But of these there were only two in that unfortunate gang, and their knowledge was none too full.
They were Hagthorpe, a gentleman who had served in the Royal Navy, and Nicholas Dyke, who had been a petty officer in the late king's time, and there was another who had been a gunner, a man named Ogle.
It was agreed before they parted that Pitt should begin with these three and then proceed to recruit some six or eight others.

He was to move with the utmost caution, sounding his men very carefully before making anything in the nature of a disclosure, and even then avoid rendering that disclosure so full that its betrayal might frustrate the plans which as yet had to be worked out in detail.

Labouring with them in the plantations, Pitt would not want for opportunities of broaching the matter to his fellow-slaves.
"Caution above everything," was Blood's last recommendation to him at parting.

"Who goes slowly, goes safely, as the Italians have it.

And remember that if you betray yourself, you ruin all, for you are the only navigator amongst us, and without you there is no escaping." Pitt reassured him, and slunk off back to his own hut and the straw that served him for a bed.
Coming next morning to the wharf, Blood found Dr.Whacker in a generous mood.