, 1915-01-14
CHAPTER Viii.
The First Mate Talks.

In PERSONALLY. | was convinced
N that Turner was guilty. Per.
haps, lulled into a false
~ security by the incarceration of
the two men. we unconsciously relaxed
our vigilance. But by the first night
the crew were somewhat calmer. Here
II there Il pipe was lighted and a
plug of tobacco went the rounds.
! find, IN consulting the book in
which l recorded, beginning with that
day, the incidents of the return voy-
age, that two things happened that
evening. One was my interview with
Singleton; the other was my curious
and depressing clash with Elsa Lee.
on the deck that night.
Turner being quiet and Burns on
watch at the beginning of the second
dog watch. 6 o'clock. | went forward
to the room where Singleton was i'm
prisoned. Burns gave me the key. and
advised me to take a weapon l did
not, however, nor was 1t needed.
For Gods sake. Leslie" he said, tell
them to open the window. I'm chok-
mgr
He was right; the room was sitting.
| opened the door behind me. and stood
in the doorway against a rush for free
dom. But he did not move. He sank
back into his detected attitude.
Singleton" | said. II wish you
would fell me about last night. If you
did it. we've got you. If you didn't.
you'd better let me take your
account Of what happened, while it's
fresh in your mind. Or. better still.
write it yourself"
He held out his right hand l saw
that it was shaking violently.
Couldn't hold a pen" he said tersely.
"W Wouldn't be believed. anyhow"
The air being somewhat better, 1
| closed and locked the door again. and.
coming in. took out my notebook and
pencil.
| Briefly. Singleton's watch began at
F., midnight. The captain. who had been
complaining of lumbago. had had the
! cook prepare him a mustard poultce
| and had retired early. Burns was on
watch from s to ~ and on coming
into the forward house at a quarter
after II O'Clock to eat his night lunch
reported to Singleton that he captain
was in bed and that Mr.. Turner had
been asking for him. Singleton there
fore took his cap and went on deck
This was about twenty minutes after
II. He had had a drink or two earlier
in the evening, and he took another In
his cabin when he got his cap.
He found Turner in the chart Gus
playing solitaire and drinking he was
alone. and he asked Singleton to join
him. The first mate looked at his
watch and accepted the invitation. but
decided to look around the forward
house to be sure the captain was
asleep. He went on deck. He could
hear Burns and the lookout talking.
The forward house was dark. He lis
tened outside the captains door and
heard him breathing heavily. as II
asleep. He stood there for a
He had an uneasy feeling hat some
one was watching him. He thought
of Schwartz and was uncomfortable
He did not feel the whisky at all.
He struck a light and looked oun
There was no one in sight He could
hear Charlie Jones In the ~forecastle
drumming on his banjo and Burns
whistling the same tune as he Went
aft to strike the bell lit was the duty
of the office on watch to strike the
hour. 1t was then half after IL. AS
he passed the captains door again MS
foot struck something. and 1t fell 10
the door. He was afraid the captain
had been reused and stood still until
he heard him breathing regularly again.
! Then he stopped down. His root mac
struck an AK upright against the cap
tain's door and had knocked 1t down.
The ak belonged on the outer wall
nj the forward house. 1t was a rule
that IL must not be removed from It's
place except in emergency ana the
first mate carried II out and leaned II
against the forward port corner OF tine
after house when he went below
Later. on his watch, he carried II
forward aud put 1t where 1t belonged
He found Turner waiting on deck ano
together they descended to the char'
room. He was none too clear as tc
what followed. They drank together
Vail tried to get Turner to bed ant
failed. He believed that Burns nae
called the captain The captain nae
ordered him to the deck, and there nae
heen a furious quarrel. lie felt III by