But I know Mr. Pike now--the stubborn, wonderful old sea-dog. It
will be three days before he is himself again. He takes a terrible
pride in his seamanship, and what hurts him most is the knowledge
that he was guilty of the blunder.
CHAPTER XXI
To-day, twenty-eight days out, in the early morning, while I was
drinking my coffee, still carrying the north-east trade, we crossed
the line. And Charles Davis signalized the event by murdering
O'Sullivan. It was Boney, the lanky splinter of a youth in Mr.
Mellaire's watch, who brought the news. The second mate and I had
just arrived in the hospital room, when Mr. Pike entered.
O'Sullivan's troubles were over. The man in the upper bunk had
completed the mad, sad span of his life with the marlin-spike.
I cannot understand this Charles Davis. He sat up calmly in his
bunk, and calmly lighted his pipe ere he replied to Mr. Mellaire. He
certainly is not insane. Yet deliberately, in cold blood, he has
murdered a helpless man.
"What'd you do it for?" Mr.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233