Part 25 (1/2)
”What happened after that?”
”The captain came down and ordered the mate on deck. Mr. Vail and the captain got Mr. Turner to his room.”
”How do you know that?”
”I opened my door.”
”What then?”
”Karen came down at 12.30. We went to bed. At ten minutes to three the bell rang for Karen. She got up and put on a wrapper and slippers.
She was grumbling and I told her to put out the light and let me sleep.
As she opened the door she screamed and fell back on the floor.
Something struck me on the shoulder, and I fainted. I learned later it was the axe.”
”Did you hear any sound outside, before you opened the door?”
”A curious chopping sound. I spoke of it to her. It came from the chart-room.”
”When the girl fell back into the room, did you see any one beyond her?”
”I saw something--I couldn't say just what.”
”Was what you saw a figure?”
”I--I am not certain. It was light--almost white.” ”Can you not describe it?”
”I am afraid not--except that it seemed white.”
”How tall was it?”
”I couldn't say.”
”As tall as the girl?”
”Just about, perhaps.”
”Think of something that it resembled. This is important, Mrs. Sloane.
You must make an effort.”
”I think it looked most like a fountain.”
Even the jury laughed at this, and yet, after all, Mrs. Sloane was right--or nearly so!
”That is curious. How did it resemble a fountain?”
”Perhaps I should have said a fountain in moonlight white, and misty, and--and flowing.”
”And yet, this curious-shaped object threw the axe at you, didn't it?”