Bitter Proof by Morning Light

"So, summing it all up, it happened, and you don't know just how it
happened. You were off your course and don't know how you happened to be
off your course. You don't expect us to defend you before the steamboat
inspectors, with that for an explanation, Mayo?"

"All I can do is to tell the truth at the hearing, sir."

"They'll break you, sure as a mule wags ears. There are five dead
men inside that wreck yonder. Don't you reckon you'll be indicted for
manslaughter?"

"I shall claim that the collision was unavoidable."

"But you were off your course--were in a place you had no business to be
in. That knocks your defense all to the devil. You are in almighty bad,
Mayo. You must wake up to it."

The young man was pale and rigid and silent.

"The Vose line is in bad enough as it is, without trying to defend you.
I suppose I'll be blamed for putting on a young captain. Mayo, I am
older than you are and wiser about the law and such matters. Why don't
you duck out from under, eh?"

"You mean run away?"

"I wouldn't put it quite as bluntly as that. I mean, go away and keep
out of sight till it quiets down. If you stay they'll put you on the
rack and get you all tangled up by firing questions at you. And what
will you gain by going through the muss? You've got to agree with me
that the inspectors will suspend you--revoke your license. Here's this
steamer here, talking for herself. If you stay around underfoot, and all
the evidence is brought out at the hearing, then the Federal grand
jury will take the thing up, probably. They'll have a manslaughter case
against you."