The next island was visited the next day, the party spending the
night on the wreck. The passage to this island was rather a rough
one, and they had all they could do to keep from having their provisions
spilt overboard.

"It is a blessing that the sea is comparatively calm," said Captain
Blossom. "Otherwise we could never make such a trip in a small boat."

This island was the largest of the group outside of the one on which
the castaways had settled. It was almost square in shape and had a
double hill with a tiny valley running between. In this valley the
tropical growth was very dense, and the monkeys and birds were thicker
than they had before seen them. There were also large quantities of
blue and green parrots, filling the air with their cawing and screaming.

"This is a very nice island," said Tom, while they were resting under
some calabash trees. "The wood is very valuable--indigo, rosewood,
mahogany, and lots of others. And what a sweet smell!" And he drew
in a long breath of satisfaction.

"It is certainly a lazy man's paradise," re-turned Sam. "A fellow
need do next to nothing to feed and clothe himself here, and a house
isn't absolutely necessary excepting when it storms real hard."

On this island they found numerous land crabs, some as large as their
two hands, and many fierce-looking spiders, with long, hairy legs
and bulging eyes. Ants were also numerous, and in one spot they
located fifteen anthills, each as large as a big beehive. Insects
of all sorts were numerous, and they had to continually slap at a
specimen of red fly that annoyed them greatly.

"How those ants would like to get at our provisions," said Tom. "We
can be thankful that we didn't locate here. Once they got at the
stuff, they would eat us out of house and home."

After resting, and partaking of some of the food brought along, they
continued their journey across the island.

The way was up one of the hills, and Tom was slightly in advance,
when a noise ahead attracted his attention.

"Something is there," he called out, as he came to a halt.

"What is it?" asked Sam.

"I don't know. Perhaps some wild animal, or else a snake."

"Go slow there," cautioned Captain Blossom, coming up. "We don't want
to run into unnecessary danger."

"What did it sound like, Tom?"

"I can't describe it. Something like a snarl, I guess."

"Perhaps it was only a monkey."

All stopped to listen, but no, sound reached their ears but the hum
of insects and the chirping of some distant birds.

"I reckon I had best go first," said Captain Blossom, but he did not
seem to relish the task.

Gun in hand, the captain advanced very cautiously. The boys came
close behind him, each with his pistol ready for use.

Of a sudden there was a snarl with a strange "yow-yawing," and a
great beast leaped up on all-fours directly in their path and darted
through the bushes. The captain raised his gun and the boys their
pistols, but before they could fire the beast had disappeared.

"What was it?" asked Sam, trembling with excitement.

"I give it up, unless it was a bear," said Tom.

"I think I know what it was," said the captain. "A big baboon or a
gorilla."

"I guess you are right, captain," answered Tom. "I saw a gorilla in
a menagerie, and it was exactly like that beast. But what a big fellow
he was!"

"Gorillas are highly dangerous, especially when cornered," said
Captain Blossom. He himself was more frightened than he cared to
admit. "They have been known to carry a man off in their arms and
bite him to death."

"Thanks, but I want no gorillas around me," declared Sam.

They waited several minutes before advancing again. But the gorilla
had disappeared, nor did it show itself again during that trip on
the island.

Half an hour brought them in sight of the seashore once more. They
were gazing at the sea when Tom happened to glance back, and on the
hill behind them saw four goats standing in a bunch, looking at them
in astonishment.

"Quick! out of sight!" he cried, and dragged the others behind some
trees.

"What did you see?"

"Several goats. Perhaps, if we are careful, we can get a shot at
them. Fresh goat meat won't go bad."

"What's the matter with capturing some of the goats and getting the
milk?" came from Sam.

"You'll have a job catching wild goats," answered Captain Blossom.
"They are as fleet of foot as deer."

It was decided to try two shots at the goats, providing they could
get close enough. With care they plunged into the undergrowth and
made their way back up the hillside until they thought they must be
within fifty yards of the game.

"There they are!" cried Tom softly.

Bang! went the captain's gun, and crack! Tom fired immediately after.
Two of the goats were hit, and one fell dead. The other staggered
away with a broken foreleg.

"We must get that second fellow!" cried Sam, and rushed after the
game. The goat tried to turn on him, but Sam hit the beast over the
head with a club he carried. Two other blows finished the animal.

"That isn't bad," said the captain. "They both look to be young. They
ought to make good eating."

"We are going to have no easy work of it, getting these animals down
to the shore," said Tom.

"After we get them to the shore, what then?" questioned his brother.
"We can't keep them in the boat all the time that we are exploring
the other islands."

"We had best make a trip back to the house," answered Captain Blossom.
"If the others heard the shots they'll be wondering what has happened;
besides, a storm is coming up."

The captain said he would carry the smaller of the goats alone,
leaving the two Rovers to carry the larger game between them. After
a rest and another look around the vicinity, they started for the
boat and reached it after a walk which almost exhausted every one of
the party.

"I'll be glad enough to lay around our camp and rest for a day,"
announced Sam. "This task of exploring is not as easy as it looks."

A little later they were in the boat and rowing back to where they
had left the others, little dreaming of the strange events that had
happened in their absence.




CHAPTER XVIII

UNEXPECTED VISITORS


It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of
the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on
their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the
posts necessary for the building.

While this was going on the three girls were by no means idle. There
were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor
life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing
and darning to be done. Fortunately all of the girls were handy with
a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate
attention.

"Now you must make the alteration in the house very nice," said Dora
to Dick. "Remember, we want a regular Queen Anne building, with round
bay windows, and--"

"And inlaid floors," finished Dick, "not to mention steam heat, and--"

"Mercy on us!" burst in Grace. "Don't mention steam heat in this
climate."

"Of course we want hot and cold water in the kitchen," put in Nellie.
"What sort of a mansion would it be without hot and cold water,--and
a dumb waiter from the cellar, too," and then all began to laugh.

"I know what I should like," said Dora, after a pause. "That would
be a refrigerator."

"If we had the ice," finished Nellie. "Dick, isn't there any ice on
board of the _Golden Wave_?"

"By Jove! I think there is," cried the oldest Rover boy. "I never
once thought of it before."

"If there is, I wish you'd bring some the next time you go over. We
have lemons, and we could make delicious lemonade."

"And we could make orange ice, too," put in Grace. "I know there was
an ice-cream freezer on board of the ship. It was in the cook's galley."

Old Jerry was coming to the house with a small tree he had cut down,
and Dick sounded him about the ice.

"To be sure there was ice, several tons of it," said Jerry. "It was
stowed away near the bow. I don't believe it's all melted, either."

"I'm going over to see," cried Dick. "We've got plenty of lemons and
sugar; and lemonade, not to mention orange ice, would just strike
the spot in this awfully hot weather."

But as it was now noon, with the sun directly overhead, Dick decided
to remain in the shade until four or five o'clock. Dinner was had,
and then the work of enlarging the house went on as before.

At half-past four Dick got out the rowboat and started for the wreck.
He had first thought to go alone, but old Jerry wanted to pick out
certain tools needed for the house-building, as well as hunt for a
keg of nails, and the two decided to go together, going and coming
as quickly as possible.

"You won't be afraid to be alone, will you?" asked Dick, of the girls.

"Not if you hurry," answered Nellie. "But don't stay away after dark."

Left to themselves, the three girls swept up the chips the builders
had left and started up the camp-fire. Then they tidied up the house
generally, and soon set about preparing the supper.

Dora was at the spring getting a pail of water when a sound on the
rocks nearby caused her to look around in wonder. To her amazement
Dan Baxter stood there, staring at her in open-mouthed astonishment.

"Dan Baxter!" she gasped. "Where in the world did you come from?"

For a moment the bully did not answer, so great was his amazement.
Dora noted that he was dirty and unkempt, and that his clothing was
almost in rags.

"Is it you, Dora Stanhope?" came slowly from the fellow's lips. "Is
it really you?"

"Yes," she answered.

"How did you get here? Are you alone?" went on Baxter, coming closer.
And then before she could answer, he added: "Got anything to eat?"

At the last question she looked at him more closely, and saw that he
appeared half starved. She pitied him despite his character.

"Yes, we have plenty to eat," she said.

"Then give me something at once," he cried. "Give me something at once!"

"Come with me."

There was now a crashing in the bushes back of Dan Baxter, and in a
second more Jack Lesher appeared on the scene. He too was haggard
and dirty, and his eyes were much blood-shot, the result of living
almost entirely on liquor for several days after being wrecked on
the islands.

"Well, is it possible!" cried the mate of the _Golden Wave_.

"They've got lots to eat," muttered Dan Baxter. "I'm going to have
something to fill me up before I start to talk."

"How many more of you are here?" asked Dora, in something of dismay.

"We came along alone," said Baxter. "Show us that grub."

Dora led the way to the camp-fire, where Nellie and Grace were also
surprised at the unexpected visitors. Some food was brought forth,
and both Baxter and Lesher ate like two famished wolves.

"Got any liquor?" questioned the mate, casting his eyes toward the house.

"We have a little," answered Nellie, for Captain Blossom had brought
over several bottles from the wreck.

"Bring it out."

When the liquor was brought Jack Lesher took a long draught and then
handed the bottle to Dan Baxter.

"That's the stuff!" cried the mate, with a sly wink at Dora. "Better
than eatin,' twice over," and he took another drink.

The manner of the two newcomers was not at all pleasing to the girls,
and they were sorry that none of the men folks were at hand. They
asked the pair to tell their story, and Baxter spoke up, while Lesher
applied himself to the bottle.

"We floated around the ocean for several days," said the bully. "One
sailor went crazy from the sunshine and leaped overboard, and was
drowned. Then a heavy wind came up and drove the boat, in the night,
onto an island close to this one. We were cast ashore with hardly
any provisions, and two of the sailors were sick. We had to live on
fish, birds, and fruit, and we've had a hard lot of it, I can tell
you that. Yesterday Lesher and I resolved to explore this island,
thinking that perhaps some of the wreckage from the schooner had
washed ashore here. We came over in the afternoon and tramped along
the north shore until it grew dark, but without finding anything. We
slept at the shore last night, and this morning started to go over
the hill back there. But the snakes chased us off, and then we came
around over some rough rocks, where both of us got our clothing torn.
We thought we saw a flag up there somewhere, but we weren't sure."

"Yes, we have a signal of distress up there," answered Dora. She
hardly knew how best to reply.

"Who is here?"

"Captain Blossom, old Jerry Tolman, and the three Rover boys. Old
Jerry and Dick have just gone over to the wreck en an errand. The
others have gone on an exploring tour among the islands, which are
seven in number."

"Got the wreck, have yer!" came in almost a grunt from Jack Lesher.
"Sure enough!" He staggered down to the beach. "Don't see why you
stay here when you might be aboard of her."

"It is cooler here," answered Nellie.

"How many sailors were saved?" asked Grace.

"Nine were saved, besides Lesher and myself," answered Dan Baxter.
"You see, we picked up some of the men from one of the other boats."

"Then your party numbers eleven in all," said Dora.

"Yes," came from Jack Lesher. "An' I am the cap'n of the lot," and
he bobbed his head in satisfaction. He had partaken of just enough
liquor to make him foolish.

"I wish Dick and old Jerry would come back," whispered Grace to Dora.
"I do not like Mr. Lesher at all."

"I never liked him," replied Dora. "When he gets intoxicated he is
a bad fellow to deal with."

"Reckon we'll make ourselves comfortable here," said Lesher, staggering
to a hammock Dick had put up for the girls to rest in. He pitched
into the hammock, carrying a bottle of liquor with him. Another drink
was taken, and soon he was fast asleep, snoring loudly.




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.