As Sally's time draws closer she becomes dependent on Nellie,who defies Dr. Mason to act as midwife at the premature birth. However the child is stillborn and Marion asks that Nellie moves into Sally's hut to comfort her. The two young women become very close, Nellie organizing Sally's birthday party,but a minority of nasty-minded women suggest that they are Lesbians,which upsets Sally. Nellie does not care but still moves out of Sally's hut. Judith gets a second,more deadly bout of malaria,prompting Blanche to consider an escape attempt.

After Debbie and Blanche are caught rations are cut,causing friction between the British and the Dutch. The two escapees are tied to posts but Debbie,on account of her being a juvenile,is released to her hut and Yamauchi agrees to release Blanche if the prisoners can make five hundred hats out of palm leaves. The deadline is eventually reached,with help from the children and latterly the Dutch and Blanche is untied. Yamauchi,meanwhile,impressed by Christina's abilities as a linguist,makes her his secretary and she promises to steal paper from his office.