what had happened. I made some sort of
excuse, which I have forgotten, except that she
evidently did not believe it.

On deck, the men were gathered around
Burns. There were ominous faces among them,
and mutterings of hatred and revenge; for
Burns had been popular -- the best-liked man
among them all. Jones, wrought to the highest
pitch, had even shed a few shamefaced tears,
and was obliterating the humiliating memory
by an extra brusqueness of manner.

We carried the injured man aft, and with
such implements as I had I cleaned and dressed
the wound. It needed sewing, and it seemed
best to do it before he regained consciousness.
Jones and Adams went below to the forecastle,
therefore, and brought up my amputating set,
which contained, besides its knives, some
curved needles and surgical silk, still in good
condition.

I opened the case, and before the knives, the
long surgeon's knives which were in use before
the scalpel superseded them, they fell back,
muttering and amazed.

I did not know that Elsa Lee also was watch-

-174-