Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05


the floor within reach of his oustretched hand. 1t
red the blood. 1t had cut the carotid artery, and
Mr. Boyce was dead.
We lifted them up and laid them deck, where
Murdoch recovered his faculties and sat up staring
round in a dazed manner.
"How about this, Martini | asked sternly. "Why
did you kill him."
Kill him" he asked looking at the figure beside him.
Then shudder went through his frame, and he said
vehementy, mo, Sir! did not! He struck me at the
wheel and knocked away from it; then we cenched,
and fell down the hatch. But | don't remember any
thing after striking my head. But he was killing
me-" He felt of his throat.
"Mike," called down the hatch "what did you see?
What happened?'
@They come down by the rum Sorr, answered Mike,
IAN come head first. All seed the mates fingers
on Murdoch's throat and Murdochs knife in his hand"
"Did you see him it?'
al did thot Sorr an while might or might not ha
done it mesilf, seem made the try this marnn,
I'll say thot I'm far from ben sorry. To hit man at
the wheel, an then choke the breath out o him.
"Thats enough" l said severely. "Your testimony
is not of much value. STILL turned to Murdoch who
had risen to his feet, II must confne you Martini un-
less, or until, you can clear yourself.
@Very well, Captain he answered, now breathing
P nor ava no a OF IN fa s
He went into irons quietly, and was secured to the
other stanchon, the opposite side of the lazarete
now had problem to solve, not by law but by ethics
had two prisoners for the ofense success
full the other not. Also had very inefficient second
mate graduate boatswain who could not navigate and
should now have to stand watch To add to my prob
lem also the disqueting thought that Mike in the
lazarette also have heard my conversation with
Murdoch through the thin wall of the cabin trunk for
he called him Murdoch, not Martin.
For obvious reasons, being under the line, we gave
Mr.. Boyce burial at midday; then devolved upon
the wearying task of entering Murdochs ofense IN
the official log sent for the second mate to witness It,
and for sailor who had worked in the mzzen rigging
at the time and had heard and seen much as had
He the dull wtted German who had relieved
Murdoch at the wheel, and when he had signed his
after the departure of the second mate l eau
tiousy sounded him, finding to my satisfaction that.
though he had heard talk in the cabin he had paid
attention the subject of it. Then learning that he
had also seen Mikes knifeplay had him witness the
preceding entry and dismissed him.
But officers also necessary to this, and,
Mr.. Boyce being dead and the second mate 1ncompe-
tent sent for the steward the only other officer avail
able who had the afray from the forward cabin
door, He was quiet, cautious, conservative man,
who had sailed with me for years. and when he had
signed and heard loud voices in the lazarette, mo-
toned him to silence and to remain for the converse
ton promised to be interesting and wanted another
listener. Evidently it did not to Mike that the
thin partition that had admitted AIurdochs voice
to him would admit his to me; for he speaking
loudly and recklesSly.
IT'S an unsocable We are" Mike saying.
"Here be, in the box, fer startin the job
under exthreme excitement an you fer nishin it in
silf defense. But We needn't be stuck yerse I'd
ha finished him mesilf if We hadn't ha stopped me-
"Shut up! My head aches. It's bad enough to be
here, without having to listen to your chatter
"Chatter is it, Ye wouldn't call it chatter supposn'
l told all could tell But won't tell, MIR. Murdoch
MARTINS my name"
oyer names Murdoch an yer wanted at San Quen-
tin. l heard this mornn', the mate did, an
heard you an the fore he hit you at the wheel.
Not that blame We for KILN him; only it happens,
We didn't kill him."
"What?"
ooh, yer sociable now, l see! No. Murdoch, we
didn't, if it yer mind any. did the good work
mesilf, when we both come down head first an lay
stunned. Twas just second needed, We see, an
grabbed yer knife and slit his weasand-an good job
too. the bucko"
"And do you expect" asked Murdoch in louder