Chapter 4 Summary

Thorby's life with Baslim continues in much the same way as it did before his legal emancipation. One day, Baslim readdresses the topic of what Thorby will do after his foster father is dead. Thorby is told that, in the event of his former master's death, he is to deliver a message to the first of five different ship's captains who land at Jubbulpore. Thorby memorizes the message. It is in a language he doesn't understand, and Baslim tells him nothing about the message's meaning, but Thorby memorizes it word for word and dutifully agrees to deliver it.

A short time later, Baslim sends Thorby on an errand to deliver a message to a redheaded man working at a lunch counter in the shipyard. He is unable to find the redheaded man however, and he alerts the suspicions of the police, who try...