"
Singleton had dropped into a chair, and sat with his face buried in
his hands, his back to the captain's body. He looked up without
moving, and his face was gray.
"All right," he said. "Do as you like. I'm sick."
He looked sick. Burns, who had taken Schwartz's place as second
mate, left the group and came toward me.
"We'd better waken the women," he said. "If you'll tell them,
Leslie, I'll take the crew on deck and keep them there."
Singleton seemed dazed, and when Burns spoke of taking the men on
deck, he got up dizzily.
"I'm going too," he muttered. "I'll go crazy if I stay down here
with that."
The rug had been drawn back to show the crew what had happened.
I drew it reverently over the body again.
After the men had gone, I knocked at Mrs. Turner's door. It was
some time before she roused; when she answered, her voice was
startled.
"What is it?"
"It's Leslie, Mrs. Turner. Will you come to the door?"
"In a moment."
She threw on a dressing-gown, and opened the door.
"What is wrong?"
I told her, as gently as I could. I thought she would faint; but
she pulled herself together and looked past me into the cabin.
"That is--?"
"The captain, Mrs. Turner."
"And Mr. Vail?"
"In his cabin."
"Where is Mr. Turner?"
"In his cabin, asleep.
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