed in secret during those nights of waiting.
With this they were to surmount the stockade and gain the open. The
risk of detection, so that they made little noise, was negligible.
Beyond locking them all into that stockade at night, there was no
great precaution taken. Where, after all, could any so foolish as
to attempt escape hope to conceal himself in that island? The chief
risk lay in discovery by those of their companions who were to be
left behind. It was because of these that they must go cautiously
and in silence.

The day that was to have been their last in Barbados was a day of
hope and anxiety to the twelve associates in that enterprise, no
less than to Nuttall in the town below.

Towards sunset, having seen Nuttall depart to purchase and fetch
the sloop to the prearranged moorings at the wharf, Peter Blood
came sauntering towards the stockade, just as the slaves were being
driven in from the fields. He stood aside at the entrance to let
them pass, and beyond the message of hope flashed by his eyes, he
held no communication with them.

He entered the stockade in their wake, and as they broke their ranks
to seek their various respective huts, he beheld Colonel Bishop in
talk with Kent, the overseer. The pair were standing by the stocks,
planted in the middle of that green space for the punishment of
offending slaves.

As he advanced, Bishop turned to regard him, scowling. "Where have