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"It serves Dick Rover right," said Baxter. "He's the kind that ought to be kept under foot all the time." "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.
"I didn't say that, but I did say that Lesher Shouldn't have all he wanted," replied the captain. "This sort of talk made most of the sailors wild," went on Gibson. "Then Lesher made a speech to them, and they voted to stick by him through thick and thin and not let you rule them.
"If I had some money I might buy him off, but I haven't a dollar. What little I did have I left on board of the Tacoma." The others were equally destitute, and when Captain Blossom heard of this his face grew dark. He was a close man, and his first mate, Jack Lesher, was no better. "If you haven't any money, you'll have to work your passage," he growled.
Baxter had told him of his rich relative, and the mate thought there might be a chance to get money from Baxter. "He'd rather give me money than have me tell his relation what sort of a duck he is," said Lesher to himself. After this incident the time passed pleasantly enough for over a week. When Baxter came from the brig he went to work without a word.
"You see," said he, "they may be straight enough, or they may be spies sent by Lesher to find out just what we propose to do." "They look honest," said Dick. "I should trust them." The long pull on the bay had worn the two sailors out, and they were soon sleeping soundly. The girls followed, and then the boys started to turn in.
And with those words the burnt sailor fell back in a dead faint. "He has fainted, poor fellow!" said Dick, as he bent over the unconscious form of Bostwick. "We ought to git back to the house at once!" put in old Jerry. "We must warn the cap'n and the others of what Lesher and his crowd intend to do." "That is true, but we can't leave this poor chap here.
"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."
At these words the sailors halted for a moment. "Say, cap'n, why did you set the ship afire?" asked an unsteady voice. "We had nothing to do with that," answered Captain Blossom. "We were all over on this island when the blaze started." "It's a lie!" came in the voice of Lesher. "Of course it's a lie," added Dan Baxter. "They did their best to burn every one of us up.
"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'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.
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