“After they found the captain’s body. I went to the forward companion and looked down.”
“Is a helmsman permitted to leave his post?”
“With the captain lying dead down in a pool of blood, I should think—”
“Never mind thinking. Is he?”
“No.”
“What did you do with the wheel when you left it?”
“Lashed it. There are two rope-ends, with loops, to lash it with. When I was on the Sarah Winters—”
“Stick to the question. Did you see the mate, Mr. Singleton, during your watch?”
“Every half-hour from 12.30 to 1.30. He struck the bells. After that he said he was sick. He thought he’d been poisoned. He said he was going forward to lie down, and for me to strike them.”
“Who struck the bell at three o’clock?”