South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-30
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BLOOD
By Rafael Sabafnli
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DtleE Two pAE14ClAnS. JolntN HAliL al
unprecedented condescensiOn this.
for hitherto neither Of them had ad-
dressed him beyond an occasional
and surly 'good-day."
IF you are for Colonel Bishops,
I'll walk with you a little way. Doc
jor Blood" said he.
DIT. Whacker drew closer 70 him
as they stepped along the wharf. He
lowered his voice TO a confidential
tone.
How often have not seen you
staring out over the sea, your soul
in your eyes! Don't I know what
you are thinking? II you could
escape from this hell OF slavery. you
could exercise the profession Of
which you are an ornament as a free
man with pleasure and profit TO
yourself. Lower still came the
voice until Il was no more than a
whisper 1T IS none 50 far now TO
the Dutch settlement Of Curacao.
At this time OF the year the voyage
may safely be undertaken in a light
craft. And Curacao need be no more
than a stepping-st one to the great
world. which would lie open 10 you
once you were delivered from this
bondage"
Il have no money. And for that
a handsome sum would be neces-
sary."
Whilst DR.. Whacker was profess
sing that his heart bled for a brother
doctor languishing in slavery. Peter
Blood rounced like n hawk upon
the obvious truth. Whacker and
his colleague desired 10 be rid Of
one who threatened 70 ruin them.
Blood laughed "Tf l should be
caught and brought back, they'd clip
my wings and brand me for life"
Surely the thing is worth a little
risk?" More tremulous than ever
was the tempter's voice.
Surely" Blood agreed. But II
asks more than courage. 1t asks
money. a slOop might be bought for
20 pounds. perhaps"
1T shall be forthcoming. It shall
be a loan, which you shall repay US
repay me. when you can"
That betraying "us" so hastily re-
trieved completed Blood's under
=
in the business.
They were approaching the peo-
pied part of the mole. Quickly. but
eloquently, Blood expressed his
thanks. where he knew that no
thanks were due.
I'VE Will talk Of this again, sir
tomorrow" he concluded. you
have opened for me the gates Of
hope
lie was in haste now to be alone.
Also he must consult another. AL
ready he had hit upon that other.
For such a voyage a navigator would
be necessary, and n navigator was
ready to his hand in Jeremy Pitt. AS
a result Blood was betimes that eve
ming in tho spacious stockade that
enclosed the huts OF the slaves to-
gether with the big white house OF
the overseer. and he found an op-
pOrtunity of a few words with Pitt,
unobserved by the others.
Tonight when all are asleep.
come 10 my cabin. have something
10 say TO you"
The six months Of plantation life
in Barbados had made an almost
tragic mark upon the young sea-
man. His erstwhile bright alertness
was all departed. His face was grow
ing vacuous, his eyes were dull and
lack-lustre. and he moved in a cring-
ing furtive manner. like an over
beaten dog. But the man was still
there. not yet dormant. but merely
torpid from a surfeit Of despair; and
the man in him promptly shook of
that torpidity and awOke at the first
words Blood spoke 10 him that night
-awOke and wept.
"Escape?" he painted 90 Cod"
He took his head in his hands, and
fell TO sobbing like a child.
Among the privileges enjoyed by
Blood was that of a hut 10 himself
and they We're alone in this
Continued in Our Next Issue.)