And Then There Were None: Chapter 8 Summary & Analysis

Blore agrees to search the island but he thinks that maybe one of the guests is actually the murderer. Either way they decide to search the island and Blore asks if anyone has a revolver. Lombard says he does— he explains that he has gotten in “some tight places” before and always carries a revolver.

Searching the small island ends up being quite simple. Towards the end of their search they run into General Macarthur looking at the sea. He pays no attention to them and looks rather dazed. Macarthur keeps repeating “there is so little time” and that no one should disturb him. As they leave Blore says Macarthur looks insane.

When the three men get to the top of the island Blore suggests that they light a bonfire but the others think that the murderer might have already prepared for this and told everyone on the mainland to ignore the shenanigans on the island.

They look down the cliff and wonder if anyone could be there. Lombard suggests he should climb down and see if there are any hidden recesses in the cliff. Blore goes to look for a rope.

Miss Brent sits on the porch knitting and Vera avoids her. Wargrave also sits on the porch and when Vera looks at him she images that she sees him pronouncing a death sentence upon Edward Seton. Vera goes down to the sea where she meets Macarthur. Macarthur tells her that he is waiting for the end, and that none of them are going to leave the island.

Macarthur says that he loved his wife Leslie very much and then admits that this is why he sent Richmond to his death. Macarthur says that now he is alone and he will be happy to end it all. He says that one day she will also be happy when the end comes.

Blore comes back with a rope and Lombard has gone to test some theory. Armstrong tells Blore that he is worried that Macarthur has gone crazy. Blore agrees, but says that doesn't mean that Macarthur is the murderer. Lombard returns and is soon scaling the cliff. He is a talented climber and Blore thinks this makes him even more suspicious. Lombard comes back and says he has seen nothing. The criminal must be in the house or nowhere.

They search the house easily, as it's a very modern home without hidden areas. As they are finishing their search Rogers comes out with a tray of cocktails. As the three men are up in the last corner of the house they hear a soft sound from above in the Rogers' room. They think this would be a great hiding space – in the very room where a dead body lies. But when they get up there they see that it is just Rogers who has decided to move to a different room. Blore comments that Rogers moves very quietly; none of them heard him come upstairs.

The search ends and Blore, Lombard and Armstrong are all very dirty and dusty. There is no one on the island but the eight guests in the house.