"It's clear enough," replied Floyd, "there has been fighting down here, too. Devils!"
"Oh, well," said Schumer, "we haven't heard their side of the story yet. Come on, let us search and see what we can find."
They entered the biggest cabin opening off the saloon. It was evidently the captain's. Here things were in order, the bunk undisturbed, and a suit of pajamas neatly folded on the quilt.
"Bunk hasn't even been lain on," said Schumer, "and where would a sick man lie but on his bunk or in it? These Kanakas are fools--soft heads; they can't put two and two together, or imagine other people doing it. Now, let's look for the ship's papers."
They hunted, but though they discovered the box which evidently had contained the papers, sign of papers or money there was none. Neither was there sign of the log.
"They have done away with them," said Floyd.
"Looks so," replied Schumer. "Unless the old man swallowed them before he died. Ah, here's a coat of his!"
A coat hanging from a peg by the bunk attracted his attention.
He examined the pockets, and discovered a number of letters, an American dollar, a tobacco pouch, and a pipe. He returned the pipe and the pouch, and placed the letters in his pocket.
"We'll examine them later on," said he; "they may give us some news. Now let's look at this chest and see what it holds."
He raised the lid of a sea chest standing opposite the bunk, and began to explore the contents. It contained mostly clothes, boots, some island curios, and down in one corner another packet of letters, which Schumer took possession of.
On the inside of the lid was nailed the portrait of a stout woman--the unfortunate man's wife, perhaps.
To Floyd there was something mournful in the sight of these few possessions--all that was left on earth of a man living a few weeks ago, or maybe a few days ago, and now vanished utterly; done to death, most probably, by the savages on deck. But Schumer did not seem at all disturbed by any reflections on the matter. With speed but no hurry he went through the business, closed the lid, and rose up.
"Let's get on deck," said he; "we can overhaul the other cabins later on. I have seen what I wanted to see, and there's no use in leaving those fellows on deck too long without attention. I'll have another talk with the big Kanaka, and then we'll go ashore and have a council of war."