Sam Bideford was arranged by Captain Flint to help him sail the Wild Cat on her first voyage; he may be a friend or a hired hand (WD1): * Captain Flint opens the orange envelope of the telegram and says He can’t come. He can’t come at all .... * The man who was coming with us can’t get away .... * .... thanks to Sam Bideford not coming we can’t start at all ....... the "Wild Cat" is a very different ship from the "Swallow" or the "Amazon", and if we’re to do anything with her worth doing I must have another man aboard who can take watch and watch about with me ....