CHAPTER XIX
HOT WORDS AND BLOWS
"What a shame!" said Nellie, pointing to the slumbering mate.
"That shows what liquor will do," came from Dora.
"Oh, you mustn't blame him too much," returned Dan Baxter, who also liked the taste of the liquor. "Remember that we have been living a dog's life since we came on shore, while you have been living on the best the ship affords."
"I wouldn't touch liquor if I was starving!" cried Grace.
"And neither would the Rover boys," added Dora.
"Oh, you think the Rover boys are regular saints!" grumbled the bully. "You don't know what they would do behind your back."
"If they said they wouldn't drink they wouldn't," cried Nellie, her eyes flashing. "We can trust them every time."
"I suppose the Rover boys run this place to suit themselves," went on Baxter, eying the house and the general appearance of the camp sharply.
"We all run it together," came from Grace.
"Isn't Captain Blossom, in command?"
"After a fashion, yes. We haven't tried to decide that point yet.
Have you a leader in your camp?"
"Not much of a one. Lesher is leader when he is sober. Of course we'll all come over here, now we've found you and the wreck," went on Dan Baxter.
"But why should you come here?" asked Dora, not at all pleased by the prospect. "We can let you have your share of what's on board of the schooner."
"Don't want me here, eh?"
"I don't care for all of those rough sailors."
"Well, they are Captain Blossom's men, you mustn't forget that."
"I suppose that is true," and Dora sighed. With the coming of the sailors she was certain the camp would not be as pleasant as formerly.
"I don't think you ought to be down on me, Dora," continued Dan
Baxter, after a pause. "I always liked you, and you know it."
"Thank you for nothing," she replied coldly.
"I'm just as good a fellow as Dick Rover," went on the bully, and laid his hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Don't touch me, Dan Baxter!" she cried.
"I won't hurt you. Come, let us be friends. Surely you don't want any enemies here, where there are only a handful of us, all told."
"I want you to leave me alone."
She tried to move away from him, but he caught her by the arm and tried to hold her hands. Grace and Nellie were out of sight, the one having gone into the house for some dishes, and the other to the spring for some water.
"Say that you'll be friends, and I'll let you go," he said, drawing her closer.
"I won't be friends with you, Dan Baxter, so there!" she cried. "Now let me go!" And she tried to push him away.
"You—you little cat!" he cried, and then, as she let out a loud cry, he let go of her. "What a little fool you are!" And he walked away to the trees, and threw himself down to rest.
Red in the face and ready to cry, Dora ran into the house. Grace looked at her in wonder.
"What is the trouble, Dora?"
"Nothing."
"Did Dan Baxter try to—to—"
"He wants to be—be friends!" sobbed Dora. "He held my hand so I couldn't get away. Oh, how I despise him!"
"Just wait till Dick comes back; he'll make Baxter mind his own business."
"Oh, don't tell him, Grace."
"But I shall, Dora. Baxter has got to keep his distance. I hate him myself, and so does Nellie."
"I wish he and Mr. Lesher had kept their distance."
"Do you think they will really come here—I mean all of the sailors?"
"More than likely."
The girls continued their work, and for the time being Dan Baxter kept his distance. Jack Lesher continued to snore away in the hammock, nor did he rouse up when Dick and old Jerry returned.
"Dan Baxter!" cried Dick, as he leaped from the rowboat. "Where did you come from?" And then the story of the newcomers had to be told over again.
Dick eyed Jack Lesher with open disgust. "A man who will act like that has no welcome in our camp," he said to Baxter.
"You don't mean you are going to turn him out," said the bully, in alarm.
"If he stays here he must behave himself."
"You forget that he was the first mate of the schooner, Dick Rover."
"We are not on the schooner now."
"No, but you are getting your living—or the largest part of it—from the schooner."
"What do you mean, Baxter?"
"I mean that it's the same as if you were on the schooner. And that being so, Mr. Lesher is the second in command here."
At this statement the girls looked alarmed, and even old Jerry's face showed his uneasiness. But Dick's face was full of contempt.
"Do you mean to say that thing "—pointing to the drunken mate—" that thing can command any of us? If you do, let me say right now that you are mistaken."
"We'll see about that later."
"This is our camp, and it is not for you, the mate, or anybody else to come here and dictate to us. If you try that, we'll send you off in double-quick order."
There was a pause, and Dick and old Jerry began to unload the things they had brought from the wreck. They had found a large cake of ice. But the coming of Baxter and Jack Lesher had taken away the pleasure of making lemonade and orange ice, and the lump was placed in some water to cool it for drinking purposes.
As soon as Grace could get the chance she told Dick of the way Dan Baxter had treated Dora. At once Dick's face took on a stern look that boded the bully no good.
"I'll have a talk with him and come to an understanding," said the eldest Rover, and strode out of the house and to where Baxter was walking up the beach, picking up fancy-colored sea-shells.
"Look here, Baxter, I want to have an understanding with you," he said, catching the bully by the arm.
"What do you want now?"
"I want you to promise to leave Dora Stanhope alone in the future."
"How I treat her is none of your business," blustered the bully.
"But it is my business, Baxter."
"See here, Dick Rover, I won't be bossed by you!" howled the tall youth. "You mind your own business."
"If you touch her again, there will be trouble."
"What will you do?"
"I'll give you the worst thrashing you ever had in your life."
"Two can play at that game."
"There will be only one in this game."
"Do you want to fight me?"
"I am perfectly willing," responded Dick recklessly. His anger was deep at that moment.
"All right then, come on!" howled Baxter savagely, and, squaring off, he aimed a blow at Dick's face.
The attack was so sudden that Dick could scarcely prepare for it, and though he dodged, Baxter's fist landed glancingly on his cheek.
"There you are, and here's another!" cried the bully, and his other fist shot out, catching Dick on the shoulder.
But now the oldest Rover was on his guard, and in a twinkle he let drive, taking Dan Baxter in the eye. It was a staggering blow, and made the bully gasp with pain. Then Dick followed it up by a crashing blow on the chin, which sent the bully reeling into the low water on the beach.
"Don't—don't run me into the ocean!" he spluttered, and, watching his chance, ran out of the water and up the beach.
But Dick was now thoroughly aroused, and he made after Baxter. When he got close enough, he put out his foot and sent the bully sprawling. Baxter came down on some rough sea-shells, cutting his face and hands in several places.
"Oh! oh!" he howled. "Stop it!"
"I will not stop it, Dan Baxter, until you promise to let Dora Stanhope and the other girls alone in the future. They want nothing to do with you, and you must keep your distance."
"I—I didn't hurt anybody."
"Do you promise to let them alone?"
Without replying, the bully staggered to his feet. The blood was running from his nose and from a cut on his chin, and both of his hands were also bleeding.
"Do you want to kill me, Dick Rover?"
"I want you to behave yourself. Come, now, are you going to promise?"
"What if I don't?"
"Then I'll give you the thrashing I promised."
"All right, I'm cornered, and can't help myself."
"Will you let the girls alone in the future?"
"Yes. If they don't want to be friends, I'm sure I can get along without them," answered Baxter sulkily.
"Very well; now see that you keep your promise. If you don't, I'll run you out of camp and never let you come near us again."
With these words Dick turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Baxter to wash his cuts and bruises in the ocean and otherwise care for them as best he could.
CHAPTER XX
THE MATE TRIES TO TAKE COMMAND
The fight had taken place around a bend of the shore, so that it was not observed by old Jerry and the girls. But when Dick got back to camp Dora at once noticed that something unusual had happened.
"What is wrong, Dick?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing much, Dora. I merely made Dan Baxter promise to keep his distance in the future."
"Did you have a fight?"
"It didn't amount to much. He had to give in pretty quickly."
"Oh, Dick!" She caught his arm.
"I won't have him annoying you, or the others, Dora."
"You are so good!" she whispered.
Supper was ready, and they sat down, leaving Jack Lesher still in the hammock. They had nearly finished when Dan Baxter came shuffling along.
"Do you want some supper?" asked Dick. "If you do, come on."
"I don't want anything more to-night," growled the bully, and sat down beside Jack Lesher.
It was rather an uncomfortable evening. The thoughts of each of the party were busy. At the first opportunity Dick called old Jerry to one side.
"Jerry, we must watch those two fellows closely," he said.
"Right ye are, Dick."
"I am afraid Lesher will be ugly when he wakes up."
"More'n likely, lad—he always was on board ship. The drink gives him an awful temper."
"I am, going to put the liquor where he can't get it."
"He'll make ye give it to him."
"Will he? Just you wait and see," replied Dick firmly.
It was decided to let Lesher rest in the hammock all night. Baxter was given a cot in the living room of the house. Soon all had retired, and the camp was quiet for the night.
Dan Baxter was the first to stir in the morning. His cuts smarted so he could not sleep, and he walked out to bathe them and put on some salve Nellie had generously turned over to him. He found Jack Lesher stirring.
"Hullo!" grumbled the mate, sitting up and yawning. "Where am I?"
"Don't you know we struck camp?" answered Baxter.
"Oh, yes, I remember now. Got some good liquor, too. Where is that bottle?"
"You emptied it, Lesher."
"Did I? Too bad! I'll have to find another. Where are the girls?"
"Asleep in the house, and so are Dick Rover and old Jerry Tolman."
"What of Cap'n Blossom and them other Rover boys?"
"They are not expected back for several days."
"Humph! Say, I feel bad, I do. I must have something to brace me up."
"You'd better not disturb them, Lesher. They are mighty stiff-necked since they landed here."
"What do you mean?"
"They gave me to understand yesterday that they were going to run things to suit themselves. They are not going to let us interfere in anything."
"I like that!" The mate yawned again, rose, and stretched himself.
"Baxter, do you know where they keep the liquor?"
"No."
"I'm bound to have what I want. Didn't it all come from the Golden
Wave, and aint I the first mate of that craft?"
"To be sure you are, Lesher."
"They can't make me take a back seat," went on the mate. His head was still far from clear.
"I told them that you were second in command—Captain Blossom being first—but they wouldn't listen. They said they were on land, and you didn't count."
"Don't I count!" cried Jack Lesher, his blood-shot eyes taking on an ugly look. "I'll show 'em!"
Just then old Jerry came from the house. Jack Lesher staggered toward him.
"Ahoy there!" he called out.
"What do you want, Mr. Lesher?" questioned old Jerry, and touched his forelock.
"Bring me some liquor, and be quick about it."
"I haven't any liquor."
"What's that?"
"I said I haven't any liquor."
"Aint there any more liquor ashore?"
"If there is, I don't know where it is."
"Then find out, and be quick about it, or I'll give you the rope's-end!" roared the unreasonable mate.
The loud talking aroused Dick, and he soon came out.
"What's the matter here?" he asked. "Oh, so you have woke up," he went on to Jack Lesher.
"Yes, I'm awake, Rover. And I want to know where the liquor has been placed."
"It's been placed where you won't get hold of it, Mr. Lesher."
"What! This to me!" yelled the mate, in fury. "To me, the first mate!"
"A first mate doesn't count for anything here. This is a private camp, and if you don't behave yourself we'll pitch you out of it."
"You—you—" Jack Lesher could not go on, and shook his fist in Dick's face.
"I told you what they intended to do," whispered Dan Baxter in Lesher's ear. "They have the upper hand and mean to keep it. But don't forget that we have nine sailors in our camp to back us up," he went on suggestively.
"Don't grow abusive, Mr. Lesher," said Dick as calmly as he could.
"Just think the matter over. It may save a good deal of trouble."
"I don't have to think it over!" bellowed the mate. "During Cap'n Blossom's absence I am in command, just as much as if we were on the deck of the wreck over there. You were only passengers, but Jerry Tolman was a sailor, and he's under my command. I told him to bring me some liquor, and he has got to do it. If he won't obey, it's mutiny, just you remember that!" And he shook his finger warningly in old Jerry's face.
"I told ye I don't know where the liquor is," answered old Jerry doggedly.
"And he tells the truth," said Dick. "I put it away myself."
"Then I command you to bring it to me."
"I told you before your commands don't hold water here. Even old Jerry hasn't got to obey you. When the Golden Wave was abandoned that ended your authority. We have simply made Captain Blossom our leader because he acted fair and square. But we don't have to obey him if we don't want to."
"What of the nine sailors who are with me?"
"We'll be pleased to give them their full share of what is on the wreck, and if they behave themselves they can build a camp right next to this one. But you must remember that we discovered the wreck first, and that Captain Blossom was the only man left on board."
"We'll see what the men have to say about this," growled Lesher.
"Then you aint going to give me no liquor?"
"You can have one glass with your breakfast, and that is all. After this you can have the regulation ship's grog, with the other sailors. But getting drunk has got to be stopped, even if we have to dump all the liquor into the ocean."
By this time the girls had appeared on the scene, and the talk came to an end, Dick turning in to help get breakfast. Jack Lesher walked down to the beach, followed by Dan Baxter.
"You see, it is just as I told you," said Baxter. "They are going to ride right over us."
"They wouldn't ride over us if I had those other sailors here," growled the mate.
"Or if we were armed," went on the bully. "I tried to get hold of a pistol, but Dick Rover watches me like a cat watches a mouse."
"If we could get to the wreck we might arm ourselves," said Lesher.
"Here is a boat; let us row over."
"I'm willing," answered the bully.
They walked to the boat, shoved it into the water, and leaped in.
Just as Lesher picked up the oars Dick saw what they were doing.
"Stop!" he cried.
"What do you want?" growled the mate.
"Where are you going?"
"Over to the wreck."
"What for?"
"That is our business," put in Dan Baxter.
"You shan't go over there until Captain Blossom comes back."
"We'll go when we please," said Lesher, and started to row away.
"Come back, I say!" cried Dick, and, rushing into the house, he appeared with a shot-gun.
"What are you going to do, Dick Rover?" questioned Baxter in alarm.
"I am going to make you come back," was the oldest Rover's very quiet, but determined, answer.
CHAPTER XXI
THE ATTACK ON THE WRECK
The appearance of Dick with the shot-gun disturbed Jack Lesher quite as much as it did Dan Baxter, and the mate stopped rowing instantly.
"Hi! don't you fire at us!" he cried.
"Then come back here," said Dick.
"Haven't I a right to visit the wreck?"
"I am not sure that you have. Anyway, you must wait until Captain
Blossom returns."
"It seems to me that you are carrying matters with a high hand, young fellow."
"Oh, Dick, be careful!" whispered Dora. "They may become desperate."
"Don't worry, Dora," he whispered in return. Unless I miss my guess, one is as big a coward as the other."
"I hope ye aint goin' too far, Dick," said old Jerry, in a low tone.
"Don't you intend to stand by me, Jerry?"
"To be sure I do; but the mate is the mate, ye know."
There was an uncertain pause all around.
"There is no harm in my visiting the wreck," growled Jack Lesher presently.
"Perhaps not, but you had better wait until Captain Blossom gets back."
"I only want to get some things that belong to me."
"And I want to get my extra clothes," said Baxter. "These are in rags, as you can see."
"Then wait until after breakfast and we'll all go over," said Dick, but he had scarcely spoken when he felt sorry for the words.
"Oh, Dick, don't trust yourself with them!" cautioned Dora.
"We want to hurry, for I want to go back to where I left the sailors before night," answered Lesher.
"Then we'll have breakfast at once."
Rather reluctantly the mate turned back to the shore and he and Baxter
left the boat. Then the girls prepared breakfast with all haste.
Lesher ate but little, but eagerly tossed off the glass of liquor
Dick allowed him.
"Give me one more," he pleaded, but Dick was firm, and the mate stalked away muttering under his breath.
Before Dick entered the rowboat he called Jerry aside, and handed the old sailor a pistol.
"We had better go armed," he said. "Keep your eyes open, for they may try to play us a foul trick. And don't let Lesher talk you into obeying him. He has no authority whatever over you."
"All right, Dick, I'll stand by ye always from this minit on," said
Jerry, and the compact was sealed by a handshake.
The girls came down to see them off, and Dora warned Dick again to be on guard. It was decided that Lesher and old Jerry should do the rowing. Baxter sat in the bow of the boat, and Dick in the stern.
The trip to the wreck was accomplished in almost utter silence. Everybody was busy with his thoughts. As they drew near Dick showed the mate where a ladder hung from the side, and as they drew close to this Baxter was the first to mount to the deck.
As Dick had surmised, Lesher's first hunt was for liquor, and he drank several glasses at a gulp. Then he began to roam around the wreck, noting the damage that had been done and the amount of stores still on board.
"Might float her, if the tide got extra high," he said. "Eleven men in our crowd and five in your own ought to be able to do something, surely."
"The captain says the ship is too deep in the sand," answered Dick briefly.
"Blossom don't know everything," growled the mate.
Both he and Baxter soon found some comfortable clothing, and put it on. Then they made up a bundle of things they said the other sailors needed.
When arming themselves, the Rovers and Captain Blossom had placed all of the remaining firearms in a stateroom and locked the door.
"What did you do with all of the guns and pistols?" asked Lesher presently, after looking in vain for them.
"They are packed away in a stateroom. Captain Blossom thought it wouldn't do to leave them lying loose. Some savages might come to the islands and steal them, and then we'd be in a bad hole."
"We've got to have some guns and pistols, Rover."
"Well, you can see the captain about that."
"I shan't wait. Which stateroom are they in?"
Dick would not tell the mate, and Lesher went around trying the various doors. Coming to one that was locked he burst it open with his shoulder.
Dick scarcely knew what to do, and while he was trying to make up his mind Jack Lesher secured a pistol and a rifle, and also a pistol for Dan Baxter. He would have taken more fire-arms, but Dick stopped him.
"That is enough," he said.
"I want some for the men," said the first mate.
"They can get pistols from Captain Blossom when they get here."
"Humph! You think you are in sole command, don't you?"
"I am not going to allow you to take away all the firearms that are here, Mr. Lesher."
"We'll see:"
The mate went into the pantry and secured another glass of liquor. Then he ordered old Jerry to take the bundle of clothing and put it in the rowboat.
"I've got some money on this schooner," he said. "I want to see if that's safe, or if you have stolen it."
"We haven't touched any money," answered Dick, his face flushing.
"It would be of no use to us on these islands."
"You come with me while I take a look," said Lesher.
Behind his back he waved his hand for Baxter to follow. All three went below again, and into a stateroom the mate had occupied.
"The money was in that chest," said the mate. He threw open the lid.
"It's gone!" he cried.
Interested for the moment, Dick bent forward to look in the chest. As he did so, Lesher suddenly hit him a savage blow over the head with the butt of a pistol. The blow was a heavy one, and Dick fell like a log to the floor.
"Oh!" came from Baxter. "Have you killed him?"
"No; only knocked the senses out of him," answered Lesher, bending over his victim.
"What did you do it for?"
"To teach him a lesson. He shan't boss me, Baxter. Come, help me put him in the brig, and be quick, before Jerry comes back."
They lifted up the insensible form and made their way to where the ship's brig was located, a dirty closet once used for oil and lanterns. Dick was thrown on the floor, and the mate shut the door on him and locked it.
"Now he can stay there for a day or two," he snarled. "Reckon it will teach him a lesson."
"What will you do with the sailor?"
Before Lesher could answer old Jerry appeared.
"Where is Dick Rover?" he asked.
"None of your business," growled Jack Lesher. "See here, Tolman, are you going to obey me after this?"
"I want to know where Dick is?" said old Jerry stubbornly.
"I put him in the brig to cool off. He's too hot-headed for his own good."
"You had no right to lock him up, Mr. Lesher. You must let him out at once."
"Git out of here, quick!" roared Lesher. "On deck, or I'll flog you well!"
"Ye won't tech me!" cried Jerry, his temper rising. "I aint under orders no more, mind that. Now you let him out, or I'll do it. You was a fool to lock him up in the first place."
He moved toward the brig, but Lesher caught him by the arm.
"Let's teach this chap a lesson, too!" came from Baxter, and, like a flash, he struck old Jerry in the back of the head. The first blow was followed by a second, and down went the tar, the blood oozing from one of his wounds.
"Don't hit him again!" cried Lesher hastily. "He's out already."
Baxter grew pale, thinking he had gone too far. But he soon discovered that Jerry still breathed, and then he felt relieved.
It was decided by the pair that they should place old Jerry beside Dick in the brig, and this was quickly done. Then they put into the prison a bucket of drinking water and a can of ship's biscuits, and another of baked beans.
"They won't starve on that," said Lesher. "And when they get out they'll understand that I am as much of a master here as anybody."
"It serves Dick Rover right," said Baxter. "He's the kind that ought to be kept under foot all the time."
CHAPTER XXII
A HEAVY TROPICAL STORM
"Those girls will ask some awkward questions, I reckon," said Jack
Lesher, as the two prepared to leave the wreck.
"We had better not say too much," answered Baxter.
They were soon over the side and in the rowboat, which contained the bundle of clothing and a number of other articles. Then an idea struck the mate.
"Wait; I am going back," he said, and disappeared on the deck one more.
Dan Baxter imagined that Lesher had gone for more liquor. But he was mistaken. When the mate reappeared, he carried a box containing half a dozen pistols, two guns, and a quantity of ammunition.
"I am going to hide this in the woods on the other side of this island," he said. "The firearms may come in handy before long."
"A good idea," replied Baxter, and helped him place the case in a desirable spot, under some rocks, where the rain could not touch it.
"We are going to have a storm before long," said the mate, as they started to row back to the camp. "And if it is a heavy one we'll have to wait till it clears off before we rejoin the rest of our crowd."
The sky was growing dark, and by the time the beach in front of the house was gained the rain was falling.
"Where are Dick and, old Jerry?" asked Dora in quick alarm. She had noted long before that only Baxter and the mate were in the rowboat.
"They stayed behind on the wreck," answered Lesher. "Come, help get the bundles out of the wet," he added to his companion.
"Why did they stay?" asked Nellie.
"Don't ask me," growled Lesher.
He and Baxter took the bundle to the house and dumped it on the floor of the living room. Then they brought in the other things from the boat. By this time it was raining in torrents, and from a distance came the rumble of thunder and occasionally the faint flash of lightning.
Not wishing to remain out in the storm, the three girls came into the house.—"Dora was very much disturbed, and Nellie and Grace were also anxious.
"It is queer that Dick and old Jerry remained behind," whispered Dora to her cousins. "They were so anxious to protect us before."
"I cannot understand it, Dora," returned Nellie.
"There has been foul play somewhere," came from Grace.
"Oh, do you think—" Dora could not finish.
"See here!" burst in the voice of Jack Lesher. "We want some dinner.
Don't be all day getting it for us."
The liquor he had imbibed was beginning to tell upon him.. He looked ugly, and the girls trembled before him.
"Dinner will be ready in a quarter of an hour," said Grace, who had been doing the cooking.
"All right." Lesher turned to the bully: "Baxter, join me in a glass of rum for luck."
"Thanks, I will," answered Dan Baxter, who did not particularly want the liquor, but did not dream of offending the mate.
Lesher produced a bottle he had brought away from the wreck, prepared two glasses of rum, and drank with great relish. Then he threw himself into a chair at the rude dining-table.
"I am the master here, and I want everybody to know it!" he exclaimed, banging his fist savagely.
"There is dinner," said Grace, and brought it in. "You can help yourself." And she went into the next room to join Nellie and Dora.
"Aint going to wait on us, eh?" grumbled Lesher, with a hiccough.
"All right, my fine ladies. But I am master, don't you forget that!"
He began to eat leisurely, while Dan Baxter began to bolt his food. In the meantime the sky grew darker and the flashes of lightning more vivid. The girls were greatly frightened, and huddled together, while tears stood on Grace's cheeks.
"Oh, if only somebody was with us," sighed Nellie.
By the time Lesher and Baxter had finished eating the storm was on them in all of its violence. The wind shrieked and tore through the jungle behind them, and often they could hear some tall tree go down with a crash.
"This will tear our flag of distress to shreds," said Nellie. "And just when we need it so much, too!"
"I am thinking of the future as well as the present," said Dora. "What a rough time there will be if Lesher brings those other sailors here. Some of them were heavy drinkers like himself, and only two or three were Americans."
The storm had whipped the waters of the bay into a fury, and the rain was so thick that to see even the island on which the wreck rested was impossible.
"Dick can't come now," said Dora. "A boat on the bay would surely go down."
Having finished the meal, Lesher and Baxter sat down in the living room to smoke and to talk over the situation. The mate continued to drink, and half an hour later he fell asleep, sitting on the bench, and with his head on the table.
"The beast!" said Dora, as she peeped out at him. "Well, there is one satisfaction," she continued: "he cannot harm us while he is asleep."
"You girls better have your own dinner," called out Baxter. "I aint going to eat you up."
"We will get our dinner when we please," said Nellie, as she came out. "We are not afraid of you, Dan Baxter."
No more was said for a long time. The girls ate what little they wished and washed up the dishes. The rain still continued to fall in torrents, but the thunder and' lightning drifted away to the eastward.
Dora was the most anxious of the trio, and at every opportunity she tried to look through the driving rain toward the wreck.
"I'd give almost anything to know if Dick is safe," she murmured.
"Don't be discouraged, Dora," said Grace. "Perhaps he will return as soon as the storm is over."
The girls were huddled close to a window, looking out into the rain, when Dan Baxter threw aside the pipe he had been smoking and approached them.
"See here, girls," he said, "why can't we be friends? What is the use of being enemies in such a place as this?"
"Dan Baxter, we want you to keep your distance," said Nellie coldly.
"And if you do not, it will be the worse for you when the others come back," put in Grace.
"Humph! I reckon you think it is fine to ride such a high horse," sneered the bully. "What are you going to do when we bring the rest of the sailors over here? We'll be eleven to seven then."
"Never mind what we'll do," said Dora. "I would rather have the company of some of those sailors than your company."
"That is where you make a mistake. The sailors are all rough fellows, some of them worse than Jack Lesher. Now, if you are willing to count me as a friend, I'll stand by you when the crowd comes over."
"We don't want your friendship, Dan Baxter, so there!" cried Nellie.
"We know your past, and we know that you cannot be trusted."
"Don't think I am as good as the Rovers, eh?"
"We all know that you are not," answered Grace.
"What have you done to Dick Rover?" questioned Dora. "He ought to be here long before this."
"Oh, I guess the storm is holding him back," said Baxter, shifting uneasily as she gazed earnestly into his eyes.
"If anything has happened to Dick, I shall hold you responsible," said Dora.
At that moment the fury of the storm cut off further talking. A sudden rush of wind had come up, whistling through the jungle and bringing down a palm close to the house with a crash. The fall of the tree made Baxter jump in alarm.
"The house is coming down!" he cried, and ran outside.
The wind made the waves in the bay rise higher and higher until they lashed furiously in all directions. Then came another downpour of rain, which caused the bully to seek shelter again.
"Hark!" said Nellie suddenly, and raised her hand for silence.
"What did you hear?" asked Grace.
"Somebody calling. Listen!"
All were silent once more, and just then the wind fell a little.
"I don't hear anything," said Dora.
But then followed a distant voice—two voices calling desperately:
"Help! help! Our boat is sinking! Help!"
CHAPTER XXIII
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE BAY
To go back to Tom, Sam, and Captain Blossom at the time that they placed the two dead goats in their rowboat and prepared to return to the camp.
It was already raining by the time the shore of the bay was reached, and scarcely had they begun to row when the water came pouring down in torrents.
"Gracious! I must say I don't like this!" cried Tom. "The rain is running down my neck in a stream."
"I move we row into shore over yonder," said Sam, pointing up the coast. "There are some trees which will shelter both us and the boat nicely."
Captain Blossom was willing, and in a few minutes they were under the trees and wringing out their clothes as best they could.
"If I know anything about it, this storm is going to last for some time," said the captain, after a long look at the sky.
"Such a downfall as this can't last," said Sam. "Perhaps we can get home between showers."
It was dry under the trees for about half an hour, but then the water began to reach them once more, and they had to shift their position again.
This kept up for some time, until all were wet through and thoroughly uncomfortable, when Tom proposed that they start for home regardless of the storm.
"We can't get any wetter than we are," he declared. "And the sooner we reach the house the sooner we'll be able to change our clothes."
The others agreed, and when the worst of the lightning and thunder had passed they set off once more, two rowing and the third steering the boat and bailing out the water, which came in faster than was desirable.
"When it rains in the tropics, it rains," observed Tom. "Puts me in mind of that storm we met when we were in Africa. Do you remember, Sam?"
"Indeed, I do," answered his brother. "I thought we'd all be killed by the trees that fell in the jungle."
"Have you been in Africa?" came from Captain Blossom in astonishment.
"Yes," answered Tom. "Our father got lost there once, and we went in search of him," and he gave a few of the particulars, as already related in another volume of this series, entitled "The Rover Boys in the Jungle."
"Well, you boys have had some ups and downs," said the captain. "But
I reckon you weren't cast away before like this."
"Not like this," answered Sam. "But we were left on a lonely island once in Lake Huron," and he related a few particulars of their exciting experiences with the Baxters while on the Great Lakes.
Another downpour of rain cut off the talking, and Tom was kept busy bailing out the row-boat. With three persons and the two dead goats the craft was pretty heavily loaded, and more than once the rising wind swept some water over the bow.
"I'd give a little to be ashore again," said Tom presently. "It seems to me that the rain is shutting out everything."
"We'll have to land again, lads," put in the captain, with a grave shake of his head. "This wind is growing worse. We don't want to be swamped."
They turned to what they thought must be the direction of the nearest shore, but though they pulled with might and main for nearly quarter of an hour no land appeared.
"We're mixed," cried Sam. "The storm has twisted us up."
By this time the wind was blowing a regular gale on the bay. It took off Tom's cap, and in a twinkle the headgear was out of sight.
"My cap's gone!" groaned the youth.
"The water is coming in over the bow!" came from Sam. "We will be swamped!"
"We must throw the goats overboard," said the captain, and overboard went the game, much to the boys' sorrow.
This lightened the craft a little, but still the waves swept over the gunwale, and now both Sam and Tom set to bailing, while the captain took both oars. Then came another blast of wind, worse than before.
"I see land!" cried Sam.
"We are going over!" yelled Tom, and the wind fairly whipped the words from his lips. Then came a mighty wave, and on the instant the rowboat was upset, and all three found themselves in the waters of the bay.
As they went under the same thought was in the mind of each: Were there any sharks around?
"Help! help!" cried Sam, as soon as he came up. "Our boat is sinking. Help!" And Tom soon joined in the cry. They had caught hold of the overturned boat, but the craft, for some reason, failed to support them.
Captain Blossom was close at hand, and he advised them to strike out for the shore.
"It's in this direction," he said, and led the way.
"I—I can't swim very far with my clothes on," gasped Sam, yet he struck out as best he could.
"Hullo! Who calls?" came a cry from the shore, and, looking up, they saw Dora standing there, with Nellie and Grace Laning close beside her.
"It's Tom and Sam!" cried Nellie.
"And Captain Blossom," added Grace.
"Perhaps we can throw them a rope," came from Dora, and she ran to get the article she had mentioned.
But by the time she returned the three swimmers had reached a point where they could touch bottom with their feet, and, watching for a favorable opportunity, they rushed ashore, almost into the arms of the girls.
"Oh, Tom, how glad I am that you are safe!" cried Nellie, while Grace caught hold of Sam and asked if he was all right.
"Yes, I am—am all right, but—but pretty well fagged out," gasped Sam.
"It was a close shave," said Captain Blossom. "And our guns are gone."
"We had two dead goats, too," put in Tom. "They went overboard first, and—goodness gracious—is that really Dan Baxter?"
"Dan Baxter!" ejaculated Sam, and even Captain Blossom stared in amazement.
"I see you've had a rough time of it," said Baxter, coming forward coolly. "How are you?"
He shook hands with Captain Blossom, while the Rover boys continued to stare at him.
"Are you alone?" asked the master of the Golden Wave.
"No, Jack Lesher is with me, and we left nine of the sailors on another island."
"Is that so? Where is Lesher now?"
"In the house, asleep."
"He is intoxicated," said Nellie. "We has been drinking ever since he put in an appearance."
"Humph! That's like Lesher," muttered the captain, and his brow darkened.
All moved toward the house, and entered to get out of the wet. The mate was still at the table, snoring loudly.
"Might as well let him sleep it off," said the captain. "But when he is sober I'll have a talk with him."
Wet clothing was changed for dry, and then the captain and the boys listened to what Baxter and the girls had to tell. The captain was glad to learn that so many of his men had been saved, and asked for the names.
"I don't care much about Peterson and McGlow," he said. "They are tough customers. I would rather have heard from Peabody, Dickson, and Fearwell. You don't know anything about them?"
"No," said Dan Baxter.
"This news about Dick and old Jerry worries me," said Tom.
"Dan Baxter, I think you know more than you care to tell," said Sam boldly.
The bully hardly knew how to reply. He could not now fall back on Jack Lesher for support, and he had thought to be on his way to rejoin the sailors ere this. The storm had upset all of his calculations. It had been a foolish movement to attack Dick and old Jerry, and it now looked as if he must suffer for it.
"Well—er—I don't mind telling you that Dick and the mate had something of a quarrel," he said hesitatingly.
"How did it end?" asked Tom.
"I can't say exactly."
"Why not? You were with Lesher at the time."
"No, I wasn't. He ordered me to get into the rowboat and wait for him while he went back to get a pistol or a gun. I heard loud talking on the deck of the schooner, and I knew a row was on. I was just going back to the deck when the mate came and leaped into the rowboat. He said the sailor and Dick were going to remain behind, and that we wouldn't wait any longer. Then we rowed over here."
"If that's the case I'll make Lesher tell us what happened," cried Tom, and shook the mate roughly. "Wake up here!" he cried. "Wake up and give an account of yourself!"
CHAPTER XXIV
IN CLOSE QUARTERS
Slowly Dick came to his senses. He remembered little or nothing, and only knew that all was dark around him, and that his head was spinning like a top.
For several minutes he remained quiet, trying to collect his thoughts.
Then he sat up and passed one hand slowly over his forehead.
"Oh, how my heed aches!" he murmured.
It was fully five minutes before he felt like moving around. Then he arose and took a step forward and stumbled over old Jerry's body.
"Oh!" he murmured, and felt of the body in the dark, "Who is this?
Can it be Jerry?" he asked himself.
Then came a recollection of the cowardly attack. But what had followed was a blank, and he could not imagine where he was.
Dick remembered that he had a match safe in his pocket, and soon he made a light. By this he caught sight of a lantern in the brig and lit it. Then he bent over old Jerry, and saw that the sailor was still alive, but suffering from his treatment.
"He must have been attacked, too," murmured Dick. The bucket of water was at hand, And he took a drink and bathed Captain Jerry's forehead.
It was fully half an hour before the old sailor felt at all like himself. Both sat down to review the situation.
"The cowards!" said Dick. "What do you suppose they attacked us for?"
"Can't say as to that," replied old Jerry. "Perhaps Lesher wanted to show us he was master."
"He'll settle with me if I ever get out of this hole, Jerry. What place is this?"
"The lock-up of the Golden Wave. I think it used to be an oil room."
They gazed around them, and soon discovered the can of ship's biscuits and also the beans.
"They evidently meant to keep us prisoners for some time," said Dick.
"Hark, what is that?"
Both listened, and made out the sounds of distant thunder and heard the patter of rain on the deck.
"A storm is brewing," said old Jerry. "It sounds as if it was putty heavy, too."
They tried the door to the brig, but found it locked and bolted. In vain Dick kicked against it, and shoved with his shoulder. It refused to budge.
"This looks as if we'd have to stay here—at least for the present," said Dick, with a sigh. "I must say I don't like the prospect."
"How long do ye calculate we've been here, lad?"
"There is no telling, unless by my watch." But when he looked at the timepiece, he found that it had stopped.
They ate some of the biscuits and drank some water and rested for a while longer. Outside the wind blew furiously and they heard the rain and the waves dash in all directions. Then some water came trickling in slowly, at one corner.
"It seems to me as if the wreck was shifting," cried Dick presently.
"It won't shift very far in this bed o' sand, lad. But she may break up and go to pieces," added old Jerry.
"If she goes down, we'll be drowned like rats in a trap," said Dick.
"We must get out somehow."
They talked the matter over and began a systematic examination of their prison. The four walls were solid and so was the ceiling above them.
"The flooring has a couple of loose planks in it," announced. Dick.
"If we can get them up, where will the opening lead to?"
"The forward hold, lad, and that is now half full of sand and water."
"Never mind, I'm going to get the planks up if I can."
With his head still aching Dick set to work and old Jerry helped him. It was no easy matter to shift the heavy planking, but after a while they got one plank up and then used this as a pry to bring up the second.
A dark hole was revealed, covered at the bottom with water. Then Dick took the lantern and let himself down cautiously.
"The water is only about a foot deep," he announced. "I'm going to make a search around with the lantern."
"Hold on, I'll go with ye," cried old Jerry, and came down with a splash.
With great caution they moved around the hold, wading through sand and water, and climbing over boxes, barrels, and crates.
"What a mixture of cargo," said Dick. "And what a pity so much of it is going to ruin," and he pointed to some valuable mining machinery which was rusting in the salt water.
Fortunately old Jerry had been in the hold before the Golden Wave was wrecked, so he knew something of the surroundings. He led the way to some boxes directly beneath the forward hatch.
"I don't reckon the hatch is fastened down," he said. "An' if it aint we may be able to shove it up by standing one box on top of another."
This was tried, and after much difficulty the hatch was thrown to one side, and they crawled to the deck of the schooner.
"I'm glad I am out of that!" ejaculated Dick. "But how it's raining!
Let us go to the cabin for shelter."
Once in the cabin they proceeded to make themselves as comfortable as the state of affairs permitted.
"With no boat it is going to be no easy matter getting back to the house," said Dick. He was much worried concerning the girls.
"We'll have to stay here until the storm is over," said old Jerry.
But Dick demurred and at last it was decided to try getting to the house by journeying from one island to the next.
This was a dangerous proceeding, as we already know. They had to build themselves a small raft and carry this from one crossing to the next.
By the time the last crossing was made the storm was clearing and the day was drawing to a close.
"We had best not show ourselves until we are sure how the land lays," said Dick, as they came up the beach.
Captain Jerry thought this good advice and they proceeded with caution until they came in sight of the house. Then Dick set up a shout.
"Tom, Sam, and Captain Blossom are back! Hurrah!"
"They look as if they were having a row with Baxter and the mate," came from old Jerry.
A row certainly was in progress, and as they came closer they heard
Tom talking.
"Yes, Lesher, I want to know all about this quarrel with my brother
Dick. I am sure he was not in the wrong."
"See here, I know my own business," the mate growled. "You shut up and leave me alone."
"We won't leave you alone," came from Sam. "We want to know the truth."
"Yes, tell us the truth, Lesher," said Captain Blossom sternly.
"All against me, aint you?"
"We want the truth," answered Tom.
"Well, if you must have it, all right. He got cheeky and hit me on the head with an oar. Then I hit back and knocked him down. Then he got mad and so did Jerry Tolman, and both refused to come back in the boat with Baxter and me."
"I'll wager you started to boss things," said Sam. "Dick doesn't raise a row without just cause."
"Good for Sam," murmured Dick.
"Your brother was entirely to blame," grunted the mate. He was still far from sober.
"Jack Lesher, you tell what is not so," said Dick loudly, and joined the group, followed by old Jerry.
Had a bombshell exploded, Lesher and Baxter would not have been more astonished. Then stared at the newcomers as if they were ghosts.
"How—er—how did you get here?" stammered Baxter, while the mate continued to stare, in open-mouthed astonishment.
"That is our affair," responded Dick. He strode up to Lesher. "You miserable villain. How dare you say that I was to blame when you attacked me without warning? Take that for what you did."
And hauling off, Dick hit the mate a fair and square blow in the nose which sent Lesher flat on his back.