This cabin had belonged to a dead man. The eerie, forlorn feeling that greeted Jack Driscoll as he stepped over its threshold left no doubt. On the voyage to Skull Island he would have loved to be in one of these cabins, but now he almost wished that he was down with the cages again. He was no believer in ghosts, but the best word that came to mind for this room was "haunted".
There were two bunks in this room, so did that mean that both its occupants were dead? More than likely. He was apprehensive, but more than that he was worn out. With a heavy heart and an aching body, Jack all but toppled onto the bottom bed. He was too exhausted to bother climbing to the one above. He was still there - clothes, shoes, and all - when someone else entered the room later. But their entrance didn't disturb him. He'd practically passed out.
Jimmy could hardly believe his eyes when he entered his bunk and found someone laying on Mr. Hayes' old bed. He'd made it perfectly before leaving - he couldn't really explain why - so finding it occupied was a bit bothersome. His small irritation was instantly fanned into anger. That was Mr. Hayes' bed! It was true that the dead man had no need for it, but didn't anyone on this ship have respect for him? He doubted Jack had known whose bed it was - the captain had likely sent him here, and so it was at the captain his fury was directed. He subconsciously clenched his jaw.
But as Jimmy stood in the doorway with the wheels in his head turning, he realized something. Was there any other man that he would rather have sleeping there? None came to mind. Jack had gone from a gullible city-dweller to a great hero in Jimmy's eyes. He'd literally reached out to care for Jimmy when he'd lost the most important person in his life, even though Jack himself was under a lot of stress after losing Ann.
And then the orphan realized that the lower-bunk wasn't just Mr. Hayes' bed - it was the resting place of heroes.