And Then There Were None: Chapter 15 Summary & Analysis

The three remaining guests sit eating breakfast in the kitchen. It is a sunny day. The storm has passed. Lombard suggests that they should try to signal the mainland for help using a mirror. But Lombard adds that although the weather is better the sea still hasn't gone down and there will be no way to get a boat to the island before tomorrow.

Blore wonders what happened to Armstrong. He suggests that the doctor might have been thrown into the sea, but then wonders: by whom? Blore says he doesn't know but what he does know is that Lombard has the revolver, and maybe he has had the revolver for the whole time. Lombard says that this can't be because they all searched the house together and the revolver was replaced. But Blore still suspects him.

Blore says that the only fair thing to do now is lock up the revolver and both Lombard and Blore can hold a key. Vera says that they are both acting like idiots and have forgotten the rhyme. “Four little soldier boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.” She says that Armstrong is the red herring and isn't actually dead.

But Blore says that they searched the island and Armstrong wasn't there. Vera brings up that they couldn't find the revolver before – everything has fit with the nursery rhyme so this must too.

But, referencing the next verse, Blore says that there is no zoo on the island. But Vera says “Don't you see? We're the Zoo … Last night, we were hardly human anymore. We're the Zoo …”

They spend the morning at the cliffs with a mirror and flashlight tying to signal the mainland. There's no indication anyone on the mainland noticed. They search the island again and see no sign of Armstrong. Vera says she feels safer outside and they agree to stay out of the house for a while, although Blore says they will have to go back in for the night. Vera says she can't bear it and Lombard tells her that she will be safe enough locked in her room.

Vera feels almost happy in the sunlight. She feels like she can't die. Blore says he wants some lunch but Vera refuses to go back into the house. They argue a bit over who will get the revolver and then Blore gives up and goes to the house alone to get some food. Vera thinks that this is very risky but Lombard tells her that Armstrong is unarmed so it can't be too dangerous.

Lombard starts to tell Vera that Blore's story about Armstrong and the footsteps clears both of them, but it doesn't clear Blore. He says that they should be careful of Blore; he might not even be an ex-policeman.

Lombard says that with his revolver he is going to take good care that Blore doesn't get them. He asks Vera why she trusts that he won't just shoot her and Vera says that she has to trust someone. But Vera still believes that Armstrong is the killer because she feels like someone is watching them.

Vera says she once heard a story about two judges in a small American town that administered Absolute Justice, but in fact the judges didn't come from the natural world. Lombard responds that he doesn't believe in the supernatural. Lombard then asks if Vera actually did drown the kid. Vera denies it and Lombard doesn't believe her. He says that the whole thing probably involved a man. Vera admits that it did.

They both hear a thud and a cry and run back up to the house. Blore has been crushed by a great bock of white marble shaped like a bear – the one that was on the mantelpiece in Vera's room.

Lombard says that Armstrong must be in the house and that he is going to go in and find him. But Vera stops Lombard and says that this is probably what Armstrong wants them to do.

Lombard decides that they should find a high place on the island and stay awake all night. They start walking and as they get by the sea they see a bundle in the rocks. They go closer and realize that it is Armstrong. He has drowned.