He began his story quietly enough.

On board that Dale Line steamer that had picked up these four floating in a boat upon the discreet sunset glow of the sea, they had been after the first day looked askance upon.

The fat skipper told some story, the others had been silent, and at first it had been accepted.
You don't cross-examine poor castaways you had the good luck to save, if not from cruel death, then at least from cruel suffering.

Afterwards, with time to think it over, it might have struck the officers of the Avondale that there was "something fishy" in the affair; but of course they would keep their doubts to themselves.

They had picked up the captain, the mate, and two engineers of the steamer Patna sunk at sea, and that, very properly, was enough for them.