It moved about, and then disappeared."
"How?"
"I don't understand."
"Over the rail?"
"Oh--no, sir. It faded away."
"Had you ever heard talk among the men of the Ella being a haunted
ship?"
"Yes--but not until after I'd signed on her!"
"Was there some talk of this 'white thing'?"
"Yes."
"Before the murders?"
"No, sir; not till after. I guess I saw it first."
"What did the men say about it?"
"They thought it scared Mr. Schwartz overboard. The Ella's been
unlucky as to crews. They call her a 'devil ship.'"
"Did you see Mr. Singleton on deck between two and three o'clock?"
"No, sir."
The cross-examination was very short:--
"What sort of night was it?"
"Very dark."
"Would the first mate, as officer on watch, be supposed to see that
the emergency case you speak of was in order?"
"Yes, sir."
"Did the officer on watch remain on the forecastle-head?"
"Mr. Schwartz did not; Mr. Singleton did, mostly except when he went
back to strike the bells."
"Could Mr. Singleton have been on deck without you seeing him?"
"Yes, if he did not move around or smoke. I could see his pipe
lighted."
"Did you see his pipe that night?"
"No, sir."
"If you were sick, would you be likely to smoke?"
This question, I believe, was ruled out.
Pages:
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174