“You had threatened to get the captain.”
“I had a revolver; I didn’t need to use an axe.”
Much as I disliked the man, I was inclined to believe his story, although I thought he was keeping something back. I leaned forward.
“Singleton,” I said, “if you didn’t do it, and I want to think you did not,—who did?”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“We have women aboard. We ought to know what precautions to take.”
“I wasn’t the only man on deck that night. Burns was about, and he had a quarrel with the Hansen woman. Jones was at the wheel, too. Why don’t you lock up Jones?”
“We are all under suspicion,” I admitted. “But you had threatened the captain.”
“I never threatened the girl, or Mr. Vail.”
I had no answer to this, and we both fell silent. Singleton was the first to speak:—