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Dick told his story, and then all listened to what old Jerry had to say. In the meantime Jack Lesher arose unsteadily to his feet. "Where is that boy?" he roared. "I'll fix him." And then he made a movement as if to draw his pistol, but discovered that the weapon had been taken from him. "Who took my pistol?" he demanded. "Be quiet, everybody," said Captain Blossom.
"Varnum vs. Western Pacific comes up Friday of this week, and they are going to press for trial this time, and no mistake," wrote the local representative. "Hawk has been chasing around getting affidavits; for what purpose I don't know, though Lesher tells me that one of them was sworn by Houligan, the sub-contractor who tried to fight the engineer's estimates on the Jump Creek work.
But through Lesher the bully, got much better fare than bread and water. Strange as it may seem, a warm friendship sprang up between the bully and the first mate. "I aint got nothing against you, Baxter," said Jack Lesher. "When we get to Australia perhaps we can work together, eh?" and he closed one eye suggestively.
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.
"This is mutiny!" stormed Captain Blossom. "Call it what you please," answered Lesher recklessly. "I reckon I and the boys know what we are doing!" "That's right!" cried the half-drunken sailors. "Hurrah for Cap'n Lesher. He's a man after our own hearts!" "Supposing I demand to be let on board?" went on Captain Blossom. "Don't ye go, cap'n," whispered old Jerry.
"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.
The beach in front of the house was almost gained when they heard a shot ring out, followed by several others. "Just as I feared!" groaned Dick. "Lesher and the others have begun the attack!" "Then we'll have to be careful how we land," said old Jerry. "If we aint, we may run right into 'em!" There was no moon, but the stars shone brightly, so the beach line was dimly visible in the distance.
"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."
"I don't want to be locked up in some dark hole on your ship." "Then you are willing to become a sailor?" "I er I suppose so." "Very well, you can remove your things to the forecastle. Jack Lesher, the first mate, will give you your bunk."
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."
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