Of course there was no reply, and satisfied that something was indeed
wrong he retreated still further.

"Stop him!" yelled Gasper Pold. "Don't let him get below to where
his brother is!"

He meant Tom, and Dick instantly made up his mind that the best thing
he could do would be to get to the engine room and warn his fun-loving
brother of their peril. He made a turn, sent Sack Todd and Dan Baxter
sprawling, and an instant later was diving out of sight down the
ladder leading to the machinery.

"Dick! I thought something was wrong and I was coming up!" came from
Tom. "What of Sam and Hans?"

"I don't know. They are after me! Have you your pistol?"

"Yes, and I'll use it too, if they bother me," answered Tom,
determinedly.

"Stop where you are!" cried Dick, looking up the iron ladder. "My
brother and I have pistols and we shall use them if you attempt to
follow down here!"

"Look out!" yelled Dan Baxter, in alarm, and tumbled back to a safe
place. "They'll shoot sure, I know 'em!"

At these words all at the top of the iron ladder hesitated. In the
meantime both Tom and Dick held their pistols up, so that the shining
barrels could be dimly seen.

"They are armed, hang the luck!" muttered Sack Todd. "And they tell
me they can shoot, too!"

"Look here, we don't want any shooting," said Gasper Pold. "We want
this affair conducted peaceable-like."

"I know what you want," said Tom, boldly. "You want to make us
prisoners."

"Like as not Sam and Hans are already prisoners," said Dick. "If they
were not we'd surely hear something from them."

"They are prisoners," answered Dan Baxter.

"And you might as well give in. It won't do you any good to hold
out--we are six to two, remember."

"Baxter, did you plan this?" asked Tom.

"Oh, I'm not saying who planned it. We have simply made up our minds
to take command of the steam yacht, that's all."

"The yacht was a derelict," put in Sid Jeffers. "We have as much
right to her as you have."

"Not at all--we found her," answered Dick.

"But you couldn't have brought her safely in to port," put in Gasper
Pold. "We are going to do that--and get the salvage money," he added,
triumphantly.



CHAPTER XXIV

IN THE ENGINE ROOM

After the bold declaration of Gasper Pold there was an awkward pause.
Dick and Tom did not know what to do and neither did the party at
the top of the engineroom ladder.

"Are you going to give in or not?" demanded Sack Todd, at length.

"Why should we give in?" asked Dick.

"Because if you do, we'll treat you well."

"And if we don't--" came from Tom.

"Then you'll have to take the consequences. As Baxter says, we are
six to two, so it is all nonsense for you to think you can hold out
against us."

"Supposing we do give in, what are you going to do with us?" asked
Dick, curiously but with no present intention of submitting to the
evildoers.

"Oh, we'll treat you fairly enough," put in Gasper Pold. "We'll give
you all you want to eat and drink and put you off at some safe place
along the coast."

"Come, do you submit?" demanded the mate of the _Dogstar_.

"What do you say, Dick?" whispered Tom, so faintly that the others
could not hear.

"I don't want to give in to them."

"Neither do I. But it looks pretty shaky, doesn't it?"

"Yes, they have us cornered."

"We are armed, and if there is to be any shooting we can do our share
of it," resumed Sack Todd. "But there is no need to go to such an
extreme. Better submit quietly and let that end it. We wish you no
harm, but we are bound to have our way."

"Let Sam and Hans come down and we'll talk it over," said Dick, struck
by a sudden idea.

"You had better come up, and then you can talk it over in the cabin,"
said Sack Todd, and whispered something to his companion the Rovers
could not hear.

"Not yet," said Dick, firmly.

"All right, suit yourself. But if you won't come up, you can stay
there. Throw over the hatch, fellows."

There was a hatch to fit over the opening to the engine room and
without further words this was thrown into place and secured from
the deck.

"Dick, we are prisoners!" cried Tom.

"It certainly looks like it," answered the eldest Rover, soberly.

"There is another door,--but it is locked from the other side, I think."

They listened and heard the men and Baxter walk away from the hatchway.
Then all became quiet, for Tom had stopped the engine.

For over half an hour the two Rover boys remained in the engine room
of the _Mermaid_ doing little but walk around. With the hatch closed
it was very hot down there, and Dick, who had his coat on, was glad
to discard that garment. They could get little or no fresh air, and
both wondered how long they could stand the confinement.

"I wouldn't care so much, if only I knew Sam and Hans were safe,"
remarked Dick. "But for all we know, they may have been killed."

"Oh, I don't think that," answered his brother. "I don't think Dan
Baxter is quite so wicked."

Presently there came a noise above and the hatch was raised. The next
instant Sam came tumbling down the iron ladder, followed by Hans.

"Now you fellows can talk it over as long as you like," said Gasper
Pold. "When you come to terms let us know by blowing the steam whistle."

And then the hatch was put down and fastened as before.

"Sam, are you all right?" asked Dick and Tom, in a breath.

"Oh, yes, after a fashion," answered the youngest Rover. "But they
handled me pretty roughly."

"And you, Hans?"

"I dink I vos peen putty vell hammered alretty. Py chimanatics! I
vish I could drow dem all oferpoard, ain't it!"

"We are in a box, in more ways than one," said Tom.

"What did they do to you?" questioned Dick, and then Sam and Hans
told their stories, adding that they had been taken from the staterooms
but a few minutes before, brought on deck, unbound and ungagged, and
sent down the iron ladder as already mentioned.

"I was afraid first they were going to throw us overboard," said Sam.
"I think Sack Todd is equal to it, and that Gasper Pold is about as bad."

The four youths talked the situation over for a good hour, but could
reach no satisfactory conclusion. They did not wish to submit to the
others and yet they realized that they were "in a box" as Tom said.

"I know one thing--I want a drink of water," said Sam. "I am as dry
as a salt fish."

"Yah, I vont me a trink, too," added Hans.

"Well, you'll have to go without," answered Tom. "I am dry myself.
I was going to get some fresh water just before the trouble began,
but I didn't have the chance."

"I know what they'll do--they'll starve us out," exclaimed Sam. "I
see their game plainly."

"I am going to whistle for water," said Tom, with something of his
usual grin. "Nothing like being stylish."

He pulled the cord and the whistle gave a loud toot. He repeated this
several times, when they heard footsteps and the hatch was raised
about a foot.

"Ready to submit?" asked Sack Todd, peering down on them.

"We want some drinking water," answered Tom.

"Oh, pshaw!" said the man, in disgust.

"Will you give us a bucket of fresh water or not?' asked Dick.

"Maybe--I'll see," said Todd, and dropped the hatch into place once more.

"I don't believe he'll give us a thing," was Sam's comment. "He knows
if he doesn't we'll have to give up sooner or later."

"Of ve only had apout two dozen policemans here!" sighed the German
youth.

In the meanwhile Sack Todd told the others about the water.

"Are you going to give it to them?" questioned Dan Baxter.

"Don't think I will," was the answer.

"You can't let them die of thirst," went on the former bully of Putnam
Hall, with some little show of feeling.

"I've got an idea," came from Gasper Pold. "Is there a medicine
cabinet on board? Generally such a vessel carries one."

"Yes, there is one in the cabin," answered Sid Jeffers. "What do you
want of it?"

"We might put some dope in the drinking water. That will fix 'em."

"What, you wouldn't poison them!" cried Dan Baxter, and gave a little
shiver.

"Oh, we'll only put them to sleep," answered Gasper Pold, but with
a look on his face that Baxter did not like.

The men went to the cabin and the former bully of Putnam Hall followed.
Here the medicine cabinet was found filled with various liquids and
powders and Gasper Pold looked them over with care.

"I worked in a drug store when I was a young man," he explained. "And
I took a good bit of interest in dopes and poisons."

Dan Baxter heard him say this, and to the credit of the bully it made
him shudder. He was no friend to the Rovers, yet he did not wish to
see them lose their lives. He paused for a moment, then turned and
ran on deck.

Nobody was in sight, for the sailors from the _Dogstar_ were asleep
below. He ran for a bucket, filled it with water and took it to the
hatchway, which he opened feverishly.

"Hullo there!" he whispered.

"Baxter, is it you?" queried Dick, coming to the ladder.

"Yes. Take this bucket of water, quick. It's clean and good. Don't
drink what the others bring you."

"But, Baxter--" began Tom.

"I can't stay. Be careful of what they give you to eat and drink,
that's all." And the next moment the bucket was passed to Dick, the
hatch closed down, and Baxter fairly ran back to where he had left
the men.

"What can this mean?" asked Dick, staring at his companions.

"Dick, be careful," warned Sam. "It may be some plot of Baxter's."

"Maype ve ton't besser trink dot vater," suggested Hans. "I ton't
vont to vake up teat in der morning, ain't it!"

"Can the water be poisoned?" asked Tom.

They poured some in a glass and held it close to the light. It looked
good and Dick tasted it cautiously.

"Baxter said to beware of what the others gave us to eat and to
drink," said Sam. "Evidently something is in the air."

All sniffed of the water and tasted it, yet each was afraid to take
a regular drink. While they were deliberating they heard the hatch
being raised again. Then Sack Todd and Gasper Pold appeared once more.



CHAPTER XXV

ONE PLOT AND ANOTHER

"We've got the water for you," said Sack Todd. "We don't know as you
deserve it, but we don't want to be mean."

As he spoke he and Gasper Pold held down a jug containing not more
than two quarts.

"Not a very big supply," grumbled Tom. "We'll want a good deal more
down here. This is a regular sweatbox."

"You don't have to stay any longer than you wish," answered the
ex-counterfeiter, with a sickly grin.

"Ven do ve git somedings to eat?" asked Hans.

"In the morning."

This was all those above said, and soon the hatch was shut down and
fastened and Todd and Pold walked slowly away.

"They didn't seem to care much whether we surrendered or not," remarked
Sam.

"That makes me more suspicious than ever," answered Dick. "Boys, Dan
Baxter may have been acting on the square after all."

"Catch Dan doing that!" retorted Tom. "Why, it isn't in him, Dick."

"I don't know about that. He is bad, I know, but he may not be as
much of a villain as these men are. I am going to examine the contents
of this jug."

All gathered around while Dick cleaned out the tumbler and then filled
it with the liquid from the jug. The water looked fairly clear,
although presently something like oil began to float on top. Dick
put his tongue to this and found it sweetish-bitter.

"This has certainly been dosed," said the eldest Rover. "I wouldn't
take a drink of it for a good deal."

"Then Baxter must have told the truth," said Sam. "I think I know
how the matter stands. Baxter got scared at what the men wanted to
do, and so started in to head them off. I believe I'll take a small
drink of that other water."

He did so, and the others followed, nobody, however, drinking more
than half a tumbler of the liquid. This served to quench the worst
of their thirst.

"Later on, if the water doesn't affect us, we can drink more," said
Tom. "If Dan Baxter really did mean well it's a great credit to him,
no matter how bad he is otherwise."

All sat down and talked in low tones. The night was now well advanced,
yet nobody felt like sleeping. Suddenly Dick leaped up, considerably
excited.

"I've got it, fellows! Maybe we can outwit them at their own game,"
he cried.

"How?" asked the others.

"Perhaps that water was drugged and was given to us to put us to
sleep. If we pretend to be overcome it may throw them off their guard,
and that will give us another chance to gain possession of the vessel.
What do you say if we lie down and pretend to be asleep when they
open the hatch?"

"All right, I am willing," answered Tom. "There is no excitement in
being cooped up in this hot place. Tell you what I'll do, to force
matters. You lie down and begin to snore and I'll pull the whistle.
Then, when they come, I'll demand to know what is wrong with you and
pitch over myself. Then we can see what happens next."

So it was arranged, and half an hour later Sam, Dick, and Hans
stretched out on the engineroom floor as if completely dead to the
world. Then Tom gave the whistle half a dozen sharp tugs. This brought
Todd, Pold, Jeffers, and Dan Baxter to the hatchway in a hurry.

"What's the row?" demanded Gasper Pold, looking down curiously.

"My brothers," came thickly from Tom, as he reeled around. "What did
you--you--do to them? My head--like--top! You--must--must--Oh!" And
then Tom sank down on a bench, slipped to the floor, and lay beside Sam.

"He's poisoned!" shrieked Dan Baxter, and his face grew as white as
a sheet.

"Shut up!" muttered Sack Todd. "The dose won't kill him."

"Reckon they are all laid out," was Gasper Pold's comment, as he
peered down the hatchway. "I'll go down and make sure." And he passed
down the iron ladder, pistol in hand.

"How about it?" came from the mate of the _Dogstar_.

"Stiff as corpses," was the brutal answer. "I tell you, that dope
did the business."

"Are any of them dead?" asked Dan Baxter, hoarsely.

"I don't think so," was the careless answer. "No, they are all
breathing," went on Pold.

Sack Todd came down, followed by the mate of the _Dogstar_, and all
gazed coldly at the four youths lying on the hard floor around the
machinery. Dan Baxter remained at the top of the ladder, shaking as
if with the palsy.

"How long do you calculate they'll remain in this condition?" asked
Todd, turning to Pold.

"Ten or twelve hours at least," was the answer. "And maybe they won't
get over it for twenty-four."

"Any bad effects?"

"Well, sometimes that dope paralyzes a man's tongue for six months
or a year."

"Phew! That's pretty rough."

"Once in a great while the paralysis doesn't go away at all."

"In that case, these boys will have it in for you,--if they ever get
their hands on you," said Sid Jeffers, with a wicked leer.

The men talked among themselves for several minutes and then agreed
to take the boys up on deck and place them in two of the staterooms
off the cabin.

"They'll have to have more air than here," said Gasper Pold. "Otherwise
they'll surely die on our hands."

Dan Baxter was called on to assist, and did so with his knees fairly
shaking together. He thought that our friends had surely drank of
the dosed water and were in a stupor next to death.

"And if they die, they'll say I was as guilty as the rest!" he groaned
to himself. "Oh, I wish I was out of this!"

It was no easy matter to get the three Rovers and Hans on deck and
to the staterooms. Here our friends were placed two on a berth, and,
for the time being, left to themselves.

"Boys, we have had a narrow escape," whispered Dick, when he at last
thought it safe to speak.

"That's the truth," came from Sam. "And we have Dan Baxter to thank
for it!" he added. "I can't understand that part of it."

"I think I can," answered Tom. "Baxter is bad enough, but he didn't
go in for poisoning us. I am glad to know he isn't quite so heartless
as that."

"Dem fellers ought to be all hung, ain't it!" was Hans' comment.

"The question is, What are we to do next?" asked Tom.

"That question is not so easily answered," returned his elder brother.
"I know what I should like to do."

"What, Dick?" asked Sam.

"I'd like to make all of the gang prisoners."

"Exactly!" exclaimed Tom, in a low voice. "But can it be done?"

"I don't know. For the present let us play 'possum and find out."

"Vot kind of a game vos dot possum?" asked Hans innocently. "I ton't
dink we got dime to play some games," he added, seriously.

"Dick means to lay low," explained Sam.

"Vot, lay under der peds?"

"No, keep quiet and watch out."

"Oh! All right, I done me dot kvick enough," said Hans, and fell back
on the berth and shut his eyes.

"You fellows keep quiet while I investigate," said the eldest Rover.
"It is so late some of the crowd may have gone to sleep. If so, we
may have a chance to capture the others first."

So it was arranged, and making certain that his pistol was still in
his pocket, Dick slid from the berth, tiptoed his way to the stateroom
door, and, opening it slowly and cautiously, peered out.

One look into the cabin of the _Mermaid_ told him the apartment was
empty. There were two more staterooms, connected, as were those the
boys were occupying. With a heart that beat rather violently, Dick
stepped to the door of one of these staterooms. From within came a
deep and regular snoring.

"Somebody is asleep in there," he mused. "Who can it be?"

With great care he peered into the room. On the berth rested one of
the sailors from the _Dogstar_ and on the floor rested the other,
both evidently much the worse for liquor.

The door to the second stateroom was wide open and Dick caught sight
of a form on the berth in there. It was Dan Baxter. The bully was
not asleep but was tossing about, as if in either mental or physical
distress. As Dick looked at him he suddenly started up, turned around,
and stared.

"Dick Rover!" he screamed. "Are you alive, or is it a--a ghost?"



CHAPTER XXVI

TURNING THE TABLES

"Be quiet, Baxter," said Dick, softly but firmly. "Don't you dare to
make another sound."

"I--I thought you were--were--asleep," faltered the former bully of
Putnam Hall. "That you--"

"That he had drank the poisoned water, eh?"

"Ye--es."

"We did not. We took your advice and left it alone."

"Then when they brought you up out of the engine room--"

"We were shamming, that's all. But I haven't got time to explain
everything, Baxter. Where are the others?"

"On deck, or down in the engine room, I guess--all but the two beasts
in there," and Baxter pointed to the overcome sailors.

"What brought you in here? Were you going to sleep?"

"Sleep! I--I couldn't sleep, Dick; honestly I couldn't!"

"Why?"

"Because I--I--But what's the use, you won't believe me." And Dan
Baxter hung his head for a moment.

"Maybe I will. Tell me why."

"I came away from them because I was sick of their doings, that's
why. I--I am sick of all of it,--sick in body and in mind, too."

"You didn't want to see us doped, as they call it?"

"No! no!"

"And that is why you warned us and gave us that good water?"

"Yes."

"Dan, you're a little bit more of a real man than I thought you were.
I thought you were willing to do anything against me and my brothers."

"Well, I was once, but now--But what's the use of talking, you won't
believe me. And why should you? I've been against you ever since we
first met."

"That's the straight truth, Dan, and you've done some pretty mean
and desperate things."

"I don't know why I did them, Dick--honestly I don't. Lots of times
I knew you and your brothers were right and I was wrong. But the Old
Nick got in me and I--well, you know how I acted. Now I'm an
outcast--nobody decent wants to have anything to do with me. Even my
own father--" Dan Baxter stopped short.

"See here, Dan, I haven't time to talk now," said Dick, after a short
and painful pause. "I didn't expect this of you. The whole question
just now is this, Are you going to fight or keep quiet?"

"Are you going to fight those others?"

"Yes, if it becomes necessary."

"I don't want to fight any more."

"Then will you keep quiet?"

"I will. But, Dick--"

"Well?"

"If you capture those men, are you going to hand them over to the
police?"

"Certainly."

"And hand me over, too?" And again Dan Baxter hung his head.

"Don't you deserve it?"

"I suppose so. And still I--er--I thought you might give me another
chance. Oh, that's what I want, another chance! You know how my father
has reformed. I want to reform, too. I want to go away somewhere and
begin all over again."

"Dan, come with me."

"Where to?"

"To the others. You can talk with them while I take a look on deck."

The former bully of Putnam Hall demurred but Dick insisted, and soon
the pair had joined Sam, Tom, and Hans.

"Talk to him," said Dick. "I'll be back soon," and then he left and
made his way up the companionway to the deck of the steam yacht.

His heart was in a strange tumult. That Dan Baxter should want to
reform was a surprise of which he had never dreamed. Could the former
bully be playing a part?

"He's sly enough," he reasoned. "And yet his eyes had a look in them
that I never saw before. He looked like a worried wild animal, that
doesn't know how to turn or what to do. He's down here all alone
among strangers, and evidently he has found out that Sack Todd and
the rest aren't his sort. Well, if he wants to reform I shan't put
anything in his way. But I am not going to give him too much rope--just
yet."

Having gained the deck of the vessel, Dick looked around cautiously.
It was a dark night, the stars being hidden by clouds. He crept along
slowly.

"Well, you'll have to give me a pointer or two about the engine,"
Dick heard Sack Todd exclaim. "I thought I knew how to run it, but
I reckon I was mistaken."

"Oh, why not let that go just now," growled the mate of the _Dogstar_
in return. "We've got to make sure of those boys first, and get some
sleep, too."

"It won't take but a few minutes to explain about the engine," said
Gasper Pold. "I ran one once for six weeks."

"Seems to me you have dabbled in a little bit of everything," observed
Sack Todd.

"So I have."

The three men were near the pilot house, but came away and started
for the hatchway leading down into the engine room. They had to pass
close to where Dick was crouching and the eldest Rover hardly dared
to breathe, so fearful was he of discovery.

Presently Dick saw the three men go down the iron ladder, one after
another. As they did this, a sudden idea came into his head.

"I'll do it!" he told himself, and sneaked forward with the silence
and quickness of a cat.

The hatch still lay beside the opening, with the hooks that had been
used to fasten it down. It was heavy and Dick wondered if he could
move and fasten it quick enough.

"I wish Sam or Tom was here to help me," he thought.

As he started to raise the hatch a sudden puff of wind made the mast
creak loudly. This alarmed the men below and Sack Todd started up
the ladder.

"We ought to have somebody on guard," he said, so loudly that Dick
heard him. "I don't trust that Baxter very much."

"All right," answered Gasper Pold. "You go to the cabin, and--"

He broke off short as a cry came from Sack Todd. The ex-counterfeiter
had caught sight of Dick as the latter was raising the hatch to drop
it in place.

"Hi!" yelled Sack Todd, and then let out a scream as the hatch hit
him on the head.

"Down you go!" answered Dick and leaped on top of the hatch to force
it into place. One of Sack Todd's fingers was caught and pinched and
he let out another yell. But he kept his footing on the iron ladder
and thus held the hatch up several inches.

"What's up?" came from Sid Jeffers.

"They are trying to shut the hatch! Help me!"

"What!" roared Gasper Pold, and sprang up beside the ex-counterfeiter.

"Tom! Sam! Hans!" yelled Dick, at the top of his lungs. "Help! Quick!"

He continued to call out and at the same time did all in his power
to force the hatch into place. He was sprawled on top, and no sooner
did he get one end down than the other bobbed up. Then he heard Gasper
Pold cry out:

"Look out! I am going to fire!"

"Don't hit me," cautioned Sack Todd.

"If you fire, so will I," answered Dick, "and you'll get the worst
of it."

"Hang the luck! We didn't disarm them!" muttered Pold.

By this time Tom was coming up on deck, followed by Sam. Hans was
told to remain behind, to keep his eyes on Dan Baxter.

As soon as Sam and Tom saw the situation they leaped to Dick's
assistance. Tom saw Sack Todd's shoulder under the hatch and gave it
a vigorous kick. This caused the man to lose his balance on the iron
ladder and he went down a step. At the same time Gasper Pold fired.

"Oh, I am hit!" groaned the ex-counterfeiter, and fell in a heap on
the head of Sid Jeffers. Then the hatch came into place with a thud
and in a twinkling the three Rovers secured it.

"We have them! We have them!" cried Sam, in delight. "Good for you,
Dick! That was a clever move."

"Run down and make certain that other door is fast," said Dick, and
away went Sam with Tom at his heels. They came back in less than two
minutes.

"It's fast," said Tom. "We've got them in as tight a box as they had us."



CHAPTER XXVII

DAN BAXTER'S REPENTANCE

The three Rover boys could scarcely believe their senses. Here they
were once more in full possession of the _Mermaid_ so far as the deck
and cabin were concerned--and those who had sought to make them
prisoners were prisoners themselves.

"This is where the biter got bit," remarked Tom. "Say, I feel so good
I could almost dance."

"Sack Todd got shot," said Dick. "I'd like to know if it is serious."

"Well, I am not very sorry for him," said Sam. "He's a thoroughly
bad egg."

"We want to make certain of Dan Baxter," went on the eldest Rover.
"He may fool Hans."

They walked toward the cabin and ran down the companionway. At the
lower doorway they paused and then Tom grinned.

On one side of the room was Dan Baxter with his hands in the air. On
the other side was Hans, with a pistol in each hand.

"Ton't dare to mofe," Hans was saying. "Of you do I vos put oxactly
fourteen shots into your poty, ain't it!"

"I am not moving," grumbled Baxter. "Didn't I tell you I am sick of
the whole thing, Dutchy? I don't want to fight, or anything."

"Tan Paxter, you chust remember dot old saying, beoples vot lif in
glass houses ton't got no right to tell fish stories," answered Hans,
gravely.

"Hans, that's a good one!" roared Tom, coming forward. "Say, you're
a whole regiment in yourself, ain't you?"

"Yah, I vos so goot like ten or sefenteen soljers, alretty!" answered
the German youth, proudly. "Paxter, he ton't got avay from me, not much!"

Hans lowered his pistols and Dan Baxter was glad enough to put down
his hands. Dick glanced into the staterooms and saw that the two
sailors were still sleeping heavily.

"We'll throw them down into the hold," said the eldest Rover. "That
will keep them out of mischief, when they awake."

"Vot apout dem men?" asked Hans, anxiously.

"All prisoners," answered Sam.

"Prisoners!" ejaculated Dan Baxter.

"Yes, Dan, they are prisoners, down in the engine room," answered
Dick. "We've given them the same dose they gave us."

"Then you are in possession once more?"

"Yes--as far as it goes. And I want to talk to you as soon as we've
disposed of these sailors," added Dick.

"Shall I help you carry them out?"

"Do you want to?"

"If you wish it."

"Mind you, I don't want any trick played, Dan."

"I won't play any trick, Dick--I give you my word."

"This is a serious situation and we don't propose to take any more
chances. We are on top and we mean to stay on top," added the eldest
Rover.

While Hans held a lantern, the three Rovers and Dan Baxter carried
the two sailors through the cabin and out on the deck. Tom was working
with the former bully of Putnam Hall and declared afterward that he
never felt so queer in his life. But Baxter worked with a will and
did his full share of lifting.

The hatch to the hold was not far off and the men were put down
without great trouble. Then the hatch was closed and fastened.

"Now, Dan, you are the only enemy we have who is at liberty," said
Dick, turning to the big youth. "I want to know exactly what you
propose to do."

"What I do will depend a good deal on what you do," was the somewhat
low answer. "I know I am in your power. But I'd like you to remember
one thing--about how I warned you not to drink the drugged water and
how I brought you some good water."

"I am not going to forget that."

"That's a point to your credit, Dan," said Sam.

"If it hadn't been for that I--er--I don't know where you'd be now.
As I said before, I've been pretty bad--but not quite as bad as that."

"Do you think we ought to let you go for what you did for us?" asked
Tom, who never wanted to beat about the bush.

"I don't know as you ought to do that--but I'd like you to do it.
I'd like to have the chance to go away--far away--and strike out
fresh. My father wants me to do it--he's written me three letters
about it. He wants me to go to the Hawaiian Islands, or the Philippines,
or to Australia. He says--but I don't suppose you are interested in
what he writes."

"I am," answered Dick, promptly.

"He spoke of what you did for him and he says I--well, I ought to be
ashamed to keep up the old enmity after what happened--after you
saved his life. I--er--I guess he's right--and I am sick of it all."

"Well, I hope you stay sick of it--I mean sick of doing wrong," said Sam.

"Maybe I will--I don't know and I am not going to promise. But I am
sick enough of being here, among such rough men as Sack Todd and
Gasper Pold and that crowd of counterfeiters that was captured. I
haven't had any real comfort for months."

"I don't believe a criminal ever feels real comfortable," said Tom.
"How can he, when he knows the officers of the law are constantly
after him?"

"There is something in that. When I go to bed I generally dream of
being caught and dragged to prison. And those men always wanted me
to drink, and I don't care much for liquor."

"Then cut it out--cut it out by all means," said Dick. "You can't do
better."

"And there is another thing," went on Dan Baxter. "I don't feel
well--everything I eat lately goes against me, and sometimes I'm in
a regular fever. I ought to rest somewhere, I suppose, and have a
good doctor attend me. But I can't do anything to make me feel better
chasing around like this."

After that Dan Baxter told a good deal more about himself--how he
had been knocking around in all sorts of questionable places and how
the dissipation had grown very distasteful to him. It had certainly
ruined his health, and his eyes had a hollow, feverish look in them
that made his appearance rather pitiable.

"You are certainly run down," said Dick, "and unless you take extra
good care of yourself you'll be flat on your back with some serious
illness. But the question still is, Dan, What are we to do with you?"

"I know what I'd like you to do."

"What?"

"Let me land somewhere where I am not known, so that the officers of
the law can't get hold of me. Do that, and I'll promise to go far
away and never trouble you again."

"I don't think that would be right," said Tom. "We might be willing,
but we can't assist a criminal to escape--that's a crime in itself."

"Then you won't let me go?"

"Tom is right, we can't do it, legally. Personally I'd be willing to
let you go," said Dick.

"So would I--if you really wanted to do better," came from Sam.

"Yah, I ton't stand in nopody's vay," added Hans. "I vos glad to see
a man make a goot poy of himselluf!"

There was an awkward pause. Twice Dan Baxter started to speak and
checked himself. They almost looked for one of his former wild
outbreaks, but it did not come. He hung his head low.

"All right--have your way," he whispered, hoarsely, and dropped into
a chair. "I am done fighting. I'll take my medicine, no matter how
bitter it is."

"Perhaps we can make matters a little easy for you," said Dick, in
a gentle tone. "I am sure none of us want to see you suffer--if you
want to reform."

"Of course we'll be easy," said Sam, and Tom and Hans nodded.

"Well, if you'll do--What's that?"

Dan Baxter broke off short and all in the cabin listened. There was
a thud and a crash, followed by another crash.

"They are trying to break out of the engine  room!" yelled Dick.
"Come, we must stop them!" And he started for the deck, and all of
the crowd went after him.



CHAPTER XXVIII

HATCHWAY AND DOOR

The news that the men were trying to break out of the engine room
was true. Gasper Pold and Sid Jeffers had gotten a long piece of iron
pipe and with this they were hammering at the hatch. One of the
fastenings was already off and the others much weakened.

"Stop!" cried Dick, rushing up. "Stop, or we'll open fire on you!"

"We are bound to get out and you can't stop us!" yelled back Gasper
Pold, and started to mount the iron ladder with a long wrench. This
instrument he placed under a corner of the hatch and began to pry
the wooden barrier upward.

"Not so fast!" sang out Tom, and rushing up he sprawled over the
hatch and caught the end of the wrench. "One good wrench deserves
another!" he muttered, his love of fun coming to the surface even in
such a pitch of excitement, and with that he gave the wrench a wrench
that brought it from Pold's grip and allowed the hatch to fall into
place.

"All aboard!" sang out Tom, and Dick, Sam, and Hans leaped on top of
the hatch. "Nothing like holding 'em down!"

"Let us up!" roared Sid Jeffers, and a moment later a pistol shot
rang out and a bullet came crashing through the hatch, but its force
was so spent it merely bounced against Han's trouser leg.

"I vos hit! I vos hit!" shrieked the German youth, dancing around.
"I vos a teat boy alretty!"

"Hans, are you really hit?" asked Dick, in alarm.

"Yah, but--I guess it ton't vos much," added Hans sheepishly, as he
realized that no damage had been done.

"Here, hold it down with this," cried Dan Baxter and came forward
with two capstan bars. These were placed across the hatch and the
four boys took their stations at the ends of the bars. Thus they
managed to get out of firing range of those below.

"This is certainly growing interesting," was Dick's comment, as there
was a moment's suspension of hostilities. "I hardly know what to do
next."

"If you don't let us up we'll blow up the ship!" yelled Gasper Pold.
He was in a terrible fury.

"If you blow up the ship, you'll go up with her," answered Sam.

"Gracious, vill da do dot?" asked Hans, in alarm.

"No, they'll not be so foolish," answered Tom. "They value their
worthless hides too much."

"You've nearly killed Sack Todd and we'll have you arrested for it,"
went on Gasper Pold.

"You'll be nearly killed if you don't look out," answered Dick. "We
are in possession and we mean to keep in possession."

"You can't run the boat without the engine."

"Yes, we can, for the sails are ready for use. We won't have to run,
though. By morning we expect to sight some other vessel and then
we'll get help."

"What have you done with those two sailors?" asked Sid Jeffers.

"Put them where they can't do any harm."

"Where is Baxter?" asked Pold.

"That is for you to find out."

"I am here," said the former bully of Putnam Hall.

"Helping that crowd?"

"Yes. I don't want anything more to do with you, or with Sack Todd
either."

"The young skunk!" muttered the mate of the _Dogstar_. "I told you
I didn't like his looks."

"Say, Dick Rover, let us talk this matter over," said Gasper Pold,
calming down a little. "If you'll be reasonable I am sure we can come
to terms that will be satisfactory all around."

"I don't think so."

"This craft is worth a lot of money, so the mate of the _Dogstar_
says, and there is no reason why all of us shouldn't make a neat pile
out of her."

"Do you want us to go in partnership with you?" asked Tom, in disgust.

"That's it, and if you will, we'll say nothing about your hurting
Sack Todd."

"Is he bad?" asked Sam.

"He is bad enough. We want to get out so that he can have proper
attention and medicine."

"Better give him some of that doctored water," suggested Tom, grimly.

"Don't get fresh, young man!"

"I think you are the one who is fresh!" retorted Tom. "Do you think
we are going to train with such fellows as you? Not much!"

"Then you won't make terms?"

"No," came from the three Rovers.

At this the men at the foot of the iron ladder muttered something
that our friends could not catch. The rascals were furious and wanted
to do some more shooting, but did not dare, fearing shots in return.

"Will you let Sack Todd have some water?" asked Pold, presently.

"There is good water in the bucket," answered Dick.

"That's gone."

"Then you'll have to wait until later for more."

"Todd has got to have water."

At this announcement the boys looked questioningly at each other.

"It may be true," said Dick. "I shouldn't want the man to die just
because we had refused him water."

"It may be a trick, just to get the hatch open again," put in Dan
Baxter. "If I were you I wouldn't trust them. I know that crowd better
than you do."

"You can have water in the morning," called down Dick. "In the meantime
you keep quiet and do what you can for Todd. If you don't keep quiet
you'll get the worst of it."

"Wait till I get my hands on you!" came in the hoarse voice of Sack
Todd. "I'll pulverize you!"

"He's a long way from being dead, by his voice," said Dick. "I reckon
he was playing off on us." And this was largely true. Sack Todd's
wound was painful but by no means serious.

It must be confessed that the boys hardly knew how to proceed. But
presently Dick remembered where he had seen some hooks and nails and
he sent Dan Baxter for these. When they were brought he calmly
proceeded to fasten the extra hooks to the hatch and then hook them
fast to the deck.

"What are you doing now?" yelled Gasper Pold, and when he was told
he muttered things I do not care to mention on these pages.

"Now, Sam and Tom, you remain on guard here, while the rest of us go
and secure that door below," said Dick.

"It is secure," said Tom.

"Yes, I know, but some extra cross bars won't do any harm."

"Want me to help?" asked Baxter.

"You can come along," said Dick, not altogether willing to leave the
former bully out of sight.

He hurried to the door in question, one leading from the back of the
engine room into something of a storeroom. The door was fastened by
two ordinary bolts.

"I'll soon fix that!" said the eldest Rover. "Dan, you hold the
lantern. Hans, bring that piece of board here."

The board was brought, and Dick began to nail it fast, directly over
the door. He had still another nail to drive when there came an
unexpected crash on the other side.

"All together!" yelled the voice of Gasper Pold. "Now then, with a will!"

Another mighty crash followed and then a third. With this the door
flew from its hinges, and over it came, hurling Hans flat on his
back. Then Dick found himself confronted by Pold, Jeffers, and Sack
Todd, each with a weapon ready for use.



CHAPTER XXIX

AN EXCITING TIME ALL AROUND

"We've got him! Down with him!" roared Sack Todd, as he leaped over
the fallen door and made a grab for Dick.

For the instant Dick did not know what to do, then he stepped backward
and at the same time attempted to draw his pistol.

"No, you don't!" yelled Gasper Pold, and aimed a blow at Dick's head
with an iron bar he carried.

Had the blow landed as intended, the eldest Rover might have had his
skull crushed in. But as the iron bar was descending Dan Baxter made
a quick jump to Pold's side, gave him a shove and hurled him flat.

"Stop it!" cried the former bully of Putnam Hall. "Do you hear? Do
you want to kill somebody?"

"So you're against us, eh?" yelled Sack Todd. "Well, we'll fix you!"

He tore a pistol from his pocket and started to aim it at Baxter.
But the latter was now on the alert and, whirling around, he caught
Sack Todd by the coat collar with one hand and with the other raised
the pistol up into the air. It went off, but the bullet merely plowed
its way into the woodwork of the ship.

By this time Hans had managed to scramble from beneath the fallen
door. The German youth had not been hurt very much but his "Dutch
blood" was up, and throwing prudence to the wind he sailed in
vigorously, hitting Pold a blow in the stomach with his fist, and
kicking the mate of the _Dogstar_ in the shin with his heavy shoe.
Then he caught hold of Pold's iron bar and began to wrestle for its
possession.

"You dink I vos noddings put a poy, hey!" he snorted. "I show you,
ain't it! You pig loafer!" And he ran Pold up against a partition
and got the iron bar directly under the rascal's throat so that the
fellow was in danger of strangling.

Sid Jeffers had now turned his attention to Dick, and blows were
given and taken freely between the pair. The noise made was considerable,
and this finally reached the ears of Sam and Tom.

"Something is wrong!" cried Tom. "I'll go and see. If you want me
back whistle as loudly as you can." And he was off like a shot.

The sight that met Tom's gaze at first almost stupefied him. He came
upon Sack Todd and Dan Baxter fighting hand to hand in a passageway
leading to the deck. Sack Todd had fired one shot which had grazed
Dan's left cheek. But now the youth had the man against the wall and
was banging his head against it again and again.

"You will shoot me, eh?" cried Baxter. "You're a villain if ever
there was one, Sack Todd. I am bad enough but I'm not as dirty and
black as you. Take that, and that, and that!"

"Hi! let up! You'll smash my head!" roared the ex-counterfeiter, but
Dan Baxter paid no attention until one blow caused Sack Todd to lose
consciousness and sink down in a heap.

Tom had already passed on and was in time to aid Dick. Coming up to
the side of Sid Jeffers he hit the mate of the _Dogstar_ a stinging
blow in the ear and then another in the chin. Dick at the same time
struck the rascal in the eye, and Jeffers staggered back, tripped
over the fallen door, and landed heavily on the floor. At once Tom
sat down on him, pulling out his pistol as he did so.

"Now keep quiet or something worse will happen," he said, and the
mate of the _Dogstar_ understood and subsided.

With the fall of Sack Todd, Dan Baxter turned back to aid the others.
He saw Sid Jeffers go down and then ran toward Hans.

"You might as well give up," he said to Gasper Pold. "They've got
the best of your crowd."

"Yes, and you helped them," said Pold, sullenly. "Just wait. I'll
fix you for this!"

The noise continuing, Sam had left his post and arrived on the scene.
He ran off for a rope and with this Sack Todd was bound hands and
feet. Seeing this, Gasper Pold and the mate of the _Dogstar_ retreated
again into the engine room.

"Put up that door!" cried Dick, and without delay it was raised and
put in place and then fastened in such a manner that it was next to
impossible to budge it. Then they ran on deck and fastened down the
hatch. After that they gave Todd their attention.

When he came to his senses the ex-counterfeiter raved wildly and
demanded that he be set free. He was particularly bitter against Dan
Baxter.

"I'll fix you," he said. "Wait till we get into court. I'll have a
fine story to tell about you." To this Baxter did not reply although
he turned very pale.

Seeing they could do little with Sack Todd, the Rovers decided to
put him down in the hold with the sailors and this was done. Then
the party with Baxter gathered on deck to discuss the situation.

"Talk about a strenuous night," exclaimed Tom. "I don't think it
could be more strenuous than it has been."

"Dan, I want to say right now that you have helped us a great deal,"
said Dick, turning to the big youth. "But for you we might have lost
that battle."

"Dot is so," said Hans. "You vos tone splendidly alretty!"

With two of the enemy in possession of the engine room, it was of
course impossible to run the machinery of the steam yacht, and this
being so our friends decided to wait until daylight before attempting
to make another move.

"It is after three o'clock," said Dick. "We may as well get what rest
we can. We can take turns at remaining on guard," and so it was
decided. But it must be said that nobody got much sleep, so great
was the general excitement.

While he was on guard Dick had a long private talk with Dan Baxter,
and for once the former bully of Putnam Hall opened his heart
completely. He had been knocking around "from pillar to post" so long
that he was utterly discouraged and scarcely cared what happened.
Since his father had reformed, and he had lost the companionship of
Lew Flapp, he had been traveling among strangers and not a one of
them had proved worth knowing, as he expressed it.

"I was a great big fool that I didn't turn over a new leaf when my
father did," he said. "I had a chance then to do something for myself.
Now I am so deep in the mud I don't know how I'll ever get out."

"I am certainly sorry for you, Dan--especially after what you did
for our crowd to-night. If you really want to turn over a new leaf
I am willing to help you all I can. But you know how the law stands--we
can't let you go after what has happened in the past. If you come up
for trial, though, I'll be as easy as I can on you, and I know the
others will be easy, too. Perhaps, as you are young, you'll get off
with a light sentence, and then you'll have a chance to reform after
that."

At this Dan Baxter hung his head.

"It's a terrible disgrace--to go to prison," he answered, in a low
tone. "But my father had to go through it, and I guess I am worse
than he is." He heaved a deep sigh. "Well, I'll try to stand it."

"If it gets as far as that, when you come out, Dan, you come straight
to me and I'll help you."

"Will you do that, Dick?" asked the former bully, eagerly, and for
the instant his face brightened.

"I will, and there is my hand on it," and then the two who had been
enemies for so many years shook hands. After that Dan Baxter continued
to talk about himself. He seemed anxious to unburden his heart, and
Dick allowed him to proceed and listened with interest to the recital.

As soon as it was daylight the Rovers, Hans, and Baxter went on deck
to decide upon the all-important question of what to do next. Dick
had inspected the sails and found them in trim for use, and presently
they set sail and once more the steam yacht was headed for Tampa Bay.
There was a stiff breeze blowing, and although the craft made no such
speed as when under steam she went along right well, and they were
all content.

About the middle of the forenoon they heard a thumping on the hatch
over the engine room. Pold and Jeffers wanted something to eat and
to drink, and wanted to make terms, but they told the rascals they
would have to wait until land or some vessel was sighted. They also
got a call from Sack Todd and the sailors who had revived from their
stupor, but decided to let these fellows wait also.

"The sailors have done us no harm," said Dick. "But a waiting spell
will do them good, after such a beastly spree."

It was one o'clock, and Hans was preparing dinner for all on deck
when Tom gave a cry.

"A small steamer is approaching!" he said. "Hadn't we better signal her?"

"By all means," answered Dick. "Let us steer directly for her, too."
And this was done.

The vessel approaching proved to be nothing more than a regular gulf
tug, carrying eight people. As it came closer Sam, who had a spy-glass,
gave a shout:

"What do you think! There are Fred and Songbird, and yes, there is
Harold Bird, too! Oh, how glad I am that they are safe!"



CHAPTER XXX

HOMEWARD BOUND--CONCLUSION

The report was true, the tug contained Fred, Songbird, and Harold
Bird, and as soon as these three made out who were on board of the
_Mermaid_ they set up a cheer. Then the sails on the steam yacht were
lowered and the tug came alongside. In a minute more Fred was scrambling
on deck, followed by the others.

"Alive! All of you!" cried Fred. "Oh, this is the best news yet!"

"And we are glad to see you alive too," cried Tom. "We were afraid
the _Mascotte_ had been lost."

"Well, we came close to it," said Songbird. "And when we got in to
port some of the passengers had the captain arrested for ill treatment.
But we didn't wait for that. We were wild to know what had become of
you, and so we chartered this tug and began a hunt. You were lucky
to be picked up by such a nice craft as this."

"We weren't picked up,--we picked ourselves up," answered Dick.

"Why, what do you mean?" asked Harold Bird, in puzzled tones.

"We found this steam yacht on the water deserted--not a soul on board."

"You don't mean it!" ejaculated Fred. "What's her name?"

"The _Mermaid_."

"Creation!" shouted Harold Bird. "Why, that's the steam yacht was
advertised in all the newspapers some weeks ago. She was missing,
and the club that owns her offered a reward of five thousand dollars
for information leading to her return."

"Well, we picked her up as a derelict," said Tom. "And we'll claim
salvage accordingly. But how did she disappear?"

"It's a long story. She was left in charge of an old man, and he went
off and got intoxicated. Then a storm came up and they found the old
man in a rowboat and the steam yacht missing. She must have blown
and drifted far away on the gulf. But it's queer she wasn't sighted
before."

"Maybe she was, but nobody thought she was deserted," said Sam, and
his idea was probably true.

Thus far Dan Baxter had kept in the background. When he came forward
there was more astonishment, and our friends had to tell about the
arrival of Sack Todd and the others, and of what had been done since.

"I want you to understand that Dan helped us a great deal," said
Dick, to Fred and Songbird. "He isn't the fellow he was. He has
changed so you would hardly know he was the same person. I think he
is really on the right track at last."

"It seems too wonderful to be true," was Fred's comment.

Dan Baxter was much interested in meeting Harold Bird, and while the
others were talking in one part of the deck he called the young
Southerner to one side.