The three blacks who had been pulling started up the beach with a stretcher on their shoulders.

A white man, whom he recognized as the _Jessie's_ captain, walked in front and opened the gate, then dropped behind to close it.

Sheldon knew that it was Hughie Drummond who lay in the stretcher, and a mist came before his eyes.

He felt an overwhelming desire to die.

The disappointment was too great.