I went to the after companionway and called up to the men to send
the first mate down; but Burns came instead.
"Singleton's sick," he explained. "He's up there in a corner, with
Oleson and McNamara holding him."
"Burns," I said cautiously--"I've found another!"
"God, not one of the women!"
"One of the maids--Karen."
Burns was a young fellow about my own age, and to this point he had
stood up well. But he had been having a sort of flirtation with the
girl, and I saw him go sick with horror. He wanted to see her, when
he had got command of himself; but I would not let him enter the
room. He stood outside, while I went in and carried out the
stewardess, who was coming to and moaning. I took her forward, and
told the three women there what I had found.
Mrs. Johns was better, and I found them all huddled in her room. I
put the stewardess on the bed, and locked the door into the next
room. Then, after examining the window, I gave Elsa Lee my revolver.
"Don't let any one in," I said. "I'll put a guard at the two
companionways, and we'll let no one down. But keep the door locked
also."
She took the revolver from me, and examined it with the air of one
familiar with firearms. Then she looked up at me, her lips as
white as her face.
"We are relying on you, Leslie," she said.
And, at her words, the storm of self-contempt and bitterness that I
had been holding in abeyance for the last half hour swept over me
like a flood. I could have wept for fury.
"Why should you trust me?" I demanded. "I slept through the time
when I was needed. And when I wakened and found myself locked in
the storeroom, I waited to take the lock off instead of breaking
down the door! I ought to jump overboard."
"We are relying on you," she said again, simply; and I heard her
fasten the door behind me as I went out.
Dawn was coming as I joined the crew, huddled around the wheel.
There were nine men, counting Singleton. But Singleton hardly
counted. He was in a state of profound mental and physical
collapse. The Ella was without an accredited officer, and, for
lack of orders to the contrary, the helmsman--McNamara now--was
holding her to her course. Burns had taken Schwartz's place as
second mate, but the situation was clearly beyond him. Turner's
condition was known and frankly discussed. It was clear that, for
a time at least, we would have to get along without him.
Charlie Jones, always an influence among the men, voiced the
situation as we all stood together in the chill morning air: "What we want to do, boys," he said, "is to make for the nearest
port. This here is a police matter."