I saluted and stepped towards the deck-house. He followed me without a sound.
Then I tapped on the door, which opened immediately, and as it did so I shot him in with a smart blow between the shoulder-blades. There was just one little gasping sound, and that was all. The door closed gently. The two sailors below in the boat sat quietly enough. I went down into the saloon.
Quick as I was, my brother was before me. He was talking earnestly to Doris in a low voice. I stood at the door at attention, and I think I never saw a stranger scene.
Old Lieutenant Murphy, in uniform, was seated at the table. His nostrils were opening and shutting in his tanned face. He was exactly like an old dog brought to the hunt for the last time. The door into the galley was half open. Dickson major stood there with a magazine pistol in his hand. Dickson max. sat opposite the lieutenant, his face a mask of determination and strength. It was wonderful.
"You quite understand, Doris? You can be brave?"
"I quite understand, Bernard."
"Then we will wait a minute. Sit down, John."
We all sat down—waiting. One minute—two minutes passed. Then came a light tap upon the door. It opened and Scarlett entered. His face was rather red, and he breathed heavily. On his right arm he carried a bundle of clothes.
My brother looked at him with a lift of the eyebrows, and Scarlett nodded, placing the clothes on the table.
"Go through these clothes, Lieutenant," Bernard said. Then he turned to Scarlett and whispered.