truck me a great blow on the
head, and I knew no more until I awoke to find the doctor working over
me."

Pachmann looked at him searchingly for several minutes, but the man met
his gaze without flinching.

"Are you sure that is all?" he asked.

"Yes, sir."

"You do not remember standing at the door, when it was opened, and
saluting the gentlemen who came out?"

"No, sir; I remember nothing of that."

"You say you were at the door only ten minutes?"

"It may have been a little longer than that, sir; a very little."

"Have you had a quarrel with any member of the crew?"

"No, sir; I am on good terms with all of them."

"Think carefully; is there not one who might have wished to revenge
himself?"

But Schroeder shook his head decidedly.

"It was no member of the crew, sir; not one of them is my enemy."

"Then who was it?" Pachmann demanded.

"That I cannot say, sir."

"You heard nothing before the blow was struck?"

"Nothing, sir; I have told you all I remember."

"And you persist that you have no idea who struck the blow?"

"I have not the slightest idea, sir."

Pachmann looked at Schroeder again, and then turned away.

"That is all," said the Captain; "and remember, you are to speak of this
to no one."

"Yes, sir," said Schroeder, and withdrew.

Pachmann took a turn about the cabin, frowning heavily.

"What do you make of it?" he asked, at last.

"It seems plain enough," Hausmann answered. "Some one knocked Schroeder
down and took his place at the door."

"Yes, yes," said Pachmann, impatiently. "But who was it, and what was
his purpose?"

"His purpose, also, seems clear to me," said the Captain, quietly. "He
wished to hear what was going on in my cabin."

"He was a member of your crew," said Pachmann. "I saw him--he was
barefooted--he wore a uniform."

"Did you see his face? Would you know him again?"

Pachmann hesitated.

"I fear not. He was standing in the shadow, and I was preoccupied and
barely glanced at him. I cannot even say that it was not Schroeder."

"I do not believe it was any member of my crew," said the Captain.

"Then who was it?"

"That, of course, I cannot say. But why should one of my crew do such a
thing?"

"There may be a traitor among them."

"We know the history of every man. They are all good Germans. We are
very careful. But even if there was a traitor, how would he know of this
conference?"

Pachmann threw up his hands with a gesture of despair, a