"I do not know any more about it than you do, sir. I was standing here just as I am now, when I got a terrible blow on the back of my head. I didn't know it was a blow then, but as I think it over I remember very well. Everything grew dark about me. The next I knew I was in my cabin, with you and Jarvis working over me."
"What you are telling me is a very serious matter, Rush."
"It was serious enough for me at the time."
"Who was on the deck at the time?"
"No one, so far as I observed."
"But, it would have been impossible for any one to approach close enough to hit you, without your either hearing or seeing him."
"It would seem so. Yet the fact remains that I was hit. It takes considerable to knock me out, sir, but I got enough last night."
"Do you suspect any one?"
"Not a person. I cannot understand it at all."
"Well, you just keep your eyes open. If you find out who struck that dastardly blow I'll deal severely with him. He won't be in condition to strike any one else for some time to come."