I slid his revolver into my pocket, and went back to the men.
Counting Williams and the cook and myself, there were nine of us.
The cook I counted out, ordering him to go to the galley and
prepare breakfast. The eight that were left I divided into two
watches, Burns taking one and I the other. On Burns's watch were
Clarke, McNamara, and Williams; on mine, Oleson, Adams, and Charlie
Jones.
It was two bells, or five o'clock. Burns struck the gong sharply
as an indication that order, of a sort, had been restored. The
rising sun was gleaming on the sails; the gray surface of the sea
was ruffling under the morning breeze. From the galley a thin
stream of smoke was rising. Some of the horror of the night went
with the darkness, but the thought of what waited in the cabin
below was on us all.
I suggested another attempt to rouse Mr. Turner, and Burns and
Clarke went below. They came back in ten minutes, reporting no
change in Turner's condition. There was open grumbling among the
men at the situation, but we were helpless. Burns and I decided to
go on as if Turner were not on board, until he was in condition to
take hold.
We thought it best to bring up the bodies while all the crew was on
duty, and then to take up the watches. I arranged to have one man
constantly on guard in the after house--a difficult matter where
all were under suspicion. Burns suggested Charlie Jones as probably
the most reliable, and I gave him the revolver I had taken from
Singleton. It was useless, but it made at least a show of authority.
The rest of the crew, except Oleson, on guard over the mate, was
detailed to assist in carrying up the three bodies. Williams was
taken along to get sheets from the linen room.
We brought the captain up first, laying him on a sheet on the deck
and folding the edges over him. It was terrible work. Even I,
fresh from a medical college, grew nauseated over it. He was heavy.
It was slow work, getting him up. Vail we brought up in the sheets
from his bunk. Of the three, he was the most mutilated. The maid
Karen showed only one injury, a smashing blow on the head, probably
from the head of the axe. For axe it had been, beyond a doubt. I
put Williams to work below to clear away every evidence of what had
happened. He went down, ashy-faced, only to rush up again, refusing
to stay alone. I sent Clarke with him, and instructed Charlie Jones
to keep them there until the cabin was in order.
At three bells the cook brought coffee, and some of the men took it.
I tried to swallow, but it choked me.