Sumner Versus Baxter

The North Water

The conflict between Sumner and Baxter moves from an employer’s attempt to manage a survivor to an armed confrontation over truth, money, and freedom.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Cheap Appointment A Cheap Appointment from "The North Water". Baxter Hires Sumner An expedient bargain Jacob Baxter hires Patrick Sumner as the Volunteer’s surgeon at unusually low pay.

A Cheap Appointment from "The North Water". Baxter Hires Sumner An expedient bargain Jacob Baxter hires Patrick Sumner as the Volunteer’s surgeon at unusually low pay.

Baxter Hires Sumner An expedient bargain Jacob Baxter hires Patrick Sumner as the Volunteer’s surgeon at unusually low pay. He sees a temporary employee, not a man with a difficult past. A relationship of unequal power Sumner needs work and accepts the berth. Baxter controls the terms, the ship, and the plan, while Sumner knows little of the danger he is entering.

A Survivor Returns A Survivor Returns from "The North Water". The Wrong Man Comes Home An unexpected witness Sumner reaches Hull alive after both ships are lost.

A Survivor Returns from "The North Water". The Wrong Man Comes Home An unexpected witness Sumner reaches Hull alive after both ships are lost.

The Wrong Man Comes Home An unexpected witness Sumner reaches Hull alive after both ships are lost. He knows that some deaths were not accidents and that the insurance story conceals deliberate acts. Baxter urges silence Baxter argues that speaking will not help the widows and advises Sumner to forget the voyage. His compassion is inseparable from self-protection.

The Planned Killing The Planned Killing from "The North Water". The Survivor as Bait Baxter’s arrangement Baxter sends Stevens to lure Sumner to the timber yard.

The Planned Killing from "The North Water". The Survivor as Bait Baxter’s arrangement Baxter sends Stevens to lure Sumner to the timber yard.

The Survivor as Bait Baxter’s arrangement Baxter sends Stevens to lure Sumner to the timber yard. Drax is meant to shoot Sumner, after which Stevens will kill Drax and stage a mutual killing. A disposable witness The scheme treats both men as obstacles to Baxter’s safety. Sumner is not merely misled; Baxter intends that he not survive the night.

Drax Is Killed Drax Is Killed from "The North Water". A Trap Reverses The wrong victim Drax shoots Stevens in the dark, believing he has killed Sumner. Sumner remains hidden inside a nearby cabin.

Drax Is Killed from "The North Water". A Trap Reverses The wrong victim Drax shoots Stevens in the dark, believing he has killed Sumner. Sumner remains hidden inside a nearby cabin.

A Trap Reverses The wrong victim Drax shoots Stevens in the dark, believing he has killed Sumner. Sumner remains hidden inside a nearby cabin. Sumner acts When Drax enters, Sumner strikes him with a rusted saw blade. Drax dies, and Sumner takes the revolver and returns to town.

The Safe and the Escape The Safe and the Escape from "The North Water". Sumner Takes Control An armed confrontation Sumner confronts Baxter and rejects the claim that he was only intended as bait.

The Safe and the Escape from "The North Water". Sumner Takes Control An armed confrontation Sumner confronts Baxter and rejects the claim that he was only intended as bait.

Sumner Takes Control An armed confrontation Sumner confronts Baxter and rejects the claim that he was only intended as bait. Baxter offers money to make the survivor disappear. A stolen future Sumner demands the contents of the safe, binds Baxter, and takes a horse. He leaves England under a false name, carrying money but not the certainty of a clean beginning.

Before sailing

After the Arctic disaster

The night Sumner is at the Pilgrim’s Arms

At the Hull timber yard

Later that night in Baxter’s study