I suspected a joke among the crew, and set to work with my
pen-knife to unscrew the lock. When I had two screws out, a woman
screamed, and I broke down the door.
As the main cabin was dark, I saw no one and could not tell where
the cry came from. I ran into Mr. Vail's cabin, next the storeroom,
and called him. His door was standing open. I heard him breathing
heavily. Then the breathing stopped. I struck a match, and found
him dead. His head had been crushed in with an axe, the left hand
cut off, and there were gashes on the right shoulder and the abdomen.
I knew the helmsman would be at the wheel, and ran up the after
companionway to him and told him. Then I ran forward and called the
first mate, Mr. Singleton, who was on duty. He had been drinking.
I asked him to call the captain, but he did not. He got his revolver,
and we hurried down the forward companion. The body of the captain
was lying at the foot of the steps, his head on the lowest stair. He
had been killed like Mr. Vail. His cap had been placed over his face.
The mate collapsed on the steps. I found the light switch and turned
it on. There was no one in the cabin or in the chart-room. I ran to
Mr. Turner's room, going through Mr. Vail's and through the bathroom.
Mr. Turner was in bed, fully dressed.
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