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“Yes; John Norton, one of the quartermasters. He prepared the raft for Christian.”

The surgeon opened a drawer in his table and brought forth a paper.

“I have here a list of the men who went with Captain Bligh in the launch. Twelve of the party survived to reach England.”

He glanced down the list, and then looked at me gravely.

“Norton, I am sorry to say, is not one of them. According to this record he was killed by the savages on the island of Tofoa.”

It was a shock to me to learn of Norton’s death, and I realized what a misfortune the lack of his evidence would be for me. Mr. Nelson, too, was dead, having succumbed to a fever when the party reached Coupang. Mr. Nelson was not only my friend; he was also a witness who could have vouched for my intention to leave the ship. With these two gone, my chance for acquittal seemed much less hopeful. Dr. Hamilton took a more encouraging view of the situation.

“You must not be disheartened,” he said. “Tinkler’s evidence is vastly more important to you than that of Norton and Mr. Nelson, and you may be sure that he will be summoned. Sir Joseph Banks will see to it that every scrap of evidence in your favour is brought to bear. No, take my word for it, your case is far from hopeless.”