"

"Why did you not return them to Mr. Turner?"

"I was ill, and forgot. I'd like to know what right you have going
through a person's things--and taking what you want!"

The stewardess was excused, the defense having scored perceptibly. It
was clear what line the young Jew intended to follow.

Oleson, the Swede, was called next, and after the usual formalities:--

"Where were you between midnight and 4 A.M. on the morning of August
12?"

"In the crow's-nest of the Ella."

"State what you saw between midnight and one o'clock."

"I saw Mate Singleton walking on the forecastle-head. Every now and
then he went to the rail. He seemed to be vomiting. It was too dark
to see much. Then he went aft along the port side of the house, and
came forward again on the starboard side. He went to where the axe was
kept."

"Where was that?"

"Near the starboard corner of the forward house. All the Turner boats
have an emergency box, with an axe and other tools, in easy reach. The
officer on watch carried the key."

"Could you see what he was doing?"

"No; but he was fumbling at the box. I heard him."

"Where did he go after that?"

"He went aft."

"You could not see him?"

"I didn't look. I thought I saw something white moving below me, and I
was watching it."

"This white thing--what did it look like?" "Like a dog, I should say.
It moved about, and then disappeared."

"How?"

"I don't understand."

"Over the rail?"

"Oh--no, sir. It faded away."

"Had you ever heard talk among the men of the Ella being a haunted
ship?"

"Yes--but not until after I'd signed on her!"

"Was there some talk of this 'white thing'?"

"Yes."

"Before the murders?"

"No, sir; not till after. I guess I saw it first."

"What did the men say about it?"

"They thought it scared Mr. Schwartz overboard. The Ella's been
unlucky as to crews. They call her a 'devil ship.'"

"Did you see Mr. Singleton on deck between two and three o'clock?"

"No, sir."

The cross-examination was very short:--

"What sort of night was it?"

"Very dark."

"Would the first mate, as officer on watch, be supposed to see that the
emergency case you speak of was in order?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did the officer on watch remain on the forecastle-head?"

"Mr. Schwartz did not; Mr. Singleton did, mostly except when he went
back to strike the bells."

"Could Mr. Singleton have been on deck without you seeing him?"

"Yes, if he did not