She obeyed without a word, and he pressed her before him out through the door into the more brightly lighted cabin. Her eyes opened in horror at the sight of Masters, and she drew back trembling against West's arm.
"Who—who is that? A dead man?"
"I fear so; wait just a second until I learn; if he still lives we cannot leave him here."
West bent over the motionless figure; the flesh was no longer warm; and he could detect no breath. Satisfied, he regained his feet.
"It is all over with," he said gravely. "He is beyond human aid."
"But—but, please, who is he?" she insisted, clinging to his arm. "Surely
I have seen the man before; what has happened?"
"He was the watchman on the yacht—Masters he said his name was," West explained impatiently. "He was still alive when I first came, and told me where you were confined. He tried to serve you when the others left, and was struck down by Hogan."
"The others left! Is the boat deserted? Are we here all alone?"
"Yes; the villains left us both locked into state-rooms to die. They deserted the yacht, expecting it to sink, and take us both down with it. The craft is near foundering now, and our only hope is to obtain the open deck at once. Do not question any more, but do just as I say. You trust me, do you not?"
"Trust you! of course I do."