“He is Ralph Slade, adventurer and journalist.  Mr. Barnett knows him and vouches for him.”

“And he was on our island under an assumed name,” said Darrow in tones that had the smoothness and the rasp of silk.  “Rather annoying.  Not good form, quite, even for a pirate.”

“Yet, I believe he saved your life,” suggested the captain.

Darrow looked up sharply.  “Why, yes,” he admitted.  “So he did.  I had hoped—­” He checked himself.  “I had thought that all of the crew went the same way.  You didn’t find any of the others?”

“None.”

Darrow got to his feet.  “I think I’d like to see Eagen—­Slade—­whatever he calls himself.”

“I don’t know,” began the captain.  “It might not be—­” He hesitated and stopped.

Darrow drew back a little, misinterpreting the other’s attitude.  “Do I understand that I am under restraint?” he asked stiffly.

“Certainly not.  Why should you be?”

“Well,” returned the other contemplatively, “it really might be regarded as a subject for investigation.  Of course I know only a small part of it.  But there have certainly been suspicious circumstances.  Piracy there has been:  no doubt of that.  Murder, too, if my intuitions are not at fault.  Or at least, a disappearance to be accounted for.  Robbery can’t be denied.  And there’s a dead body or two to be properly accredited.”  He looked the captain in the eye.

“Well?”

“You’ll find my story highly unsatisfactory in detail, I fancy.  I merely want to know whether I’m to present it as a defence, or only an explanation.”

“We shall be glad to hear your story when you are ready to tell it—­after you have seen Mr. Slade.”

“Thank you,” said Darrow simply.  “You have heard his?”

“Yes.  It needs filling in.”

“When may I see him?”

“That’s for Dr. Trendon to say.  He came to us almost dead.  I’ll find out.”

The surgeon reported Slade much better, but all a-quiver with excitement.

“Hate to put the strain on him,” said he.  “But he’ll be in a fever till he gets this thing off his mind.  Send Mr. Darrow to him.”

After a moment’s consideration Darrow said:  “I should like to have you and Dr. Trendon present, Captain Parkinson, while I ask Eagen one or two questions.”

“Understand one thing, Mr. Darrow,” said Trendon briefly.  “This is not to be an inquisition.”

“Ah,” said Darrow, unmoved.  “I’m to be neither defendant nor prosecutor.”

“You are to respect the condition of Dr. Trendon’s patient, sir,” said Captain Parkinson, with emphasis.  “Outside of that, your attitude toward a man who has twice thought of your life before his own is for you to determine.”

No little cynicism lurked in Darrow’s tones as he said: 

“You have confidence in Mr. Slade, alias Eagen.”

“Yes,” replied Captain Parkinson, in a tone that closed that topic.