Greatly mystified, Bill obeyed the summons. On entering the doctor’s cabin he saw, stretched on the lower bunk, and swathed in bandages, the figure of a man who turned a pair of sunken eyes on him.
“One of the stewards,” whispered the doctor. “Poor fellow. Badly scalded in the galley.”
He turned to the sufferer.
“This is Mr. Raynor, whom you wanted to see,” he said.
“Let him come here,” said the man feebly.
Bill approached the man’s side.
“What can I do for you?” he asked.
“I want to ease my conscience of a great burden. Bend low so that you can hear me. It hurts when I talk loud.”
Bill bent over the pitiable, bandaged form.
“What do you want to tell me?” he said.