ess what it all
means if I can."

"What was the cargo?" asked Meeker.

"Machinery, so far as the manifest says. Several cases--By George! He had
it stowed in the storeroom--"

He was interrupted by Harris bawling in the passage, and the Chinese
stokers swarming up the fire-room ladder, chattering and yelling to their
mates below. The news of the murder had spread through the ship and had
created a great turmoil.

The mate thrust a man into the doorway, whom I recognized as one of the
men who had brought Meeker's organ on board.

"Here's one of the new men, sir," said Harris, "Says he has been for'ard
since going off watch. He's next at the wheel, sir."

"Now, then," began Riggs, with pencil poised, "what's your name in the
ship's articles?"

"Buckrow, sir," said the sailor, staring at a lamp, and avoiding the
figure of Trego almost at his feet.

I observed him closely, and was not pleased with his appearance. His
large mouth carried a leering, insolent expression and his nose was
broken, hanging a trifle to one side. He was short, with great hulking
shoulders. His black shirt was open at the neck, and he wore blue navy
trousers with the familiar wide bottoms. His brown forearms were covered
with tattoo-marks.

"Tell all you may know which could throw any possible light on this
dreadful affair, that the guilty may be brought to justice and the dead
avenged," said Meeker.

"Steady as she goes!" warned Captain Riggs. turning in his chair and
holding up his hand. "I'll ask the questions, if you please, Mr. Meeker.
Now, then, my man, where have you been in the last hour?"

"For'ard, turned in, sir," replied Buckrow, keeping his eyes on the flame
of the lamp.

"See this dead man here?"

"Aye, sir."

"No, you don't--look at him! Did you have a hand in this?"

"No, sir." He took a quick glance at the dead man and fastened his eyes
on the lamp again.

"Know who killed him?"

"No, sir."

"That's all for now."

Harris led forward the tall cockney I had seen at the wheel. He said his
name was Crannish, and he spelled it for the captain, who examined the
crew list to verify him. He said that he was known as "Long Jim" by his
mates. He did not seem to take the murder as a serious matter, but
answered Captain Riggs's questions calmly, his eyes roving over the
interior of the saloon, taking us all in very coolly.

There was a gleam of amusement in his eyes as he looked at Meeker, as if
he thought it a joke