Breakfast was over but the German steward made him some hot coffee and got some rolls. While Jack ate, the man, who was a garrulous fellow, talked.

“Dot vos fine diddings vot vee haf py der nightdt ain’d idt?” he began.

“How do you mean?” asked Jack.

“Vot, you ain’t heard alretty. Vale der captain’s be py his bunk mit a bullet in his shoulder. He haf fights midt der man vot vos in der grows nest. Der captain say he haf him pudt in irons for not sighding der iceberg more quivicker. Der man get madt undt der captain try to shoodt him. In der struggle der pisdol goes off and hits der captain. Der man is a prisoner. He goes by chail ven ve gedt to Rotterdam.”

“How do the crew take it?” asked Jack, recollecting what the man Andrews had said in the night.

“Dey is very quiedt.”

“Nobody saying anything?”

“Nodt a vurd. Budt dey visper among demselves. Dot badt sign. Vunce pefore I vos on a ship vere der crew visper. Dere vos murder done pefore vee made port.”

“Oh, well, there’s nothing like that here,” said Jack with a breezy confidence he was far from feeling. “It’s true our crew is a mixed lot, but I don’t think there’ll be any serious trouble.”

He returned to the wireless room and spent the rest of the forenoon talking to various ships. The ice-patrol reports showed that the bergs had been left behind. The young operator carried his reports to Mr. Mulliner. Captain Briggs did not appear on the bridge till the next day. Then he carried his arm in a sling. From his friend, the steward, Jack learned that the wound was only a flesh one, the bullet having passed right through without lodging.

The remainder of the voyage to Rotterdam was without incident. The crew went about their tasks dutifully but without a word. A sullen silence was over them. Jack felt that, despite the apparent air of peace, a volcano was smoldering under their feet that was ready to break at any moment. He was glad when they tied up at Rotterdam and he was free for a run ashore. But the sight of the country saddened him. It reminded him of the time he and Raynor had spent such a happy time sight-seeing when on his first voyage the Ajax had docked at Antwerp.

Where was Raynor now? Curiously enough Jack could not bring himself to the belief that his shipmate and 

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