We Find The Axe

"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."

"And a hanging matter," someone else put in.

"We've got to remember, boys, that this ain't like a crime on land.
We've got the fellow that did it. He's on the boat all right."

There was a stirring among the men, and some of them looked aft to
where, guarded by the Swede Oleson, Singleton was sitting, his head
in his hands.