"Yes, I am--am all right, but--but pretty well fagged out," gasped Sam.

"It was a close shave," said Captain Blossom. "And our guns are gone."

"We had two dead goats, too," put in Tom. "They went overboard first,
and--goodness gracious--is that really Dan Baxter?"

"Dan Baxter!" ejaculated Sam, and even Captain Blossom stared in
amazement.

"I see you've had a rough time of it," said Baxter, coming forward
coolly. "How are you?"

He shook hands with Captain Blossom, while the Rover boys continued
to stare at him.

"Are you alone?" asked the master of the _Golden Wave_.

"No, Jack Lesher is with me, and we left nine of the sailors on
another island."

"Is that so? Where is Lesher now?"

"In the house, asleep."

"He is intoxicated," said Nellie. "We has been drinking ever since
he put in an appearance."

"Humph! That's like Lesher," muttered the captain, and his brow darkened.

All moved toward the house, and entered to get out of the wet. The
mate was still at the table, snoring loudly.

"Might as well let him sleep it off," said the captain. "But when he
is sober I'll have a talk with him."

Wet clothing was changed for dry, and then the captain and the boys
listened to what Baxter and the girls had to tell. The captain was
glad to learn that so many of his men had been saved, and asked for
the names.

"I don't care much about Peterson and McGlow," he said. "They are
tough customers. I would rather have heard from Peabody, Dickson,
and Fearwell. You don't know anything about them?"

"No," said Dan Baxter.

"This news about Dick and old Jerry worries me," said Tom.

"Dan Baxter, I think you know more than you care to tell," said Sam
boldly.

The bully hardly knew how to reply. He could not now fall back on
Jack Lesher for support, and he had thought to be on his way to
rejoin the sailors ere this. The storm had upset all of his calculations.
It had been a foolish movement to attack Dick and old Jerry, and it
now looked as if he must suffer for it.

"Well--er--I don't mind telling you that Dick and the mate had
something of a quarrel," he said hesitatingly.

"How did it end?" asked Tom.

"I can't say exactly."

"Why not? You were with Lesher at the time."

"No, I wasn't. He ordered me to get into the rowboat and wait for
him while he went back to get a pistol or a gun. I heard loud talking
on the deck of the schooner, and I knew a row was on. I was just
going back to the deck when the mate came and leaped into the rowboat.
He said the sailor and Dick were going to remain behind, and that we
wouldn't wait any longer. Then we rowed over here."

"If that's the case I'll make Lesher tell us what happened," cried
Tom, and shook the mate roughly. "Wake up here!" he cried. "Wake up
and give an account of yourself!"




CHAPTER XXIV

IN CLOSE QUARTERS


Slowly Dick came to his senses. He remembered little or nothing, and
only knew that all was dark around him, and that his head was spinning
like a top.

For several minutes he remained quiet, trying to collect his thoughts.
Then he sat up and passed one hand slowly over his forehead.

"Oh, how my heed aches!" he murmured.

It was fully five minutes before he felt like moving around. Then he
arose and took a step forward and stumbled over old Jerry's body.

"Oh!" he murmured, and felt of the body in the dark, "Who is this?
Can it be Jerry?" he asked himself.

Then came a recollection of the cowardly attack. But what had followed
was a blank, and he could not imagine where he was.

Dick remembered that he had a match safe in his pocket, and soon he
made a light. By this he caught sight of a lantern in the brig and
lit it. Then he bent over old Jerry, and saw that the sailor was
still alive, but suffering from his treatment.

"He must have been attacked, too," murmured Dick. The bucket of water
was at hand, And he took a drink and bathed Captain Jerry's forehead.

It was fully half an hour before the old sailor felt at all like
himself. Both sat down to review the situation.

"The cowards!" said Dick. "What do you suppose they attacked us for?"

"Can't say as to that," replied old Jerry. "Perhaps Lesher wanted to
show us he was master."

"He'll settle with me if I ever get out of this hole, Jerry. What
place is this?"

"The lock-up of the _Golden Wave_. I think it used to be an oil room."

They gazed around them, and soon discovered the can of ship's biscuits
and also the beans.

"They evidently meant to keep us prisoners for some time," said Dick.
"Hark, what is that?"

Both listened, and made out the sounds of distant thunder and heard
the patter of rain on the deck.

"A storm is brewing," said old Jerry. "It sounds as if it was putty
heavy, too."

They tried the door to the brig, but found it locked and bolted. In
vain Dick kicked against it, and shoved with his shoulder. It refused
to budge.

"This looks as if we'd have to stay here--at least for the present,"
said Dick, with a sigh. "I must say I don't like the prospect."

"How long do ye calculate we've been here, lad?"

"There is no telling, unless by my watch." But when he looked at the
timepiece, he found that it had stopped.

They ate some of the biscuits and drank some water and rested for a
while longer. Outside the wind blew furiously and they heard the rain
and the waves dash in all directions. Then some water came trickling
in slowly, at one corner.

"It seems to me as if the wreck was shifting," cried Dick presently.

"It won't shift very far in this bed o' sand, lad. But she may break
up and go to pieces," added old Jerry.

"If she goes down, we'll be drowned like rats in a trap," said Dick.
"We must get out somehow."

They talked the matter over and began a systematic examination of
their prison. The four walls were solid and so was the ceiling above
them.

"The flooring has a couple of loose planks in it," announced. Dick.
"If we can get them up, where will the opening lead to?"

"The forward hold, lad, and that is now half full of sand and water."

"Never mind, I'm going to get the planks up if I can."

With his head still aching Dick set to work and old Jerry helped him.
It was no easy matter to shift the heavy planking, but after a while
they got one plank up and then used this as a pry to bring up the second.

A dark hole was revealed, covered at the bottom with water. Then Dick
took the lantern and let himself down cautiously.

"The water is only about a foot deep," he announced. "I'm going to
make a search around with the lantern."

"Hold on, I'll go with ye," cried old Jerry, and came down with a splash.

With great caution they moved around the hold, wading through sand
and water, and climbing over boxes, barrels, and crates.

"What a mixture of cargo," said Dick. "And what a pity so much of it
is going to ruin," and he pointed to some valuable mining machinery
which was rusting in the salt water.

Fortunately old Jerry had been in the hold before the _Golden Wave_
was wrecked, so he knew something of the surroundings. He led the
way to some boxes directly beneath the forward hatch.

"I don't reckon the hatch is fastened down," he said. "An' if it aint
we may be able to shove it up by standing one box on top of another."

This was tried, and after much difficulty the hatch was thrown to
one side, and they crawled to the deck of the schooner.

"I'm glad I am out of that!" ejaculated Dick. "But how it's raining!
Let us go to the cabin for shelter."

Once in the cabin they proceeded to make themselves as comfortable
as the state of affairs permitted.

"With no boat it is going to be no easy matter getting back to the
house," said Dick. He was much worried concerning the girls.

"We'll have to stay here until the storm is over," said old Jerry.

But Dick demurred and at last it was decided to try getting to the
house by journeying from one island to the next.

This was a dangerous proceeding, as we already know. They had to
build themselves a small raft and carry this from one crossing to
the next.

By the time the last crossing was made the storm was clearing and
the day was drawing to a close.

"We had best not show ourselves until we are sure how the land lays,"
said Dick, as they came up the beach.

Captain Jerry thought this good advice and they proceeded with caution
until they came in sight of the house. Then Dick set up a shout.

"Tom, Sam, and Captain Blossom are back! Hurrah!"

"They look as if they were having a row with Baxter and the mate,"
came from old Jerry.

A row certainly was in progress, and as they came closer they heard
Tom talking.

"Yes, Lesher, I want to know all about this quarrel with my brother
Dick. I am sure he was not in the wrong."

"See here, I know my own business," the mate growled. "You shut up
and leave me alone."

"We won't leave you alone," came from Sam. "We want to know the truth."

"Yes, tell us the truth, Lesher," said Captain Blossom sternly.

"All against me, aint you?"

"We want the truth," answered Tom.

"Well, if you must have it, all right. He got cheeky and hit me on
the head with an oar. Then I hit back and knocked him down. Then he
got mad and so did Jerry Tolman, and both refused to come back in
the boat with Baxter and me."

"I'll wager you started to boss things," said Sam. "Dick doesn't
raise a row without just cause."

"Good for Sam," murmured Dick.

"Your brother was entirely to blame," grunted the mate. He was still
far from sober.

"Jack Lesher, you tell what is not so," said Dick loudly, and joined
the group, followed by old Jerry.

Had a bombshell exploded, Lesher and Baxter would not have been more
astonished. Then stared at the newcomers as if they were ghosts.

"How--er--how did you get here?" stammered Baxter, while the mate
continued to stare, in open-mouthed astonishment.

"That is our affair," responded Dick. He strode up to Lesher. "You
miserable villain. How dare you say that I was to blame when you
attacked me without warning? Take that for what you did."

And hauling off, Dick hit the mate a fair and square blow in the nose
which sent Lesher flat on his back.




CHAPTER XXV.

TRYING TO COME TO TERMS


As the mate went down the girls gave a scream, and even Tom and Sam
looked at Dick in wonder. Never had any of them seen the eldest Rover
so aroused.

"My lad, that was a hard blow," observed Captain Blossom, as Jack
Lesher lay where he had fallen.

"Not half as hard as the blow he struck me," answered Dick.

"Not hard as hard as thet chap hit me," put in old Jerry, and turning
quickly he flew at Dan Baxter and bore him to the ground.

"Hi! hi! let up!" roared the bully. "Let up! Take him off!"

"I'll let up, when I'm done," panted old Jerry, and he gave him a
thump in the cheek, another in the eye, and a third on the chin.
"Now, then, Dan Baxter, see how you like that!" And then the old
sailor arose once more.

"I'll--I'll--" began Baxter, in a terrible rage. "I'll--"

"Shut up, Baxter, until we hear what they have to say," put in Tom.
"If you are not quiet, I'll give you a thumping on general principles."

"No more fighting," commanded Captain Blossom. "Dick Rover, tell us
what happened on the wreck."

Dick told his story, and then all listened to what old Jerry had to
say. In the meantime Jack Lesher arose unsteadily to his feet.

"Where is that boy?" he roared. "I'll fix him." And then he made a
movement as if to draw his pistol, but discovered that the weapon
had been taken from him.

"Who took my pistol?" he demanded.

"Be quiet, everybody," said Captain Blossom. "Lesher, there will be
no shootng here, unless I have to make an example of somebody. You
had no business to attack Dick Rover on the wreck, nor attack Jerry
Tolman, either. It was a mean thing to do. If we are to remain on
these islands together, we ought to keep friendly."

"I know my business," growled the mate.

"And I know mine, Lesher. Please remember that I am captain."

"And I am first mate."

"Your being first mate doesn't count with us," came from Tom.

"Not for a minute," added Dick. "If I had my own way, I'd pitch you
out of this camp in double-quick order."

"And Dan Baxter with him," put in Sam.

"Why cannot both of them go and live with the other sailors who were
saved?" asked Dora. "They could have their share of what is on the
wreck."

"I see you don't care for their company," said Captain Blossom. "Well,
I can't say that I blame you, miss. After this they shall keep their
distance. They can either live on the wreck or build themselves their
own house, and so can the other sailors who were saved."

"You are not my master!" cried Dan Baxter. "On these islands all are
equal."

"That may be so, but you have got to let the others alone," answered
Dick. "If you don't--"

"What will you do?"

"We'll punish you in a way you least expect."

After this there was a general talk which almost ended in another
all-around row. But the Rovers and Captain Blossom were firm, and at
last Dan Baxter and Jack Lesher said no more.

"We ought to remain on guard after this," said Dick to Tom, when they
and Sam were alone. "I don't want to trust our enemies for a single
moment."

And it was agreed that one or another should watch constantly.

The storm cleared away as suddenly as it had come, and the next
morning the sun shone as brightly as ever.

When Baxter and Lesher came to breakfast both were sullen. The mate
had wanted more liquor, but Captain Blossom had refused to give him
more than a single glass.

"You had better return to the others at once," said the captain.
"Tell them they can come over here, and then we will make arrangements
as to how all hands shall live until some ship comes to take us away."

The Rovers suspected that Dan Baxter wished to remain behind, leaving
the mate to go after the others. But Lesher would not go alone, and
off they started at noon, each carrying a good supply of food with
him, and also a pistol and some ammunition.

"I wish they weren't coming back," murmured Dora.

"I wish the same, Dora," said Dick. "But it can't be helped and we
must make the best of it."

There was a general air of relief when the two had departed. Later
on each told his or her story once more, and a general conversation
ensued regarding the future.

"Lesher is not the man I thought he would, be," said Captain Blossom.
"If he insists on getting drunk he will surely cause us a good deal
of trouble, and if I try to keep the liquor from him he will get
ugly. More than that, he has several sailors with him who are old
friends, and they like their liquor just as much as he does."

It was seen that the flag of distress was down, as already mentioned,
and after Baxter and Lesher had departed, Tom and Dick set off to
put the flag up once more.

The way was by no means easy, for the storm had washed the dirt and
stones in all directions and the path was strewn with broken branches
and torn-up bushes. On the way they picked up hard a dozen dead birds
and also saw three dead monkeys.

When the spot where the flag had been was reached they found the tree
still standing. The halyard of the flag had snapped and the colors
lay in a mass of bushes a hundred feet away.

To get to the bushes the boys had to leap over something of a gully.
Tom took the leap in safety, but Sam went down out of sight.

"Help! help!" cried the youngest Rover.

Tom looked back, to see Sam's fingers clutching at some brushwood
which grew at the edge of the gully. Then the hand disappeared and
he heard a crashing far below, for though the gully was not wide, it
was very deep.

"Sam! Sam!" he called. "Are you hurt?"

No answer came back, and much alarmed, Tom got on his knees and tried
to look into the opening. At first he could see nothing, but when
his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, he made out the form of
his brother lying on some broken brushwood which the storm had swept
into the opening.

How to get down to Sam was a problem, and Tom was revolving the matter
in his mind when Sam let out another cry.

"Are you hurt, Sam?"

"N--not much, but m--my wind was kno--knocked out of me."

"Can you climb up to the top?"

"Hardly, Tom, the sides are very steep, and--yes, there is a regular
cave down here," went on Sam.

"A cave?"

"Yes."

"Where does it lead to?"

"I don't know. It's on the south side of the opening."

Tom's curiosity was aroused, and bringing forth the new rope they
had brought along for hoisting the flag, he tied one end to a tree
and lowered himself to his brother's side. By this time Sam was on
his feet and inspecting some scratches his left hand had received.

"Where is the cave, Sam?"

"There," and the youngest Rover pointed it out.

The opening was about two feet above the bottom of the gully. It was
perhaps four feet in diameter, but appeared to grow larger within.

"If we had a torch we might investigate a bit," said Tom. "I'd like
to know if the cave amounts to anything."

"It might have a pirate's treasure in it, eh?"

"Not likely, Sam. I don't believe it has ever been used. But if it
was of good size it might prove handy for us at some time or another."

They looked around, and finding some dry brushwood made two rude
torches. With these flaring brightly they entered the opening, the
flooring of which was of rock and tolerably smooth.

"We could live in this cave, if it wasn't that the opening to it is
in the gully," said Sam as they advanced.

"There may be another opening at the other end," said Tom. "It is
certainly quite long."

They had advanced fully a hundred feet, and now found themselves in
a chamber forty or fifty feet square. The ceiling was arched and so
high that they could not touch it without jumping up.

"This is as good as a house," said Tom. "See how dry the flooring
is. That proves that it is waterproof."

From the large chamber there were several passageways, all leading
toward the bay.

"Which shall we investigate first?" asked Sam.

"Let us start at the right."

"All right, Tom; the right ought to be right," answered Sam lightly.

On they went once more, the flooring now sloping before them. Here
there was considerable moisture, and they had to walk with care for
fear of slipping down.

Suddenly a number of bats flew out of a hole nearby, dashing against
the torches and against the boys themselves. The rush was so unexpected
that each youth dropped his light and put up his hands to protect
himself.

"Get out! Let me alone!" spluttered Sam.

"Whoop!" roared Tom. "Confound the bats anyway! Get along and let us
alone!"

Lying on the flooring the torches soon went out, and in their efforts
to protect themselves from the bats the boys rushed blindly down the
passageway. Then of a sudden both slipped on the wet rocks, slid a
distance of several yards, and went down and down, landing into a
well-like opening with a loud splash!




CHAPTER XXVI

THE CAVE ON THE ISLAND


"Tom!"

"Sam!"

"Are you safe?"

"Yes, but I wasn't looking for such a cold bath as this."

"I guess we must have fallen into a regular well of spring water."

"Never mind what we are in. The question is, how are we to get out?"

"Can you touch the top of the opening?"

"No."

"Neither can I."

Luckily the two boys could touch the bottom of the hole, so they were
in no danger of drowning. They were in water up to their waists and
calculated they had dropped a distance of two or three yards. All
was pitch dark around them and as silent as a tomb, save for some
water which trickled close at hand. The bats had departed, leaving
them to their fate.

"This is cave-investigating with a vengeance," said Tom, with something
like a shiver.

"Never mind, Tom, we won't die of thirst anyway."

"Do you think this is a laughing matter, Sam?"

"No, I don't. I'd give a good deal to be out of this hole and out of
the cave also."

"I've got an idea. Let me climb on your shoulders and see if I can
reach the top that way."

Sam was willing, and soon Tom was balancing himself as best he could.
He felt around with care, Sam moving from point to point as directed.

"Here is a sharp rock; I think I can pull myself up on that," said
Tom. He tried with all of his strength and went up off Sam's shoulders.
Then the youngest Rover heard him crawling around the wet flooring
carefully.

When Tom felt fairly safe he brought out his waterproof match safe
and lit a match. Then one of the torches was picked up and he lit
that, but kept it partly sheltered, fearing another attack from the
bats.

By the aid of the torch, Sam was able to reach a sharp rock quite
low down in the well hole, and when Tom gave him a hand he came up
with ease. Both saw that the passage ended at the hole and hurried
back to the main chamber of the cave.

"That's the time that right was not right," said Sam, wringing the
water from his trousers, while Tom did the same. "Let us try the left
after this."

"I trust we don't get left by it," added Sam.

The passageway was small and winding, but fairly level. There were
several sharp rocks to pass and then Tom gave a cry.

"I see a light ahead!"

"It must be an opening, Tam."

"Exactly what I think."

Both hurried forward. As they did this, the opening appeared to grow
larger and they saw a number of bushes ahead of them. They pushed
these aside and saw beyond a clear stretch of the bay and to the
northward the house they had built. The opening was twenty or thirty
feet above the beach and hidden in the rocks and bushes.

"This is a short cut to the beach from the flagstaff," said Sam. "I
wish we had put up the flag. Then we could carry the news of the cave
to the others."

"Let us hurry back, Sam. It won't take so very long to put up the
flag, with the tree still standing."

When they reached the gully they were careful that no further mishaps
should befall them. Having picked up the flag they hoisted it once
more, stars down, and then went back through the cave to the beach.

As they had imagined, the others were greatly interested in the news.
All left the house and visited the place. The girls did not go any
further than the main chamber, but the captain, Dick, and old Jerry
made a complete investigation, taking care not to fall into the
well-hole or any other unsafe place.

"As the boys say, this cave may come in very handy some time," said
Captain Blossom. "In case of a very heavy wind storm it would be a
good place for shelter."

"Why couldn't the sailors, Lesher, and Baxter live here?" asked Dick.
"We don't want them, and it will save them the trouble of building
a house, in case they don't want to live on the wreck."

"No, I advise that we tell them nothing about the cave," said Tom.
"If we should have a fight and get the worst of it, we could hide
here and they wouldn't be able to find us very readily."

"Do you think it will get as far as that?" asked Dora, and her face
showed she was much disturbed.

"I hope not, Dora," said Dick. "But you must remember that we have
had some pretty sharp quarrels already."

"I think Tom is right," came from Sam. "We'll not tell the others
anything about the cave. If they don't want to live on the wreck,
they can build a house or two, just as we did."

On returning to the shore of the bay, Captain Blossom and Tom went
on a hunt along the beach and presently discovered the rowboat that
had overturned with them during the storm.

The craft was but little damaged and they soon had it mended, and
then the captain brought it around to the anchorage in front of the
house.

"I wonder when Baxter and Lesher will arrive with the sailors?" said
Nellie.

"Not before to-morrow night," answered Tom.

"Then do you know what I would do if I were you?" went on the girl.

"What, Nellie?"

"I'd bring some stores away from the wreck and hide them in the cave.
If you did that, it might save us a good deal of trouble. For all we
know, that mate might try to take command and refuse to let us get
anything more from the ship."

"Do you think he'd do that while Captain Blossom was around?" came
from Grace.

"Oh, he might do anything when he is half full of liquor," answered
Tom. "I think Nellie is right. I'll talk it over with the others."

Tom lost no time in the matter, and Dick, Sam, and old Jerry agreed
that Nellie's idea was very good. Captain Blossom shrugged his
shoulders and looked ugly.

"Jack Lesher shall not take the command from me," he said. "If he
tries it, he'll find himself in the biggest kind of a row."

"But you must admit that there is grave danger," said Dick.

"Yes, I admit that."

"Then you are willing that we shall hide the stores?"

"If you want to."

"Won't you help us, Captain Blossom? Of course, we recognize the fact
that those things belong to you, since you remained on the ship up
to the time she struck the island."

This speech pleased the captain, and he said he would help them
willingly.

Without delay the two rowboats and the raft were called into commission,
and an hour later the men and boys were hard at work transferring
goods from the wreck to the beach in front of the cave. Five trips
were made back and forth, the boats and the raft bringing over each,
time as much as could be conveniently floated.

By the time the last trip was made and the goods piled on the beach
and covered with a large tarpaulin, it was dark and all were utterly
worn out by their labors. The girls had prepared an extra good
supper, and of this they ate heartily and then sat around a little
while, when they went to bed.

At the beginning the castaways had kept guard during the night, but
of late this had been done away with, everybody being satisfied that
no harm could befall them during the darkness.

But as the doorway to the house was an open one it had been considered
the duty of one or the other to sleep directly in the opening. This
was Dick's night, and the eldest Rover lay there sleeping soundly
until about two in the morning.

By this time the moon had disappeared and the stars were partly hidden
by some clouds. The night was quiet, save for the hum of insects in
the jungle back of the house and the soft lap-lap of the waves on
the beach of the bay.

Suddenly Dick awoke with a start. He sat bolt upright, wondering what
had brought him to his senses so quickly. He listened intently, but
nothing unusual greeted his ears.

"I must have been dreaming, or something," he thought. "But is queer
I should be so wide.. awake."

At first he was on the point of lying down again, but then concluded
to get up and get a drink of water.

He arose to his feet and stood in the open doorway, gazing into the
darkness. The faint light of a few stars shone in the waters of the
bay, and between the waters and himself he presently saw a dark form
stealing along, close to the ground.

What could that be? Was it something real or only a shadow? Dick
rubbed his eyes and peered out more sharply than ever. It was not a
shadow, but a real form, slowly moving around to the rear of the house.

"An animal, or else a man crawling along," said Dick to himself, and
reached for his gun, which stood close at hand. Then he made up his
mind to investigate, and stepped outside of the doorway for that purpose.




CHAPTER XXVII

A FIGHT WITH A WILD BEAST


As Dick stepped out of the house, gun in hand, the form disappeared
behind a small clump of bushes growing not fifty feet away.

"It's gone," he said to himself, but waited patiently, with his gun
ready for use.

The clouds were increasing, making it darker than ever. Almost holding
his breath, the youth took several steps forward. Then he waited again.

At last the form reappeared, crouched lower than ever, so that it
was almost hidden by the rocks and low brushwood leading to the
jungle. At first Dick imagined the beast, or whatever it was, was
going to retreat to the timber, but soon it appeared to turn back,
as if to make another semicircle, this time around to the rear of
the house.

It must be admitted that Dick's heart thumped madly in his breast.
The gun was raised and he kept his finger on the trigger. But he did
not dare to shoot until he was certain of the object of his aim.

"I don't want to kill anybody," he reasoned. And he thought of a
story he had once read of a hunter shooting his companion who had
got the nightmare and was crawling around in his sleep. For all he
knew, it might be Sam or Tom, or one of the others.

But now came a sound which was not to be mistaken. It was a low,
savage growl, followed by the rustling of a bushy tail among the
brushwood. It was a wild animal, and it was getting ready to make
a leap for the boy!

Taking aim as best he could, Dick pulled the trigger. Bang! went the
firearm, and a snarl of pain and rage rang out. Then the beast made
its leap, striking Dick in the breast and knocking him over.

"Hullo! what's the row?" The cry came from old Jerry, who had been
sleeping next to Dick. "Who fired that shot?"

"Help!" answered Dick. "A wild beast has attacked me."

"A wild beast!" came from several throats at once.

"Let me get a shot," came from Tom, as he bounced out of the house,
pistol in hand, followed by Sam and Captain Blossom.

By this time Dick had gotten to his knees and was trying to fight
off the animal which had fastened its teeth in the youth's trouser
leg, for the boys slept with part of their garments on them.

"Shoot him! Hit him over the head with a club!" screamed the eldest
Rover. He expected every moment to have the beast fly at his throat,
and he knew that that would be his death.

Old Jerry turned back to get a pistol or a club. As he did this Tom
rushed past him and up to Dick's side. Taking a hasty aim, Tom
discharged the pistol twice.

Another growl rang out and the beast dropped back, shot through the
foreshoulder and the neck. Then Tom let drive once more and the beast
fell forward, shot through the left front leg.

"Good for you, Tom!" cried Dick, as he arose.

"What is it?" came from Captain Blossom, as he appeared with a shotgun.
A shot from this finished the beast and it rolled over and over in
its death agonies, and Sam finished it with a blow on the head with
a big club.

By this time the girls were crowding outside, having clothed themselves
with whatever was handiest. Torches were lit, and a ship's lantern,
and all went to examine the creature.

"It looks like a tiger," declared Tom. "Only it is not quite so large."

"I should say it was a California puma," came from old Jerry. "He's
a bad one, too."

"I think they call them jaguars out here," said Dick. "They all belong
to the same family, you know. Some old American hunters would call
it a painter."

"Never mind what it is," said Dora, with a shudder. "I am thankful
that it is dead."

"You can be thankful that it didn't chew Dick up," added Tom. "He
was in a tight corner, I can tell you that."

"I didn't want to shoot until I was certain of what I was shooting
at," answered Dick. "Then, just as I fired, the beast leaped for me.
If I hadn't wounded it, it would have had me by the throat sure. But
my shot kind of made it fall back, and it caught me by the trouser leg."

"Are you sure you are not hurt, lad?" asked the captain.

"Not hurt in the least," answered Dick, and all were thankful that
this was so.

The animal was dragged close to the cabin. It measured about five
feet in length, regardless of the tail, and was of a dull yellowish
color. Its teeth were long and sharp, and its face had a fierce,
blood-thirsty look about it that made all the girls shiver.

"I must confess that I am surprised to find such a beast on these
islands," said Captain Blossom. "Usually they are to be found only
on the mainland or on large islands."

"What I am wondering is, are there any more around?" came from Sam.

"If there are, we'll have to be careful how we move around," put in
old Jerry. "I don't want any of 'em to leap out at me from behind a
rock."

"We'll have to be on the watch," said Tom. "I'm sure I don't want to
furnish any tropical tiger cat with a square meal."

"Oh, Tom, how awful to even mention it!" cried Nellie.

"I think I know a way to keep 'em away from the house at night," said
old Jerry.

"How?" questioned several.

"Keep a camp-fire burning close to the door. All wild animals hate
a fire."

"Jerry is right," said Captain Blossom. "We'll do it after this."

"What shall we do with the beast?" asked Dick. "I don't think it is
good to eat."

"Save the skin," said Dora. "That will surely make an elegant rug."

"Leave the carcass until morning," said Captain Blossom. "We must
get some more sleep if we want to go to work to-morrow."

"To-day, you mean," said Tom, looking at his watch. "It is already
three o'clock."

A camp-fire was lit and then all but Jerry retired, it being agreed
that the old sailor was to turn in once more when the others arose
for breakfast. All but Dick slept soundly, but even the eldest Rover
was benefited by the additional rest.

The first work in the morning was to skin the wild beast. This was
rather a difficult task since no one had had any experience, outside
of the Rover boys, on small game. Old Jerry said he would try a steak
cut from the best part of the the animal, but when he did he said it
was too tough to eat. Then the carcass was dragged away and flung
into a hole between the rocks.

After breakfast, the men and boys began in earnest to place the stores
brought to the beach in the cave. It was hard work getting the boxes
and barrels up the incline to the mouth of the cave, and the work
took until the middle of the afternoon. Once at the entrance, the
stores were speedily shifted to the chamber previously mentioned,
and covered again with the tarpaulin. With the stores were placed a
cask of fresh water, some dry pine torches and a box of matches.
Captain Blossom left a gun and some ammunition in the cave, and the
Rover boys added two pistols and a couple of swords taken from the ship.

"Now we will re-arrange the entrance to the cave as it was before,"
said Dick. "Then the sailors will never suspect what we have done."

By sunset the work was over and all hands were back at the house,
taking it easy. Supper was ready, but they waited hard an hour,
thinking that Baxter, Lesher, and their party would put in an appearance
at any moment.

"I reckon they aren't coming just yet," said Captain Blossom, at
length. "Let us wait no longer."

"I'm willing," said Tom. The extra work had sharpened his appetite
wonderfully.

The evening passed quietly and soon one after another retired. As
agreed, the camp-fire was left burning, and each took his turn at
remaining on guard.

In the morning it was Dora who made an announcement that startled
all of them. The girl had taken Captain Blossom's spyglass and was
looking across the bay in the direction of the wreck.

"There are men on board of the _Golden Wave_" she announced. "I can
see them quite plainly."

"Men on board of the wreck!" cried Dick. "Are you sure, Dora?"

"Look for yourself, Dick."

The youth did so and saw that Dora was right. Half a dozen figures
could be seen walking to and fro.

"Who are they?" asked Tom. "Lesher and his crowd?"

"That I can't make out," answered Dick, and handed over the glass to
his brother.

All could see the men on the wreck, but at such a distance it was
impossible to make out any faces.

"Maybe they are savages," came from Grace.

"No, they are dressed like white people," said Captain Blossom..

"Perhaps another ship has come in!" ejaculated Tom. "If it has, we
are saved!"

"I don't see any other ship," said old Jerry.

"It may be on the other side of yonder island," came from Sam.

"The best thing we can do is to row over and investigate," said
Captain Blossom. "If another ship has come in, the captain may claim
that wreck and everything on board."

A hasty breakfast was prepared and eaten, and it was agreed that the
captain, Dick, and old Jerry should row over to the wreck in the best
of the boats. The three were soon on the way, wondering whom they
were to meet and what sort of a reception would be tendered to them.




CHAPTER XXVIII

THE MATE SHOWS HIS HAND


Captain Blossom had taken the spyglass along, and as they drew closer
to the wreck he gazed long and earnestly at the men walking the deck
of the _Golden Wave_.

"They are my crew," he announced at last. "And they are in tatters."

"They must have had a hard time of it since you were cast ashore,"
said Dick.

"Unless I am mistaken, not a one of them is sober," went on the
captain. "They are cutting up like a band of wild Indians."

Before long they were within hailing distance of those on the wreck.
Then a voice from the rail hailed them.

"Boat ahoy!"

"Ahoy!" answered the captain.

"What do you want?" demanded the sailor on the wreck. He could scarcely
talk straight.

"We want to come on board."

"Sorry, cap'n, but I can't let you come aboard," answered the sailor,
with something of a hiccough.

"Can't let me come aboard?" repeated the captain. "Why not?"

"Cause it's ag'in orders."

"Whose orders?"

"Captain Lesher's."

"Captain Lesher!" ejaculated Captain Blossom indignantly. "How long
has he been a captain?"

"We made him cap'n yesterday."

"That's right," put in another sailor. "We 'lected him unan--nan--
nan'mously; yes, sir, unan--nan--nan'mously."

"You are drunk, Bostwick."

"No, sir, aint drunk at all.--Lesher, he's drunk--but he's cap'n
all the same."

"That's right," put in a third sailor. "Hurrah for Captain Lesher
and the rum he let us have!"

"Got to keep off, I tell you," went on Bostwick. "If you don't, we
have--er--we have strict orders to fire on you, yes, sir."

"To fire on us!" cried Dick.--"Do you mean to say you would fire on us?"

"Now, see here, don't you put in your oar," said a fourth sailor.
"You don't count with us. It's the cap'n that was we're talkin' to."

"I am captain still," said Captain Blossom firmly. "If you don't want
to obey me, you must leave the ship."

"Aint going to leave no ship!" was the cry. "She belongs to us. You
keep off!"

"Yes, yes, keep off!" added the others on the deck.

"The ship is mine," said the captain. "If you refuse to let me come
on board--"

At that moment two other figures appeared on deck.

"Dan Baxter and Jack Lesher!" murmured Dick.

"Captain Blossom, you had better keep your distance," said Lesher in
a voice that showed he was just getting over a spell of drunkenness.

"So you too refuse to let me come on board?"

"I do. The boys have made me their captain, and as such I am bound
to look after their interests. I have told them what you proposed to
do, and they don't intend to stand it."

"Didn't I tell you we'd get square?" put in Dan Baxter, his evil face
glowing with triumph. "We have all that is on board, and we mean to
keep everything."

"This is mutiny!" stormed Captain Blossom.

"Call it what you please," answered Lesher recklessly. "I reckon I
and the boys know what we are doing!"

"That's right!" cried the half-drunken sailors. "Hurrah for Cap'n
Lesher. He's a man after our own hearts!"

"Supposing I demand to be let on board?" went on Captain Blossom.

"Don't ye go, cap'n," whispered old Jerry. "They are in jest a fit
mood to kill ye. The rum has put the Old Nick in 'em."

"You can't come on board, and that settles it," roared Jack Lesher,
drawing a pistol. "Keep your distance."

"Yes, keep your distance," added Baxter, and also showed a firearm.

"This is a fine way to treat us, after what we did for you," said
Dick. "But, wait, Baxter, the end is not yet."

"Bah! I am not afraid," said the bully. "These men are all my friends,
and we know exactly what we are doing."

"Do you expect to remain on the wreck?" asked the captain, after a
moment of silence.

"That is our business," answered Lesher.

"I think you will find that you are making a great mistake, men, to
follow Lesher when you ought to follow me. I have always treated you
fairly, and--"

"Hi! none of that!" roared the mate. "We won't listen to it."

"The men shall listen, if they will. I

"Say another word and I'll fire!" cried the mate, and pointed his
pistol at Captain Blossom's head.

"Do-do you mean that?" asked the captain, in as steady a voice as he
could command.

"Of course he means it," said Dan Baxter. "He isn't a fool. We are
all going to stand by him, too," he added.

"That's right," came from part of the crew. Dick noticed that a few
of the others looked doubtful.

"I mean it, and I want you to leave right now," stormed Jack Lesher.
"I'll give you one minute in which to turn your boat around," and he
pulled out his watch.

"Might as well go back," whispered old Jerry. "You can't reason with
a lot of half-drunken men."

"Very well, we'll go back," said Captain Blossom loudly. "But,
remember, you haven't seen the end of this affair."

"And remember another thing," added Dick, in an equally loud voice:
"Don't any of you dare to come anywhere near our house. If you do,
you'll be sorry for it."

Then the three turned the boat around and rowed slowly back whence
they had come.

"The rascals!" muttered Captain Blossom, when they were out of hearing.
"Lesher and Baxter have poisoned the minds of the crew against me,
and have bought over the men with liquor."

"It's a mighty good thing ye put them stores in the cave," came from
old Jerry. "If ye hadn't we'd be a-wantin' a good many things in a
few days."

"That is true," answered Dick. "Dora told me they must have another
barrel of flour by day after to-morrow."

"How many at the cave?"

"Two."

"Well, it certainly was a good job done," said the captain. "But it
makes me boil to think they want to keep me off my own ship. On the
ocean that would be mutiny, and I could hang every mother's son of
them from the yardarm for it."

"Lesher must have told 'em some putty strong stories," said old Jerry.
"Otherwise the men wouldn't be so dead set ag'in ye, cap'n."

"No doubt he made out the strongest possible case."

"I wonder if they will stick to the wreck all the time," said Dick.
"They'll find it mighty hot when the sun shines."

"Oh, they'll most likely take some of the things ashore, and set up
a camp nearby, Rover."

"We'll have to watch them closely."

"I agree with you. Now we have two kinds of enemies--beasts and men,"
and the captain laughed bitterly.

The others were gathered on the shore awaiting their return, and they
listened attentively to what was told them.

"Oh, Lesher wanted to be leader, you could see that right off,"
declared Tom. "And Baxter will do anything to make it disagreeable
for us boys," he continued.

"Well, there is one satisfaction," said Nellie. "We haven't Baxter
with us."

"If only a ship would stop here and take us away!" sighed Dora. To
her it seemed like an age since they had landed on the seven islands.

"After this we must keep a regular guard," announced Dick. "Unless
we do that, somebody may play us foul when we least expect it."

Slowly the day wore away. By the aid of the spyglass they could see
the sailors still on the deck of the wreck. Nobody appeared to go ashore.

That night it fell to Sam's lot to be on guard from nine to ten
o'clock. The camp-fire was left burning brightly, and the youngest
Rover sat near it on a log, a gun in his lap.

"No wild beast shall surprise me," he told himself, and kept his eyes
on the jungle back of the house.

His time for guard duty had almost come to an end when a noise down
on the beach attracted his attention. By the faint light he made out
a raft, which had just come in, bearing the figures of two sailors.

"Stop!" he called out. "Do not come closer at your peril!"

"Don't shoot!" called back one of the sailors. "Don't shoot! We mean
no harm."

Sam had backed up toward the house, and now he called to those within.
He was soon joined by Captain Blossom, Dick, and several of the others.

"Who is it?" asked the captain, as he came forth, pistol in hand.

"Two of the sailors from the wreck, I think."

"Don't shoot us, captain," called one of the men. "We are unarmed
and want to talk with you."

"They are Gibson and Marny," said Captain Blossom. "They were generally
pretty good sort of fellows. I reckon we have nothing to fear from them."

"Are you alone?" called out Dick.

"Yes."

"Then come up to the fire. But mind, no treachery."

"We don't wonder at your being on guard," said the sailor named
Gibson, a tall, thin Yankee. "The others treated you like so many dogs."

"We have deserted Lesher," put in Marny. "We came over here on the
raft to see if you wouldn't take us in."

"Were you alone?" asked Captain Blossom.

"No, we had Hackenhaven with us. But he fell overboard just after we
left the wreck, and the sharks caught him," answered Gibson, with a
bitter shake of his face.

"What did Lesher say to your leaving?" asked Tom.

"He didn't know it until after we were a hundred yards or more from
the wreck. You see, he and the others were drinking in the cabin, so
we got away without much trouble," answered Marny. "They might have
shot at us, but it was too dark for them. We had a hard pull to get
over here, and when poor Hackenhaven was gobbled up both of us felt
bad, I can tell you."

It was now seen that both sailors were almost exhausted, and Captain
Blossom allowed them to rest, while Dick prepared a pot of coffee.
While they were drinking, Gibson told them the particulars of how
the mate had made himself leader of the sailors now left on the wreck.




CHAPTER XXIX

THE BURNING OF THE WRECK


"When Lesher and Baxter got back to where they left us they were very
bitter against you," began Gibson. "They told us that you had tried
to make them work like niggers, fixing up this house. They said that
they wanted to come right back and bring us here, but you wouldn't
let them go until the house was finished."

"Which is not true, as all of us here know," said Captain Blossom.

"Lesher also said that you were angry at us for leaving the ship
before the rest, and that you had said you would have us all tried
for mutiny the first chance you got. Baxter said the same, and also
told us that you were going to dump all the rum and other liquor into
the ocean, so that the mate and none of the others could get a drop
of it while they stayed on the islands."

"I didn't say that, but I did say that Lesher Shouldn't have all he
wanted," replied the captain.

"This sort of talk made most of the sailors wild," went on Gibson.
"Then Lesher made a speech to them, and they voted to stick by him
through thick and thin and not let you rule them. He promised them
all the liquor they wanted, and told them that if they stuck by him
the whole lot could swear in court that they had found the wreck
deserted, so that they could get whatever was coming in the way of
salvage. Then he handed around some liquor he had brought along, and
some pistols, and most of them said they would stick to him, as I
said before."

"What about going directly to the wreck?" asked Tom.

"That was Baxter's idea, and it wasn't thought of until we were on
our way to this spot. Baxter said that if we captured the ship we
would have you at our mercy, for sooner or later your provisions
would run out, and you'd be begging for something to eat."

"The scoundrel!" cried Dick. "So he thought to starve us into
submission, eh? Well, he shan't do it."

"I said I didn't think it would be fair on the young ladies," continued
Gibson. "But he told me he'd take care of the girls after he had
brought you to your knees."

"He'll never take care of me!" cried Dora.

"Nor me!" came from Nellie.

"I'd rather die than leave this place in Dan Baxter's company," added
Grace.

"Captain, I want you to understand that Gibson and I didn't agree
to what they wanted to do," came from Marny. "But we were overruled,
and we had to hold our tongues for fear of being knocked down or shot."

"Do you want to join our crowd?" asked Dick bluntly.

"We do, and if you'll take us in we'll promise to stand by you to
the end, no matter what comes. We know they've got the best of
it--having the ship's stores--but we don't care for that. They are
a drunken, good-for-nothing crowd, and we are done with them."

"All right, men, I think we can trust you," said Captain Blossom.
"It's a pity that Hackenhaven was lost overboard and eat up by the
sharks. We could rather have spared Lesher."

"Or Dan Baxter," observed Tom.

"With three gone they have but eight men left on the wreck," said
Sam. "And we now number seven men and three ladies. If we stand our
ground, I can't see as we have much to fear from them."

"It will be all right so long as they keep their distance," said
Captain Blossom. "But if they come over here in a body when they are
half full of drink, there is sure to be a row and probably some
shooting. Still, we needn't try to meet trouble halfway."

The sailors gave some more of the details of their doings while in
Lesher's company, and then they were provided with additional clothing,
and each was given a pistol and some ammunition. Nothing was said to
them about the cave or the provisions stored there, Captain Blossom
deeming it best to wait and make sure if they were to be thoroughly
trusted.

"You see," said he, "they may be straight enough, or they may be
spies sent by Lesher to find out just what we propose to do."

"They look honest," said Dick. "I should trust them."

The long pull on the bay had worn the two sailors out, and they were
soon sleeping soundly. The girls followed, and then the boys started
to turn in.

Sam had just gone to rest, and Tom was following, when Dick, who had
stepped out on the beach, uttered a cry.

"What's up?" asked Captain Blossom.

"Look toward the wreck. What does that light mean?"

The captain looked, and then ran for his spy-glass.

"The _Golden Wave_ is afire!" he exclaimed. "That light is coming up
out of the cabin!"

"The wreck is on fire!" shouted Tom, and this cry brought everybody
out once more.

With remarkable rapidity the light grew brighter, until the heavens
and the entire bay were lit up by the conflagration. There was a
strong wind blowing, which carried the sparks to the jungle back of
the ship. Listening intently, they could occasionally hear the roaring
and crackling of the flames.