I told the helmsman what had happened, and ran
forward. Mr. Singleton was on the forecastle-head. We went below
together, and found the captain lying at the foot of the forward
companion, also dead."
"At this time, had you called the owner of the ship?"
"No. I called him then. But I could not rouse him."
"Explain what you mean by that."
"He had been drinking."
There followed a furious wrangle over this point; but the
prosecuting attorney succeeded in having question and answer stand.
"What did you do next?"
"The mate had called the crew. I wakened Mrs. Turner, Miss Lee,
and Mrs. Johns, and then went to the chart-room to call the women
there. The door was open an inch or so. I received no answer to
my knock, and pulled it open. Karen Hansen, the maid, was dead
on the floor, and the stewardess was in her bunk, in a state of
collapse."
"State where you found the axe with which the crimes were committed."
"It was found in the stewardess's bunk."
"Where is this axe now?"
"It was stolen from the captain's cabin, where it was locked for
safe keeping, and presumably thrown overboard. At least, we didn't
find it."
"I see you are consulting a book to refresh your memory. What is
this book?"
"The ship's log."
"How does it happen to be in your possession?"
"The crew appointed me captain.
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