Evening star., 1924-10-21
CAPTAIN BLOOD
Bu RAFAEL SABATINI
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

| What she had heard was that this
rebelconvict had been discovered to
be a physician. The thing had come
to the ears Of Gov. Steed. who suf-
fered damnably from the gout. and
Gov. Steed had borrowed the fellow
from his purchaser. Whether by
skill or good fortune, Peter Blood had
afforded the governor that relief
which his excellency had failed to OBJ
tain from the ministrations OF either
of the two physicians practicing in
Bridgetown. Then the governors
lady had desired him to attend her
for the megrims. Mr.. Blood had
found her suffering from nothing
worse than peevishness, the result OF
a natural petulance aggravated by the
dullness of life in Barbados to a lady
Of her social aspirations. But he had
prescribed for her none the less, and
she had conceived herself the better
for his prescription. After that the
fame Of him had gone through Bridge
town, and Col. Bishop had found that
there was more profit to be made out
of his new slave by leaving him to
pursue his profession than by setting
! him to work on the plantations. for
which purpose he had been originally
acquired.
'It is yourself. madam, l have to
thank for my comparatively easy and
clean condition" said Mr.. Blood, and
1 am glad to take this opportunity of
doing So"
The gratitude was in his words
rather than in his tone. Was he
mocklns. she wondered. and looked at
him with the searching frankness that
another might have found disconcert-
| tion, answered It.
"If some other planter had bought
me-" he explained, at is odds that
the facts of my shining abilities
might never have been brought to
! light, ana I should he hewing and
hoeing at this moment like the poor
wretches who were landed with me-"
"And why do you thank me for
that? 1t was my uncle who bought
you"
But he would not have done so had
| you not urged him. / perceived your
interest. AT the time I resented it."
You resented IT." There was a
challenge in her boyish voice.
| II have had no lack of experiences
of this mortal life, but to be bought
and sold was a new one. and l was
hardly In the mood to, love my pur-
chaser"
"If 1 urged you upon my uncle, sir,
lit was that commiserated you
|
tone, as If to repreve the mixture of
mockery and hippancy in which he
seemed to be speaking.
| She proceeded to explain herself.
MY uncle may appear to you q hard
man. No doubt he 10. They are ali
hard men. these planters. It IL the
life. / suppose. But there are others
here who are worse. There is Mr..
Crabston. for instance. up at Speights-
vry,e ~ -
waiting to buy my uncle's leavings,
and If yeu had fallen into his hands
a dreadful man. That is why"
He was a little bewildered.
This interest in stranger" he
began. Then changed the direction
OF his probe. But there were others
as deserving of eommiseration"
| you did not seem quite like the
others"
~ am not" said he.
OH She stared at him, bridling
a little. you have a good opinion OF
yourself"
ION the contrary. The others are
all worthy rebels. I am not That Is
the difference. I was one who had
not the wit to see that England re.
quires purifying. 1 was content tt
pursue q doctors trade in Bridge.
water while my betters were shed.
ulhe tHeu oioou " ui'Ne ouI dh uH-
clean tyrAnt and his rascally crew."
''Sir" she checked him. II think
Eyo4 are talking treason"
81 hope ! am not obscure" said he
? "fhere are those here who would
have you fiogged IL they heard you"
"The governor would never allow
II. He has the Gout, and his lady has
the megrims.''
do you depend upon that?' Sht
was frankly scofnful.
"You have certainly never had the
gout; probably not even the me.
gfims," said he.
Bhe made little impatient move.
ment with her hand and looked away
from him q moment, out to sea. Quite
suddenly she looked at him again
lana now her brows were knit.