At least, the facts, so far as he knew them, pointed to that conclusion.

Evidently the escape of the crew had been very hurried, for they had saved nothing.

He judged also that the clergyman, Mr.Fregelius, having rushed on deck, had been injured by the fall of some spar or block consequent upon the violence of the impact of the vessel upon the reef, and in this hurt condition had been thrown into the boat by the sailors.
Then where was the daughter Stella?
Was she killed in the same fashion or drowned?
Probably one or the other.

But there was a third bare possibility, which did no credit to the crew, that she had been forgotten in the panic and hurry, and left behind on the sinking ship.
At first Morris thought of rousing the captain of the lifeboat.

On reflection, however, he abandoned this idea, for really what had he to go on beyond the scanty and disjointed ravings of a delirious man?
Very possibly the girl Stella was not upon the ship at all.