"How do you make that out? You saw nothing."
"No, sir."
"And heard nothing?"
"Very little. But this is what happened. I was looking over the ship's sides during the night, and a little after midnight, when the fog was thickest, there was a great rush of water towards our boat. The waves rose high, almost to the deck. What caused that? I said to myself, and there was only one explanation."
"Well?"
"It was the wash from a big steamer. I've no doubt of it."
"You have spoken of this?"
"Certainly, sir. It was my duty. I drew the attention of the officer of the watch to this, and he said he thought it was a tidal wave."
"And you did not agree with him?"
"No, sir."