"A good job done that it's overboard," said Captain Jerry. "Another
plunge or two and we would have gone over, sure pop!"

With the wreckage cleared away the boys breathed more freely. But
the peril was still extreme, for it was no easy matter to keep the
craft from taking the mighty waves broadside. But the force of the
wind drove them on, and Captain Jerry handled the wheel as only a
veteran tar could.

"I guess it's a hurricane," was Tom's comment.

"Looks more like a cyclone to me," spluttered Sam. "I'd give a good
deal to be out of it."

To keep from, being swamped they had to run out to sea. This was no
pleasant prospect to the boys, but it could not be helped.

"We needn't tell the girls," said Dick. "It will only worry them
more, without doing any good."

Two hours went by, and the storm kept on as madly as ever. Night was
now coming on, and soon it was impossible to see a hundred feet in
any direction. The yacht's lanterns were lit, and one was hoisted on
a stick which Dick nailed to the stump of the mast.

"We've got to, have some sort o' light," said Captain Jerry. "If not,
we may run afoul o' some other craft."

The time went by slowly, each hour seeming an age. Nobody felt like
eating, and nothing was said about supper until nearly nine o'clock,
when Dora opened the cabin door and called Dick:

"We thought we would get to shore before eating," she said. "How much
longer will we be out, do you think?"

"There is no telling, Dora," he replied evasively.

"No telling? Doesn't Captain Jerry know where we are?"

"Hardly. You see it is so dark, and we can't make any headway with
the mast gone."

"How stupid of me! I should have known that. Shall we try to fix up
some supper?"

"You might pass some sandwiches. But, no, we had better come down,
one at a time," returned Dick.

This suggestion was carried out, Captain Jerry being the last to go
down, leaving the wheel in the hands of Dick and Tom.

"Don't ye let it git away from ye," was his caution. "If ye do it
will be good-by, 'Liza Jane, an' all of us goin' slam bang to Davy
Jones' locker!"

From old Jerry the girls learned that they would probably have to
remain on the yacht all night.

"Don't ye git alarmed," he said. "The storm's goin' down, an' we'll
come out all right when the sun rises."

The prospect of remaining on the ocean all night was dismaying, and
all of the girls wondered what Mrs. Stanhope would say when they did
not return.

"I know mother will be very much worried," said Dora soberly.

It was decided by the boys that they should take turns at lying down,
each being given two hours in which to rest. Sam was the first to
turn in, but it is doubtful if he slept to any extent. Tom followed,
and then came Dick. Captain Jerry declined, stating he could sleep
when he had the party safe on shore once more.

By morning the storm had taken another turn. It no longer rained,
but the sky was murky, and there was a dense fog, which the wind blew
first in one direction, and then another. They were still running
to sea, with small prospect of being able to turn back.

"This is certainly more than I bargained for," observed Dick to Tom,
in a low voice. "To me it looks mighty serious."

"Oh, the storm is bound to go down."

"Yes, Tom, but how long do you suppose the provisions and water will
last?"

At this question Tom's face fell.

"I hadn't thought of that, Dick. I don't suppose we have more than
enough for to-day, have we?"

"Well, we might make it last two days on a pinch--we brought quite
a lot along. But after that--"

"Do you think we'll have to stay out here more than two days?" demanded
Sam.

"I don't know what to think, Sam."

"Can't we rig up some sort of a jury-mast?"

"Captain Jerry mentioned that. We'll try."

There was no stick on board of the  _Old Glory_ outside of the
bowsprit, and at last they decided to saw this off and put it up as
a small mast.

The task was no easy one, and just as the temporary mast was being
fitted into place there came an extra heavy puff of wind which sent
the yacht far over on her side.

"Hold fast, all of ye!" roared Captain Jerry, and they obeyed, and
the stick went rolling over the side and out of sight in the billows.

"Gone!" gasped Tom. "That ends putting up another mast."

Slowly the day wore along. The girls were silent, and if the truth
be told more than one tear was shed between them, although before
the boys they tried to put on a brave face. There were no regular
meals, and by the advice of Captain Jerry and Dick they were sparing
of the provisions and the water.

"Our only hope now is for the storm to go down, or else to sight some
passing ship," said Dick. "Getting back to Santa Barbara at present
is out of the question. For all we know, we may be a hundred or two
hundred miles from the coast."

About two o'clock in the afternoon the sky cleared a little. But as
the fog lifted, the wind blew with greater force, sending them reeling
and plunging into the mighty waves.

"It looks as if we should be swamped after all," said Tom dolefully.

"Never say die, Tom," came from Sam resolutely.

"I suppose Mrs. Stanhope will be worried half to death."

"No doubt of it."

Nobody had any heart to talk, and each watched eagerly for some sign
of a sail. Tom had a spyglass, and just before sunset he let out a shout:

"A ship! A ship!"

"Where?" came from the others.

"Off in that direction," and Tom pointed with his hand.

All took a look through the glass, and saw that he was right. There
was a steamer approaching.

"If only they see us." said Dick, and his brothers nodded.

The girls had heard the cry, and now came on deck to learn what it meant.

"Oh, I hope they take us on board and back home," said Nellie. "I
must say I am heartily tired of this yacht."

The wind was increasing, and the girls had to go back to the cabin
to keep from getting wet. The boys put up a flag, upside down, on a
piece of planking, and waited eagerly for the steamer to come nearer.

"The yacht is settling," cried Dick, a little while later. "Don't
you notice it?"

"The Old Glory has sprung some leaks," responded Captain Jerry sadly.
"Take the wheel while I go and look them over."

Tom and Sam, took the wheel, while old Jerry and Dick inspected the
leaks. They soon reported that two seams had opened at the bow, and
that there was a bad break at the stern, which was bound soon to
interfere with the rudder.

"I believe that steamer is going to leave us!" cried Sam, a little
while later.

"Oh, don't say that," said Dick. "We must signal her somehow."

"We'll fire some rockets," said Captain Jerry.

This was done, and a little later they saw that the steamer was
heading in their direction. By this time the Old Glory showed
unmistakable signs of being on the point of foundering, and the girls
were told to come on deck. Everybody was given a life preserver,
which had been kept close at hand since the beginning of the trouble.

"We are seen!" cried Sam joyously, as a signal came from the steamer.

Gradually the strange vessel drew closer, and they saw that she was
a rather clumsy affair of the "tramp" pattern, used to carry all
sorts of cargoes from one port to another.

"They are lowering a small boat," said Sam, a little later.

"I wish they would hurry," returned Tom, in a low voice. "I believe
this yacht is going to go down very soon."

At last the small boat was close enough to be hailed, and preparations
were made for transferring the girls first.

It was no easy matter to make the change, and it took a good quarter
of an hour to land the girls on the steamer's deck.

By this time the Old Glory was completely water-logged.

"We have got to jump for it, lads!" cried Captain Jerry, "unless you
want to go down with her!"

And jump they did, into the mighty waves, and none too soon, for a
minute later the yacht went down, out of their sight forever.

The small boat was not far away, and soon Sam and Tom were picked
up. To get Dick and Captain Jerry was not so easy, but the task was
finally accomplished, and soon all of our friends stood on the deck
of the tramp steamer, safe and sound once more.




CHAPTER VII

DISMAYING NEWS


"Thank fortune we got away from the yacht just in time!" exclaimed
Tom, as he shook the water from his clothes.

"I'm sorry to see the Old Glory go," said Captain Jerry sadly. "I
thought a heap o' that craft, I did. It will be sorry news to take
back to Master Bob."

"Never mind, we'll help pay for the loss," put in Dick.

"Where are you folks from?" questioned the captain of the steamer,
as he came up to, the crowd.

"We came from Santa Barbara. The storm took our mast, and blew us
out to sea," answered Dick. "We owe you something for, picking us up."

"You're welcome for what I've done," answered Captain, Fairleigh.
"Come with me, and I'll try to get you some dry clothing. I can trick
out the men folks, and the young ladies will have to see my wife,
who happens to be with me on this trip."

"What steamer is this?" asked Tom.

"The Tacoma, lad."

"Are you bound for San Francisco?" questioned Sam.

"No, we are bound for Honolulu, on the Hawaiian Islands."

"Honolulu!" burst out the others.

"Do you mean to say that the first port you will make will be Honolulu?"
demanded Dick.

"That's my orders, lad. I must get there just as quick as I can, too,
for a cargo of sugar."

"But we don't want to go to the Hawaiian Islands!" put in Dora.
"Mercy! It's two thousand miles away!"

At this Captain Fairleigh shrugged his broad shoulders.

"I am sorry for you, but I can't put back, miss. Perhaps we'll meet
some vessel bound for some port in the United States. If so, I can
ask the captain to take you back."

"And if you don't meet any vessel?" came from Grace.

"Oh, I think we'll pass some vessel," returned the captain.

He took the girls and introduced them to, his wife, and then turned
the boys and old Jerry over to the first mate, who obtained for them
some dry clothing. After this all were provided with a hot supper,
which did much toward making them comfortable, at least physically
speaking.

But not one of them was comfortable mentally. To be carried to the
Hawaiian Islands, two thousand miles away, was no pleasant thought.
Besides, what would their folks think of their prolonged absence?

"Mother will think that we have all been drowned," said Dora.

"And that is what our folks will think, too," said Nellie. "Oh, it
is terrible, simply terrible!" And she wrung her little hands.

By making inquiries Dick learned that the steamer was expected to
reach Honolulu inside of two weeks, if the weather was not too, bad.
From Honolulu they could get passage to San Francisco on the mail
steamer, the trip lasting exactly seven days.

"We'll have to get some money first," said Tom. "And we can't cable
for it, either," he went on, for the cable to the Hawaiian Islands
from the United States had not yet been laid.

"Let us hope that we will see some ship that will take us back," said
Sam.

Day after day they watched eagerly for a passing sail. But though
they sighted four vessels and hailed them, not one was bound for the
United States, outside of a whaler, and that craft intended to stay
out at least three months longer before making for port.

"We are booked for this trip, and no mistake," sighed Tom. "Well,
since that is so, let us make the best of it."

The Tacoma was heavily laden, and though the storm cleared away and
the Pacific Ocean became moderately calm, she made but slow progress.

"Our boilers are not in the best of condition," said Captain Fairleigh.

"I trust there is no danger of their blowing up," returned Dick.

"Not if we don't force them too much."

It had been arranged that the boys and girls should pay a fair price
for the trip to Honolulu, the money to, be sent to the captain of
the Tacoma later on. As for old Jerry, he signed articles to work
his passage to the Hawaiian Islands and back again. As Captain
Fairleigh was rather short of hands he was glad to have the old sailor
join his crew.

The days slipped by, and, having recovered from the effects of the
storm, the Rover boys became as light hearted as ever. Tom was
particularly full of pranks.

"No use of crying over spilt milk," he declared. "Let us be thankful
the pitcher wasn't broken, or, in other words, that we are not at
this moment at the bottom of the Pacific."

"Right you are," replied Sam.

There was an old piano on board, and the boys and girls often amused
themselves at this, singing and playing. As there were no other
passengers, they had the freedom of the ship.

"This would be real jolly," said Tom, "if it wasn't that the folks
at home must be worried," and then he began to sing, for he really
could not be sad:

"A life on the ocean wave,
  A home on the rolling deep,
A house in a watery cave--
  Where I might rest in sleep!"

"Did you ever hear such a song?" cried Nellie, and Tom went on:

"The boy stood on the burning deck,
  Munching apples by the peck;
The captain yelled, he stood stock-still,
  For of those apples he wanted his fill!"

"Tom Rover!" burst out Dora. "I believe you would sing at your own
funeral!" And Tom continued gayly:

"Sailing, sailing, over the bounding main,
  For many a stormy wind shall blow,
Ere the Rovers get home again!"

"Tom lives on songs," said Sam slyly. "He'd rather sing than eat a pie."

"Pie!" thundered Tom tragically. "Who said pie? I haven't seen a
home-made pie since--since--"

"The time you went down in the pantry at midnight and ate two,"
finished Dick, and then there was a burst of laughter.

"Never mind, Tom, I'll make you half a dozen pies--when we get home,"
came from Nellie.

"Will you really?" said Tom, and then he began once more, as gayly
as ever:

"You can give me pudding
And give me cake,
And anything else
You care to bake;
But if you wish
To charm my eye,
Just hand me over
Some home-made pie!"

"That's all right," said Dick. "But in place of eye you should have
said stomach."

"Stomach doesn't rhyme with pie," snorted 'Tom. "I'm a true poet and
I know what I am doing."

"Talking about pie makes me think of pie-plates," said Sam. "Let us
play spinning the plate on deck. It will be lots of fun trying to
catch the plate while it is spinning and the steamer is rolling."

"Good!" cried Grace, and ran to get a plate from the cook's galley.
Soon they were playing merrily, and the game served to make an hour
pass pleasantly. When the forfeits had to be redeemed, the girls made
the boys do several ridiculous things. Tom had to hop from one end
of the deck to the other on one foot, Sam had to stand on his head,
and recite "Mary had a Little Lamb," and Dick had to go to three of
the sailors and ask each if they would tie the ship to a post during
the night.

"I'll wager you are a merry crowd on land," .said Captain Fairleigh,
as he paused to watch the fun. "Takes me back to the time when I was
a boy," and he laughed heartily. Even the captain's wife was amused.
She was particularly fond of music, and loved to listen to the playing
and singing.

The days slipped by one after the other, until Captain Fairleigh
announced that forty-eight hours more ought to bring them in sight
of Diamond Head, a high hill at the entrance to Honolulu harbor.

But another storm was at hand, and that night the wind blew more
fiercely than ever. The Tacoma tossed and pitched to such a degree
that standing on the deck was next to impossible, and all of the boys
and the girls gathered in the cabin and held fast to the posts and
the stationary seats.

"It feels as if the steamer would roll clear over," said Sam. "Here
we go again!"

There was thunder and lightning, and soon a deluge of rain, fully as
heavy as that experienced while on board of the ill-fated Old Glory.
This continued all of the night, and in the morning the storm seemed
to grow worse instead of better.

"We are in a run of bad luck," said Dick. "I really believe we will
have all sorts of trouble before we get back to the United States."

Toward noon a mist came up, and it grew dark. Lanterns were lit, and
the Tacoma felt her way along carefully, for Captain Fairleigh knew
that they were now in the track of considerable shipping.

By nightfall the steamer lay almost at a stand-still, for the mist
was thicker than ever. For safety the whistle was sounded at short
intervals.

The girls were the first to retire, and the boys followed half an
hour later. The staterooms of all were close together.

Dick Rover was the last to go to sleep. How long he slept he did not
know.

He awoke with a start. A shock had thrown him to the floor of the
stateroom, and down came Sam on top of him. There were hoarse cries
from the deck, a shrill steam whistle, and the sound of a fog horn,
and then a grinding thud and a bump that told the Tacoma had either
run into some other ship or into the rocks.




CHAPTER VIII

FROM ONE SHIP TO ANOTHER


"We struck something!"

"What is the matter?"

"Are we going down?"

These and a score of other cries rang out on board the steamer. The
thumping and bumping continued, followed by a crashing that could
mean but one thing--that the ship was being splintered, and that her
seams were being laid wide open.

As soon as possible the Rover boys slipped into some clothing and
went on deck. They were quickly followed by the three girls, who
clung tight to them in terror.

"Oh, Dick, this is the worst yet!" came from Dora. "What will be the
end?"

"The Tacoma is sinking!" was the cry from out of the darkness.

"Are we really sinking?" gasped Nellie as she clutched Tom.

"Yes, we are," came from Sam. "Can't you feel the deck settling?"

They could, only too plainly, and in a minute more the water seemed
to be running all around them. The cries continued, but it was so
black they could see next to nothing.

What happened in the next few minutes the Rover boys could scarcely
tell, afterward. An effort was made to get out a life-boat, and it
disappeared almost as soon as it left the side, carrying some sailors
with it. Then some red-fire blazed up, lighting up the tragic scene,
and revealing a schooner standing close by the steamer. The sailing
vessel had her bowsprit broken and part of her forward rail torn away.

"If we must die, let us die together!" said Dick, and they kept together
as well as they could. Old Jerry was with them, and said he would do
all he could for them. He had already passed around life-preservers,
and these they put on with all possible speed.

Then followed a sudden plunge of the steamer and all found themselves
in the waves of the ocean. They went down together, each holding the
hand of somebody else. When they came up, Tom was close to a life-line
thrown from the sailing vessel and this he clutched madly.

"Haul us in!" he yelled. "Haul us in!" And the line was pulled in
with care, and after ten minutes of extreme peril the boys and the
girls and Captain Jerry found themselves on board of the sailing
vessel, which proved to be a large three-masted schooner.

All of our friends were so exhausted that they had to be carried to
the cabin and here Dora and Grace fainted away completely, while
Nellie was little better off. Tom had had his left arm bruised and
Dick was suffering from an ugly scratch on the forehead. It was fully
an hour before any of them felt like moving around.

In the meantime the two vessels had separated, and though red fire
was burned twice, after that, and rockets sent up, nothing more was
seen or heard of the Tacoma or those left on board.

"But I don't think she went down," said Captain Jerry. "She was too
well built for that." And he was right, as events proved. Much crippled
the steamer two days later entered Honolulu harbor, where she was
laid up for repairs.

Worn out completely by what they had passed through, the boys slept
heavily for the rest of the night, not caring what ship they were on
or where they were going. Everybody was busy with the wreckage, so
they were left almost entirely to themselves.

Tom was the first to get up, and going on deck found that the storm
had cleared away and that the sun was shining brightly. Without delay
he halted a sailor who happened to be passing.

"What ship is this?" he questioned.

"Dis ship da _Golden Wave_," replied the sailor, who was a Norwegian.

"And where are you bound?"

"Da ship sail for Australia."

"Great Scott! Australia!" gasped Tom. "This is the worst yet."

"What's up, Tom?" asked Sam, who had followed his brother.

"This sailor tells me this ship is bound for Australia."

"Why, that is thousands of miles away!"

"I know it."

"If we go to Australia, we'll never get back."

"Not quite as bad as that, Sam. But we certainly don't want to go to
Australia."

"Who is the captain?"

"Captain Blossom," replied the sailor. "Where is he?"

The sailor said he would take them to the captain and did so. He
proved to be a burly fellow with rather a sober-looking face.

"Got around at last, eh?" he said, eying Tom and Sam shrewdly.

"We have, and we must thank you for rescuing us," replied Tom.

"That's all right."

"One of your sailors tells me you are bound for Australia," put in Sam.

"He told you the truth."

"Won't you stop at some port in the Hawaiian Islands?"

"No."

"But you might put us off."

"Can't spare the time. As it is, this storm blew me away out of my
course," answered Captain Blossom.

He had a twofold reason for not putting them ashore at or near
Honolulu. It would not only take time, but it might also lead to
questioning concerning the fate of the steamer, and he was afraid he
would be hauled into some marine court for running into the Tacoma,
for that was what he had done.

"Do you know anything about the steamer?" asked Sam.

"No, she got away from us in the darkness, after we hauled seven of
you aboard."

"The steamer lost some of her crew," said Tom, shuddering. "Did you
lose any men?"

"One sailor, and one of my passengers got hurt in the leg by the
collision."

By this time Dick joined the party, followed by old Jerry and the
three girls.

"Will the captain carry us away to Australia?" asked Dora, when the
situation was explained.

"I suppose so," said Dick soberly. "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. "I can't afford to carry you to Australia for nothing."

"Then let us off at some port in the Hawaiian Islands," said Tom.

"Can't do it, I told you," retorted Captain Blossom angrily. "And
you'll either work while you are on board or starve."

"My, what a Tarter!" whispered Sam.

"Well, we'll work," said Dick. "But you must not force the young
ladies to do anything."

"I'm a sailor and will do my full share," said old Jerry. But he did
not like the situation any better than did the Rovers.

The matter was talked over, and seeing that they were willing to
work, Captain Blossom became a little milder in his manner. He said
he would give the three girls one of the staterooms, but the boys
and old Jerry would have to join the crew in the forecastle.

Fortunately the sailors on board the _Golden Wave_ were a fairly clean
lot, so the forecastle was not so dirty a place as it might otherwise
have been. The boys did not like to be separated from the girls,
however, and Dick called the girls aside to talk the matter over.

"I want to know if anything goes wrong," said he. "If there is the
least thing out of the way, let us know at once," and the girls
promised to keep their eyes open.

Once in the forecastle the boys were given three rough suits of
clothes to wear while working. Then they were called out to work
without delay, for the storm had left much to do on board the Golden
Wave.

"We have only one passenger," said one of the sailors, in reply to
a question from Tom.. "He is a young fellow named Robert Brown. He
was hurt during the storm, but I reckon he's all right now."

Tom was set to coiling some rope and Sam and Dick had to scrub down
the deck. This was by no means an agreeable task, but nobody complained.

"We must take what comes," said Dick cheerfully. "So long as we get
enough to eat and are not abused I shan't say a word."

The boys had been to work about an hour when Sam saw a young fellow
limping around the other end of the deck. There was something
strangely familiar about the party, and the youngest Rover drew closer
to get a better look at him.

"Dan Baxter!" he cried in astonishment. "Dan Baxter!"

At this cry the person turned and his lower jaw dropped in equal
astonishment.

"Who--er--where did you come from?" he stammered.

"So this is the vessel you shipped on?" went on Sam. And then he
called out: "Dick! Tom! Come here."

For a brief instant Dan Baxter's face was a study. Then a crafty look
came into his eyes and he drew himself up.

"Excuse me, but you have made a mistake in your man," he said coldly.

"What's that?" came from Sam in bewilderment.

"I am not the party you just named. My name is Robert Brown."

"It is?" came from the youngest Rover. "If that is so, you look
exactly like somebody I know well."

By this time Dick and Tom came hurrying to the spot, followed by
Dora, who happened to be on deck.

"Dan Baxter!" came from Tom and Dick simultaneously.

"He says he isn't Dan Baxter," said Sam.

"Isn't Dan Baxter? Why, Baxter, you fraud, what new wrinkle is this?"
said Dick, catching him by the arm.

"Let go of me!" came fiercely from Baxter. "Let go, I say, or it will
be the worse for you. You have made a mistake."

"No mistake about it," put in Tom. "He is Dan Baxter beyond a doubt."




CHAPTER IX

IN WHICH THE ENEMY IS CORNERED


The loud talking had attracted the attention of Captain Blossom, and
now the master of the _Golden Wave_ strode up to the crowd.

"What's going on here?" he demanded of the Rover boys. "Why are you
not at work, as I ordered?"

"I have made an important discovery," answered Dick. "Is this your
passenger, Captain Blossom?"

"He is. What of him?"

"He is a thief and ran away from San Francisco to escape the police."

"It's a falsehood!" roared Dan Baxter. "They have made a mistake. I
am a respectable man just out of college, and my father, Doctor L.
Z. Brown, is a well-known physician of Los Angeles. I am traveling
to Australia for my health."

"His real name is Daniel Baxter and his father is now in prison,"
said Tom. "He robbed us of our money and some diamonds while we were
stopping at a hotel in San Francisco. The detectives followed him
up, but he slipped them by taking passage on your ship."

"I tell you my name is Brown--Robert Brown!" stormed Baxter. "This
is some plot hatched up against me. Who are these fellows, anyway?"
he went on, turning to the captain.

"They came from the steamer we ran into," answered Captain Blossom.

"I never saw them before."

At this moment Dora touched the captain on the shoulder.

"Please, captain," she said, "I knew Dan Baxter quite well and I am
sure this young man is the same person."

"It aint so. I tell you, captain, it is a plot."

"What kind of a plot could it be?" asked Captain Blossom. He scarcely
knew what to say.

"I don't know. Perhaps they want to get hold of my money," went on
Baxter, struck by a sudden idea.

"That's right, we do want to get hold of the money!" cried Sam. "For
it belongs to us--at least two hundred and seventy-five dollars of
it--not counting what he may have got on the diamonds and the cuff
buttons."

"You shan't touch my money!" screamed Baxter.

"Captain, he ought to be placed under arrest," said Dick.

Dora had gone back to the cabin and now she returned in great haste
with Nellie and Grace.

"To be sure, that is Dan Baxter," said Nellie.

"There can be no mistake," put in Grace, "We all know him only too well."

"You see, Captain Blossom, that we are six to one," said Tom. "And
you will surely believe the ladies."

"How is you all happen to know him so well?" demanded the captain
curiously.

"We know him because we all went to school together," answered Dick.
"These young ladies lived in the vicinity of the school. We had
trouble with Baxter at school and later on out West, and ever since
that time he has been trying to injure us. We met him in San Francisco
in the hotel lobby and at night he went to our room, cut open a
traveling bag and unlocked our trunks and robbed us of two hundred
and seventy-five dollars in cash, some diamond studs, a pair of cuff
buttons, and some clothing."

"I've got an idea!" almost shouted Sam. "Maybe he has some of the
stolen stuff in his stateroom."

"Yes, yes, let us search the stateroom: by all means!" exclaimed Tom.

"You shall not touch my room!" howled Baxter, turning pale. "I have
nothing there but my own private property."

"If that is so, you shouldn't object to having the stateroom searched,"
observed Captain Blossom.

"If we get back our money we may be able to pay you something, captain,
for our passage," said Dick.

This was a forceful argument and set Captain Blossom to thinking. He
was a man who loved money dearly.

"I will go along and we will look around the stateroom," he said,
after a pause.

"This is an outrage!" cried Dan Baxter. "I will have the law on you
for it."

"Shut up! I am master on my own ship," retorted Captain Blossom, and
led the way to the stateroom Dan Baxter occupied. The door was locked
and Baxter refused to give up the key. But the captain had a duplicate,
and soon he and the Rover boys were inside the room. Baxter followed
them, still expostulating, but in vain.

"Here is a pocketbook full of bills!" cried Tom, bringing the article
to light.

"Here is my light overcoat!" came from Dick. "See, it has my initials
embroidered in the hanger. Aunt Martha did that for me."

"Here are my gold cuff buttons!" exclaimed Sam. "They were a present
from my father and they have my monogram engraved on each." And he
showed the articles to the captain.

"I reckon it's a pretty clear case against you," said Captain Blossom,
turning to Dan Baxter.

"Here are half a dozen letters," said Tom, holding them up. "You can
see they are all addressed to Daniel Baxter. That's his name, and
he'd be a fool to deny it any longer."

"Well, I won't deny it," cried the big bully. "What would be the
use--you are all against me--even the captain."

"I am not against you," retorted Captain Blossom. "But if you are a
thief I want to know it. Why did you give me your name as Robert Brown?"

"That's my business." Baxter paused for a moment. "Now you have found
me out, what are you going to do about it?" he went on brazenly. "You
can't arrest me on shipboard."

"No, but we can have you arrested when we land," said Dick. "And in
the meantime we will take charge of what is our own."

"Here are some pawn tickets for the diamonds," said Sam, who was
continuing the search. "They show he got seventy-five dollars on them."

"We will keep the tickets--and the seventy-five dollars, too--if we
can find the money," said Tom.

But the money could not be found, for the greater part had been turned
over to Captain Blossom for Baxter's passage to Australia and the
rest spent before leaving shore. The pocketbook contained only two
hundred and thirty dollars.

"What did he pay you for the passage?" questioned Dick of the captain.

"One hundred dollars."

"Then you ought to turn that amount over to our credit."

"Why, what do you mean?"

"I mean that Dan Baxter has no right to a free passage on your ship,
since he bought that passage with our money. Let him work his way
and place that passage money to our credit."

"That's the way to talk," put in Tom. "Make him work by all means."

"He deserves good, hard labor," came from Sam.

"I don't think you can make me work!" burst out Dan Baxter. "I am a
passenger and I demand that I be treated as such."

"You are an impostor!" returned Captain Blossom bluntly. "The fact
that you used an assumed name proves it. If I wanted to do so, I
could clap you in the ship's brig until we reach port and chain you
into the bargain. I want no thieves on board my ship."

"Here is more of our clothing," came from Tom.

"Pick out all the things that are yours," said the captain. "And take
the other things that are yours, too."

This was done, nobody paying any attention to Baxter's protests. When
the Rovers had what there was of their things the captain turned to
the bully.

"I've made up my mind about you," he said, speaking with great
deliberation. "I am master here, and a judge and jury into the bargain.
You can take your choice: Either sign articles as a foremast hand
for the balance of the trip, or be locked up as a prisoner, on prison
rations."

"Do you mean th--that?" gasped Baxter, turning pale.

"I do."

"But the passage money Goes to the credit of these young fellows."

"It's an outrage!"

"No, it's simply justice, to my way of thinking. I'll give you until
to-morrow to make up your mind what you will do."

This ended the talk with Dan Baxter. The captain said he wanted to
see the Rover boys in the cabin, and they followed him to that place.

"Captain, I feel I must thank you for your fair way of managing this
affair," said Dick, feeling that a few good words at this point would
not go amiss. "I hope you treat Baxter as he deserves."

"I will try to do right," was Captain Blossom's answer. "But what I
want to know now is, What do you intend to do with that money? It
seems to me I should be paid something for keeping you on board."

"I have a proposition to make, captain. We will give you two hundred
dollars if you will allow us to consider ourselves passengers. And
by 'us' I mean the young ladies as well as ourselves."

"It's not very much."

"If we pay you that amount it will leave us but thirty dollars, hardly
enough with which to cable home for more. Of course, when we get our
money in Australia we will pay you whatever balance is due you,--and
something besides for saving us."

This pleased Captain Blossom and he said he would accept the offer.
The matter was discussed for half an hour, and it was decided that
the boys should have two staterooms, the one occupied by Baxter and
another next to that given over to the girls.

When Dora, Nellie, and Grace heard of the new arrangement that had
been made they were highly pleased.

"I didn't want to see you do the work of a common sailor," said Dora
to Dick.

"Oh, it wouldn't kill me," he returned lightly. "Even as it is, I'll
give a hand if it is necessary."

"It's a wonder Captain Blossom took to your offer so quickly."

"He loves money, that's why, Dora. He would rather have that two
hundred dollars than our services," and with this remark Dick hit
the nail squarely on the head.




CHAPTER X

A BLOW IN THE DARKNESS


It would be hard to describe Dan Baxter's feelings after Captain
Blossom and the Rover boys left him alone in his stateroom. At one
instant he was fairly shaking with rage, and at the next quaking with
fear over what the future might hold in store for him.

"They have got the best of me again!" he muttered, clenching his
fists. "And after I felt sure I had escaped them. It must have been
Fate that made Captain Blossom pick them up. Now I've either got to
work as a common sailor or submit to being locked up in some dark,
foul-smelling hole on the ship. And when we get to Australia, unless
I watch my chance to skip out, they'll turn me over to the police."

He could not sleep that night for thinking over the situation and
was up and dressed before daylight. Strolling on deck, he came face
to face with Sam, who had come up to get the morning air.

"I suppose you think you have got the best of me," growled Baxter.

"It looks like it, doesn't it?" returned Sam briefly.

"The game isn't ended yet."

"No, but it will be when you land in prison, Baxter."

"I'll get square."

"You have promised to get square times without number--and you have
failed every time."

"I won't fail the next time."

"Yes, you will. Wrong never yet triumphed over right."

"Oh, don't preach, Sam Rover."

"I am not preaching, I am simply trying to show you how foolish it
is to do wrong. Why don't you turn over a new leaf?"

"Oh, such talk makes me sick!" growled the bully, and turned away.

A little while later Captain Blossom appeared and hunted up Dan
Baxter, who sat in his state-room, packing up his few belongings.

"Well, have you decided on your course, young man?" demanded the
master of the _Golden Wave_.

"Do you mean to lock me up if I refuse to become a sailor?" asked
Dan Baxter,

"I do, and I won't argue with you, either. Is it yes or no?"

"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."

This was "adding insult to injury," as it is termed, so far as Baxter
was concerned, for it will be remembered that it was Jack Lesher who
had obtained the passage on the _Golden Wave_ for the bully.

But Dan Baxter was given no chance to demur. Taking his traps he went
on deck, where Jack Lesher met him, grinning in sickly fashion.

"So you are going to make a change, eh?" said the mate.

"You needn't laugh at me, if I am," growled Baxter.

"I shan't laugh, my boy. It's hard luck," said Lesher. "Come along."

He led the way to the forecastle and gave Baxter a bunk next to that
occupied by old Jerry. Then he brought out an old suit of sailor's
clothing and tossed it over.

"You've run in hard luck, boy," he said in a low voice, after he had
made certain that nobody else was within hearing. "I am sorry for you."

"Really?" queried Dan Baxter, giving the mate a sharp look.

"Yes, I am, and if I can do anything to make it easy for you, count
on me," went on Jack Lesher.

"Thank you."

"I suppose taking that money and the other things was more of boy's
sport than anything, eh?"

"That's the truth. I wanted to get square with those Rover boys. They
are my bitter enemies. I didn't want the money."

Just then old Jerry came in and the conversation came to an end. But
Baxter felt that he had a friend on board and this eased him a little.
He did not know that the reason Jack Lesher liked him was because
the first mate was a criminal himself and had once served a term in
a Michigan jail for knocking down a passenger on a boat and robbing
him of his pocketbook. As the old saying goes, "Birds of a feather
flock together."

When the girls came on deck they found Baxter doing some of the work
which Dick and Tom had been doing the morning before. At first they
were inclined to laugh, but Dora stopped herself and her cousins.

"Don't let us laugh at him," she whispered. "It is hard enough for
the poor fellow as it is."

"I am not going to notice him after this," said Nellie. "To me he
shall be an entire stranger." And the others agreed to treat Dan
Baxter in the same manner.

But the boys were not so considerate, and Tom laughed outright when
he caught sight of Baxter swabbing up some dirt on the rear deck.
This made the bully's passion arise on the instant and he caught up
his bucket as if to throw it at Tom's head.

"Don't you dare, Baxter!" cried Tom. "If you do we'll have a red-hot
war."

"I can lick you, Tom Rover!"

"Perhaps you can and perhaps you can't."

Baxter put up his fists, but on the approach of Dick and Sam he
promptly retreated. But before he went he hissed in Tom's ear:

"You wait, and see what I do!"

"He had better keep his distance," said Dick. "If he doesn't, somebody
will get hurt."

"I suppose it galls him to work," said Sam. "He always was rather lazy."

The day proved a nice one, and the Rover boys spent most of the time
with the three girls, who were glad of their company once more.

All speculated on the question of what had become of the Tacoma, and
of what the folks at home would think concerning their prolonged absence.

"I'd give a good deal to send a message home," said Dick.

"We must cable as soon as we reach shore," added Dora.

They saw but little of Dan Baxter during the day and nothing whatever
of him the day following.

"He is trying to avoid us," said Sam. "Well, I am just as well
satisfied."

Through old Jerry they learned that Baxter hated the work given to
him and that he was being favored a little by the first mate.

"Tell ye what, I hate that mate," said Jerry. "He's got a wicked eye,
and he drinks like a fish."

"I know he drinks," answered Tom. "I smelt the liquor in his breath."

They were now getting down into warmer latitudes and the next night
proved unusually hot. It was dark with no stars shining, and the air
was close, as if another storm was at hand.

"I can't sleep," said Tom, after rolling around in his berth for half
an hour. "I'm going on deck." And he dressed himself and went up for
some air. He walked forward and leaned over the rail, watching the
waves as they slipped behind the noble ship.

Tom's coming on deck had been noticed by Dan Baxter, who sat on the
side of the fore-castle, meditating on his troubles. As the bully
saw the youth leaning over the rail, his face took on a look of bitter
hatred.

"I'll teach him to laugh at me!" he muttered.

Gazing around he saw that nobody was within sight and then he arose
to his feet. With a cat-like tread he came up behind Tom, who still
looked at the waves, totally unconscious of danger.

Baxter's heart beat so loudly that he was afraid Tom would hear it.
Again he looked around. Not a soul was near, and the gloom of the
night was growing thicker.

"He'll laugh another way soon!" he muttered, and stepped closer.

His fist was raised to deliver a blow when Tom happened to straighten
up and look around. He saw the form behind him and the upraised arm
and leaped aside.

The blow missed its mark and Tom caught Baxter by the shoulder.

"What do you mean, Dan Baxter, by this attack?" he began, when the
bully aimed another blow at him. This struck Tom full in the temple
and partly dazed him. Then the two clenched awl fell heavily against
the rail.

"I'll fix you!" panted Baxter, striking another blow as best he
could, and then, as Tom struck him in return, he forced Tom's head
against the rail with a thump. The blow made Tom see stars and he
was more dazed than ever.

"Le--let up!" he gasped, but Baxter continued to crowd him against
the rail, which at this point was very weak because of the collision
with the steamer. Suddenly there was a snap and a crack and the rail
gave way. Baxter leaped back in time to save himself from falling,
but Tom could not help himself, and, with a wild cry, he went overboard!




CHAPTER XI

A CALL FROM THE STERN


For the instant after Tom slipped over the side of the _Golden Wave_,
Dan Baxter was too dazed to do more than stare at the spot where he
had last seen the boy with whom he had been struggling.

"Gone!" he muttered presently. "Gone!" he repeated and crouched back
in the darkness.

The great beads of perspiration came to his brow as he heard rapid
footsteps approaching. Would he be accused of sending Tom Rover to
his death?

"What's the trouble?" came in the voice of Captain Blossom.

Instead of answering, Dan Baxter crept still further back. Then,
watching his chance, he darted into the forecastle.

"Hullo, the rail is broken!" he heard the captain exclaim. "Bring a
lantern here, quick!"

A sailor came running with a lantern, which lit up the narrow circle
of the deck near the rail and part of the sea beyond.

"Somebody gave a cry," said the captain, to those who began to gather.
"Looks to me as if the rail gave way and let somebody overboard."

"Tom Rover was on deck," came from old Jerry. "Do you reckon as how
it was him?"

"I don't know. It was somebody, that's certain. Call all hands at once."

This was done, and Dan Baxter had to come out with the rest. He was
pale and trembled so he could scarcely stand.

"All here," said Captain Blossom. "Must have been one of the Rover
boys or one of the young ladies."

Word was passed along and soon Sam and Dick came rushing on deck.

"Tom is missing!" cried Sam.

"If that is so, I'm afraid, boys, you have seen the last of your
brother," said Captain Blossom. He turned to his crew. "Do any of
you know anything of this affair?"

There was a dead silence. Then he questioned the man at the wheel.

"Don't know a thing, cap'n," was the answer.

"It's queer. He must have pressed on the rail very hard.. Here are
half a dozen nails torn from the wood."

While this talk was going on Dick and Sam had passed along the rail
from the place of the accident to the stern.

"Perhaps he caught hold somewhere," said Sam, who was unwilling to
believe that his brother had really perished.

They had just gained the stern and were looking over when a call came
from out of the darkness.

"He--help! Help!"

"It's Tom!" screamed Dick in delight. "Tom, is that you?"

"Yes! Help!"

"Where are you?"

"Holding on to a rope. Help me quick. I--I can't hold on mu--much
longer!"

"We'll help you," answered Dick.

Captain Blossom was called and more lanterns were lit, and then a
Bengal light, and Tom was seen to be holding fast to a rope which
had in some manner fallen overboard and become entangled in the
rudder chain.

By the aid of the boat-hook the rope was hauled up and to the side
of the _Golden Wave_. At the same time the sails were lowered, and then
a rope ladder was thrown down. Dick descended to the edge of the
waves, and, watching his chance, caught Tom by the collar of his
coat. Then the brothers came slowly to the deck.

A cheer went up when it was found that Tom was safe once more, and
Nellie Laning could not resist rushing forward and catching the wet
youth in her arms. Tom was so exhausted he dropped on the nearest
seat, and it was several minutes before he had recovered strength
enough to speak.

"I would have been drowned had it not been for that rope," he said
when questioned. "As I slid along the side of the ship the rope hit
me in the face. I clutched it and clung fast for dear life. Then when
I came up and swept astern I called as loudly as I could, but it
seemed an age before anybody heard me."

"It was a narrow escape," said Dick. "You can thank a kind Providence
that your life was spared."

"You must have leaned on the rail awfully hard," put in Nellie.

"Leaned on the rail?" repeated Tom. "It wasn't my fault that I went
overboard. It was Dan Baxter's."

"Dan Baxter!" came from several.

"Exactly. He tackled me in the dark, and we had it hot and heavy for
a minute. Then he crowded me on the rail, and it gave way. He jumped
back and let me go overboard."

"The rascal! I'll settle with him!" cried Dick. "I'll teach him to
keep his distance after this!"

He knew Baxter was still forward, and ran in that direction. The
bully saw him coming and tried to hide in the forecastle, but Dick
was too quick for him and hauled him back on the deck.

"Take that for shoving my brother overboard, you scoundrel!" he
exclaimed, and hit Baxter a staggering blow straight between the eyes.

"Stop!" roared the bully, and struck out in return. But Dick dodged
the blow, and then hit Baxter in the chin and on the nose. The elder
Rover boy was excited, and hit with all of his force, and the bully
measured his length on the deck.

"Good fer you!" cried old Jerry, who stood looking on. "That's the
way to serve him, the sarpint!"

Slowly Baxter arose to his knees, and then his feet, where he stood
glaring at Dick.

"Don't you hit me again!" he muttered.

"But I will," retorted Dick, and struck out once more. This time his
fist landed on the bully's left eye, and once again Baxter went down,
this time with a thud.

The sailors were collecting, and soon Jack Lesher rushed up. He stepped
between Dick and the bully.

"Stop it!" he ordered harshly. "We don't allow fighting on board of
this craft."

"I wasn't fighting," answered Dick coolly. "I was just teaching a
rascal a lesson."

"It amounts to the same thing. If you have any fault to find tell
the captain, or tell me."

"Well, I'll go to the captain, not you," retorted Dick.

"All right," growled the first mate. "But just remember you can't
boss things when I'm around."

When Captain Blossom understood the situation he was thoroughly angry.

"Baxter certainly ought to be in prison," he said. "I'll clap him in
the brig and feed him on bread and water for three days and see how
he likes that."

"He ought not to be left at large," said Dora, with a shudder. "He
may try to murder somebody next."

"We'll watch him after this," said the captain.

He kept his word about putting Baxter in the ship's jail. 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. 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.
Whenever he passed the Rovers or the girls he acted as if he did not
know they were there, and they ignored him just as thoroughly. But
the boys watched every move the bully made.

As mentioned before, Jack Lesher was a drinking man, and as the
weather grew warmer the mate increased his potions until there was
scarcely a day when he was thoroughly sober. Captain Blossom remonstrated
with him, but this did little good.

"I'm attending to my duties," said Lesher. "And if I do that you
can't expect more from me."

"I thought I hired a man that was sober," said Captain Blossom. "I
won't place my vessel in charge of a man who gets drunk."