“The same day that you were placed in here a woman was brought here with a child. I want you to escape and take the kid with you and accidentally drop it off the boat. Understand?”
“Oh, I am to kill the kid, is that it?”
“No, it will kill itself, if you leave it in the water long enough.”
“Just let it slip off the bark, is that it?” asked Jim.
“Yes, that’s it.”
“But, where’s the boat to come from?” asked Jim, interested in his own safety, “and how much dough am I to get for this?”
“One thousand dollars and your freedom.”
“Hully Gee, but that would set me up in business. I guess I’ll take it, mister.”
“Then you are to wait until I send you a chart. Do you see that man sleeping there? He will aid you. He says that you have been trying to escape.”
“Yes, I dug my way out t’other night, but found that I was in another cove’s cell. He just lay there and let me dig and then laughed at me fer my pains.”