But I did not relish the idea of the spike Adams had thrown lying
below on deck. No more formidable weapon short of an axe, could be
devised. I said as much.
"I'm going down for it," I said; "if you're nervous, you'd better
keep it by you. But don't drop it on everything that moves below.
You almost got Burns."
I went down cautiously, and struck a match where Adams had indicated
the spike. It was not there. Nor had Burns picked it up. A
splintered board showed where it had struck, and a smaller
indentation where it had rebounded; but the marlinespike was gone,
and Burns had not seen it. We got a lantern and searched
systematically, without result. Burns turned to me a face ghastly
in the oil light.
"Somebody has it," he said, "and there will be more murder! Oh, my
God, Leslie!"
"When you went back after the alarm, did you count the men?"
"No; Oleson said no one had come forward. They could not have
passed without his seeing them. He has the binnacle lantern and
two other lights."
"And no one came from the after house?"
"No one."
Eight bells rang out sharply. The watch changed. I took the
revolver and Burns's position at the companionway, while Burns went
aft. He lined up the men by the binnacle light, and went over them
carefully. The marlinespike was not found; but he took from the
cook a long meat-knife, and brought both negro and knife forward to
me.
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