"Were the shirt and vest similar to these I show you?"

"Most of them things look alike to me. Yes, sir."

The defense had scored again. But it suffered at the hands of Burns,
the next witness. I believe the prosecution had intended to call
Turner at this time; but, after a whispered conference with Turner's
attorneys, they made a change. Turner, indeed, was in no condition
to go on the stand. He was pallid and twitching, and his face was
covered with sweat.

Burns corroborated the testimony against Singleton--his surly
temper, his outbursts of rage, his threats against the captain.
And he brought out a new point: that Jones, the helmsman, had been
afraid of Singleton that night, and had asked not to be left alone
at the wheel.

During this examination the prosecution for the first time made
clear their position: that the captain was murdered first; that Vail
interfered, and, pursued by Singleton, took refuge in his bunk,
where he was slaughtered; that the murderer, bending to inspect his
horrid work, had unwittingly touched the bell that roused Karen
Hansen, and, crouching in the chartroom with the axe, had struck her
as she opened the door.

The prosecution questioned Burns about the axe and its disappearance.

"Who suggested that the axe be kept in the captain's cabin?"