"Dan, supposing Captain Langless doesn't come back," he exclaimed, loud
enough for Dick and his companion to hear.

"Doesn't come back!" ejaculated the bully. "Why, he's got to come
back."

"No, he hasn't."

"But I don't understand----"

"You know well enough that the Rovers tried to bribe the captain."

"Yes, but they ran away----"

"Perhaps it's only a bluff, Dan. The boys may have been taken to
another part of the island, from which Langless can transfer them to
the schooner later."

"What, and desert us!" groaned the bully.

"Yes, and desert us. I think we were foolish to leave the
_Peacock_ without taking the captain or Cadmus along. I won't
trust any of them any longer."

"Well, what shall we do, dad; go back?"

"It's too late now. The _Peacock_ has gotten under way long ago."

"Well, let us try to get on the track of the two boys. Perhaps we can
follow them up from the cave. If all of the footsteps point this way
we'll know the captain has been deceiving us."

Again the Baxters moved on, and so did Dick and Peterson. The way was
rough and made Dan grumble a good deal.

"We ought to have kept this game all in our own hands from the start,"
said the former bully of Putnam Hall. "We made a rank mistake to take
Captain Langless into our confidence."

"I won't care if only we make Anderson Rover pony up that money,"
answered the father. "I'm afraid the mine scheme will have to fall
through."

"What did you strike him for in cash?"

"Ten thousand dollars."

"You ought to have made it fifty."

"I wanted to get ten first and double that afterward. If I struck him
too high first I was afraid he wouldn't try to meet me, but put the
detectives on the track without delay."




CHAPTER XXIV.

AN ENCOUNTER IN THE DARK.


A little while later the Baxters reached the cave where Tom and Sam had
been held prisoners.

The sailor who had been left bound had long since been released, so the
place was deserted.

"Look out for snakes," said Dan. "We had better light torches."

This was done, for it was now dark under the trees.

Hiding in a thicket, Dick and Peterson saw the Baxters enter the cave.
The pair remained inside for fully quarter of an hour, and came out
looking much disappointed.

With torches close to the ground they searched for Sam and Tom's trail.

"Here are footprints!" exclaimed Arnold Baxter, at last. "They are not
made by men, either."

"They must be the boys'," answered Dan. "Come on, let us follow."

"It is very dark, Dan. I'm afraid we'll have to wait until morning."

Nevertheless, the pair passed on, and again Dick and Peterson came
behind.

Hardly three rods had been passed when Dan Baxter let out a cry as some
small wild animal dashed across the trail. The bully turned to run, and
discovered Dick ere the latter could hide.

"Dick Rover!" he gasped.

"Rover!" cried Arnold Baxter. "What are you talking about, Dan?"

"Here is Dick Rover! And that lumber fellow is with him."

"Impossible! Why, Rover, where did you come from?" And Arnold Baxter
came up, hardly believing his eyes.

"We were following you, Arnold Baxter," answered Dick quietly.

"For what?"

"To see what you were going to do next?"

"Have you found Sam and Tom?" questioned Dan quickly.

"Dan, be still!" thundered his father. "You are always putting your
foot into it."

"I reckon you chaps are fairly caught," put in Luke Peterson.

"Caught?" came from both, in a breath.

"Yes, caught," said Dick. "We did not follow you for nothing."

"Perhaps you are the ones who are caught," said Arnold Baxter, with a
sickly smile.

"Hardly," and Dick showed his pistol. "We are well armed, Arnold
Baxter, and will stand no fooling."

"We are armed, too--" began Dan, but his parent stopped him.

"Of course you came to this island on a boat of some sort," went on the
elder Baxter.

"How else could we come? The mainland is miles away."

"Where is your boat?"

"Not far off, and well manned, too," added Dick. "We came not alone to
capture you, but also the _Peacock_ and all on board."

At this announcement the faces of the Baxters fell, and Dan actually
trembled.

"Where is your boat?" repeated Arnold Baxter.

"As I just told you, not far off. The question is, will you submit
quietly, or must I summon help?"

"Submit to what?"

"Submit to being taken to our boat."

"You have no right to make me go to your boat."

"I'll be hanged if I'll go," growled Dan.

"And you may be shot if you don't go," answered Dick significantly. "I
know you well, and I shall take no further chances with you. Now will
you go or not?"

"I suppose, if we don't go, you'll bring some officers here to compel
us to do as you wish."

"Exactly."

"You may as well give in," said Peterson. "This island is not large,
and even if you try to run away you'll be found, sooner or later. The
_Peacock_ is probably already captured, and those on our boat will
see that no other boat comes near here until we have you safe on board.
The jig is up."

"I won't give in!" cried Arnold Baxter. "Come, Dan!" He caught his son
by the arm, and both turned and sped into the nearest brush.

It was dark, the torches having died low, and before Dick could shoot,
even if he wished to do so, the pair of rascals were out of sight.

"Stop!" said Dick to Peterson, who was for following them up. "We can
do nothing in the darkness. Let them go. To-morrow is another day. Let
us return to the _Rocket_ and take steps to capture the _Peacock_."

"Yes, and we must get back to Larry," said the lumberman.

It was no easy matter to find their way back to the treasure cave, and
they missed the direction half a dozen times. When they did get back it
was so gloomy in the bushes that they had to call out to Larry, in
order to locate him.

"Gracious! I was afraid you would never come back," said the youth.

"We've had quite an adventure," replied Dick, and related the
particulars.

Larry's ankle was somewhat better, and by leaning on both Dick and
Peterson he managed to hobble along to where the _Rocket's_ small
boat had landed them.

The steam tug was close at hand, and they were soon on board.

"Is the screw repaired?" was Dick's first question.

"Not quite, but it will be inside of half an hour," answered Jack
Parsons.

"Have you seen anything of the _Peacock_? She is sailing around
the island."

"No, haven't seen any sail since you left. We--"

A cry from the lookout interrupted the captain.

"Here comes the _Peacock_!"

The report was true, and all crowded forward to catch sight of the
schooner in the darkness.

The stars made it fairly light on the water and, as the schooner came
up close to the steam tug, Dick made out several figures on board.

"Ahoy, what tug is that?" came from the schooner.

"The _Rocket_" answered Parsons. "What schooner is that?"

To this there was no answer.

"What are you doing here?" asked Captain Langless instead.

"We are in trouble," returned Parsons, after whispering with Dick.

"What's up?"

"We've had a breakdown."

"Seen anybody from the island?"

"Why, we thought this island was deserted."

"So it is."

"Come up closer and give us a lift."

"Can't, we are behind time now."

Then, without warning, a Bengal light was lit on board of the schooner.
A large reflector was placed behind the light, which was thus cast on
the deck of the _Rocket_. At once Dick, Peterson, and the others
were exposed to the gaze of Captain Langless.

"Ha! I suspected as much!" roared the master of the schooner. "Sheer
off, Wimble, or the game is up!"

The helm of the _Peacock_ was at once thrown over, and she began
to move off. A stiff breeze caused her to make rapid progress.

"Stop!" cried Dick. "Stop, or we will fire on you!"

He had scarcely spoken when the report of a pistol rang out and a
bullet cut through the air over his head.

"Let that be a warning to you to leave us alone!" cried Captain
Langless.

Then the schooner increased her speed, the flare from the Bengal light
died out, and soon the _Peacock_ was lost to view in the darkness.




CHAPTER XXV.

BEACHING THE "WELLINGTON"


"How is this for a turn of fortune?" remarked Tom, as he and Sam stood
on the deck of the _Wellington_ and watched the shore of Needle
Point Island fading from view in the distance.

"It's all right, if only we can make those Canadians obey us," replied
the youngest of the Rovers. "They don't seem to like matters much. They
look dark and distrustful."

"I don't think they'll make trouble, Sam."

"Josiah Crabtree seems thoroughly cowed."

"Don't trust him. He is worse than a snake in the grass and he hates us
worse than poison."

The two paced the deck thoughtfully. Mrs. Stanhope was still in the
cabin, in the company of one of the sailors' wives, while the former
teacher of Putnam Hall also kept out of sight.

"This seems an old tub of a boat," went on Tom, a few minutes later. "I
wonder that Crabtree didn't hire something better. She just crawls
along, and no more."

"Probably he got the boat cheap. He always was the one to go in for
cheap things." And in his surmise the lad was correct.

It was not long before one of the Canadians took hold of a hand-pump
near the bow of the boat and began to pump the water out of the hold.

"Hullo, your old tub leaks, eh?" said Tom.

"Yees, heem leak some," answered the fat Canadian. "Heem want some
what-you-call-heem, tar; hey?" And he smiled broadly.

"Any danger of sinking?"

At this the Canadian shook his head. Then he went to pumping at a
faster rate than ever.

"I believe he is afraid," said Tom to Sam. "She must leak fearfully, or
he wouldn't pump up so much water."

"Well, the journey to the mainland won't last forever--that's one
satisfaction, Tom. I reckon the tub is good for that much of a run. I
don't care what becomes of her after we are ashore."

"Nor I. She can sink if she wishes, with Crabtree on board, too."

"Sink!" cried a voice behind them. "Is there danger of the ship going
down? I noticed that she was leaking yesterday."

It was Josiah Crabtree who spoke. He had just come up and he was very
pale.

"I guess she'll keep up a few minutes longer," said Tom soberly.

"A few minutes! Oh, dear! if we did sink what would become of us?"

"Why, if we did sink we'd sink, that's all."

"I mean, if the ship sunk what would we do?"

"You might wade ashore, if your legs are long enough."

"But this is no joking matter, Thomas. The lake is very deep out here."

"Then you had better find a life-preserver."

Josiah Crabtree gave something of a groan and moved away. He did not
know whether Tom was poking fun at him or not. Yet he did search for a
preserver--and in doing that he was wiser than the boys had
anticipated.

Presently the wind veered around and the yards came over with a bang.
The _Wellington_ gave a lurch, and there was a strange creaking
and cracking far below the deck. The Canadian pumped more madly than
ever, and shouted to his companion in French.

"Is she leaking worse?" asked Tom.

The Canadian nodded. Then the _Wellington_ gave another lurch, and
Tom noticed that her bow gave an odd little dip.

"Filling with water, I'll be bound," he muttered, and running to the
hatch he sounded the well hole. There were sixteen inches of water
below. Soon it measured seventeen inches.

"We've sprung a bad leak," he announced to Sam. "It looks as if we
might go to the bottom."

"Oh, Tom, you don't mean it!"

"Yes, I do."

"Can't we turn back? The island isn't more than two miles off. It may
be safer to go back than to keep on."

"Exactly my idea, Sam. I'll speak to the Canadian about it."

The fat sailor was still pumping, but his face was full of despair.

"De ship he go down," he gasped. "We drown in ze lake!"

"Better turn back to the island," returned Tom. "And lose no time about
it."

"Yees! yees! zat ees best. We turn heem back!"

The Canadian shouted to his companion, who was at the wheel, and then
left the pump to attend to the sails. At once Tom took his place at the
pump, at the same time calling to Sam to go down for Mrs. Stanhope.

"Tell her to come on deck," he said. "And find some life-preservers, if
you can."

"What of the rowboat?"

"It's as rotten as the ship, Sam. We'll have to swim for it, if this
tub sinks."

Sam disappeared into the cabin and Tom turned to the pumping. Never had
he worked so hard, and the perspiration poured down his face. Soon Mrs.
Stanhope appeared, her face full of fear.

"Oh, pray Heaven we do not go down!" she murmured. "How far are we from
land?"

"We have turned back for the island," answered Tom, hardly able to
speak because of his exertions. "We are not much more than a mile
away."

"A mile! And how long will it take us to reach the island?"

"About ten minutes, if the wind holds out."

The _Wellington_ was now groaning and creaking in every timber, as
if she was aware that her last hour on the surface of the lake had
come. She was, as Tom had said, an old "tub," and should have been
condemned years before. But the Canadians were used to her and handled
the craft as skillfully as possible. They, too, provided themselves
with life-preservers and, when Sam relieved his brother at the pump,
Tom did likewise.

As she filled with water the ship moved more slowly until, despite the
breeze, she seemed to merely crawl along. It was now growing dark and
the island was not yet in sight.

Sounded again, the well hole showed twenty inches of water. At this the
fat Canadian gave a long sigh and disappeared into the forecastle, to
obtain a trunk and some of his other belongings. Sam had already
brought on deck the things belonging to Mrs. Stanhope.

At last the fat sailor uttered a welcome cry. "The island! The island!"

"Where?" questioned the others.

The sailor pointed with his hand. He was right; land was just visible,
and no more. Then of a sudden came a crash and a shock which threw all
of those on board headlong.

"We have struck a rock!" yelled Josiah Crabtree. "We are going down!"
And in his terror he leaped overboard and struck out wildly for the
distant shore.

Sam was also ready, in a moment, to spring into the water, but Tom held
him back. The _Wellington_ settled and swung around, and then
sheered off the rock and went on her way. But it was plainly to be seen
that she could float but a few minutes more at the most.

"There is a sandy shore!" cried Tom to the Canadians. "Better drive her
straight in and beach her!"

"Good!" said the fat sailor, and spoke to his companion in French.
Then, as well as they were able, they brought the water-logged craft
around to the wind. Slowly she drifted in, her deck sinking with every
forward move. Then came a strong pull of wind which caught the sails
squarely and drove them ahead. A grating and a slishing followed, and
they ran up the muddy shore and came to a standstill in about three
feet of water.

"Hurrah! saved!" shouted Sam. "My, but that was a narrow escape!"

"Where is Mr. Crabtree?" asked Mrs. Stanhope anxiously. "Oh, do not let
him drown!"

They looked around and saw him in the water not a hundred feet away,
puffing and blowing like a porpoise.

"Save me!" he screamed, as soon as he saw their safety. "Don't let me
drown!"

"You're all right," returned Tom. "It's shallow here. See if you can't
walk ashore."

Josiah Crabtree continued his paddling, and presently put down his feet
very gingerly. He could just touch the bottom. Soon he was in a
position to walk, and lost no time in getting out of the lake and
coming up to the bow of the _Wellington_.

"Oh, dear, this is dreadful!" he groaned, with a shiver. "Throw out a
plank that I may come onboard."

"Thought you were tired of the old tub," said Tom dryly.

"I thought she was surely going down, Thomas. Please throw out a plank,
that's a good boy."

The Canadian got the longest plank at hand and, resting one end at the
bow, allowed the other to fall ashore, in a few inches of mud and
water. Then Josiah Crabtree came up the plank on hands and knees,
looking for all the world like a half-drowned rat.




CHAPTER XXVI.

CRABTREE JOINS THE BAXTERS.


"Well, we are no better off than we were before," remarked Sam, after
Josiah Crabtree had disappeared in the direction of the cabin and the
two boys had walked forward by themselves.

"No, we are no better off, but we have succeeded in rescuing Mrs.
Stanhope from old Crabtree's clutches, and that is something."

"True, but supposing we fall in the hands of the Baxters and Captain
Langless again?"

"Can't we hold them at bay, if they try to come on board this tub?"

"Perhaps. But we can't remain on board the _Wellington_ forever."

Now that the danger was over the lads found that they were hungry, and
called upon the sailors to bring out what food the craft afforded. They
made a hearty meal, in which Mrs. Stanhope joined. Josiah Crabtree was
not invited, and had to eat later on with the sailors and the one
sailor's wife.

"This wreck may throw us together for some time, Crabtree," said Tom,
later on, when he and the former school-teacher were alone. "I want to
warn you to behave yourself during that time."

"I know my own business," was the stiff reply.

"Well, you keep your distance, or there will be trouble."

"Can I not speak to Mrs. Stanhope?"

"When she speaks to you, yes. But you must not bother her with your
attentions. And if you try your hypnotic nonsense we'll pitch you
overboard," and so speaking, Tom walked off again. Josiah Crabtree
looked very black, nevertheless he took the youth's words to heart and
only spoke to Mrs. Stanhope when it was necessary.

By the time supper was over it was night and time to think of getting
some rest. The boys took possession of one of the staterooms on board,
and arranged that each should sleep five hours, Tom taking the first
watch. Mrs. Stanhope soon retired, and so did Josiah Crabtree and one
of the Canadians.

Tom found the fat Canadian, the man to remain on deck, quite a sociable
fellow, and asked him much about himself and how he had come to hire
out with Crabtree. He soon discovered that the Canadians were honest to
the last degree, and had gone in for the trip thinking all was above-
board.

"I soon see ze man haf von bad eye," said the Canadian. "I tell Menot I
no like heem. Now he has brought ruin on our ship."

The Canadian imagined that Crabtree had hypnotized the sailing
qualities of the _Wellington_ as well as cast a spell over Mrs.
Stanhope, and Tom saw no reason, just then, for saying anything to the
contrary.

"You must watch Crabtree," he said. "Don't let him get you in his
power. Stick by me and my brother, and you will be all right," and the
Canadian promised.

"But who vill pay for ze ship?" he questioned dolefully. "'Tis all
Menot and myself haf in ze worl'!" And he shook his head in sorrow.

"We will pay you well for whatever you do for us. The balance you must
get out of Crabtree." Then Tom gave the fat sailor a five-dollar bill,
and from that moment the pair were warm friends.

Feeling that Crabtree would not dare to do much as matters stood, Tom
did not take the trouble to arouse Sam when he turned in, and the
brothers slept soundly until some time after sunrise.

"Say, why didn't you wake me up?" asked Sam in astonishment. "You
didn't stay up all night, did you?"

"Not much!" answered Tom, and spoke of the Canadian, whose name was
Peglace.

"Well, what's to do?"

"I must confess I don't know. I suppose the Baxters and Captain
Langless are on the search for us."

"More than likely."

"Then we had better lay low until some vessel comes to rescue us."

"I don't think very many ships come this way."

"Neither do I, but we won't despair. Come, I'm hungry again," and they
stirred around to get breakfast.

An examination showed that the _Wellington_ was hard and fast in
the mud, and likely to remain exactly as she stood for an indefinite
time. Wading around in the water below, the Canadians reported several
planks broken and wrenched loose, and that immediate repairs seemed out
of the question,

"Ze ship ees gone," said Peglace sadly. "We air like zat man, what-you-
call-heem, Crusoe Robinson, hey?" And he shook his head.

"Well, I hope we don't have to stay as long on this island as Robinson
Crusoe remained on that other," remarked Sam. "Tom, I'm going for a
walk on shore."

"Can I go with you?" put in Josiah Crabtree humbly. "I am tired of this
ship's deck."

"All right, come on."

"I will remain with Mrs. Stanhope," said Tom. "Don't go too far, Sam."

Sam and the former teacher of Putnam Hall were soon over the side. The
boy came down the plank easily enough, but Crabtree slipped and went
into the water and mud up to his knees.

"Ugh! I am always unfortunate!" he spluttered. "However, since the
weather is warm, I don't think I'll suffer much."

At a short distance up the beach there was a headland, covered with
tall trees. Sam decided to make his way to this.

"I'm going to climb the tallest of the trees and look around," he said.
"You can go along, if you wish."

"I will go, but I cannot climb the tree," answered Crabtree.

To get to the headland they had to make a detour around a marshy spot
and then climb over a number of rough rocks. The exertion exhausted
Josiah Crabtree, and he soon fell behind.

Reaching the headland, Sam gazed around anxiously. He could see a long
distance to the north and the west, but not a sail was in sight.

"The _Peacock_ ought to be somewhere around here," he told
himself, and then, coming to a tall tree with low, drooping branches,
he began to climb to the top.

It was a difficult task, for the tree was a thickly wooded one and a
veritable monarch of the forest. But he persevered, and at last gained
the topmost branch.

Here the view of the island and its vicinity was much extended, and he
could see not only the bay where the _Peacock_ had been at anchor,
but also several other harbors.

"The _Peacock_ is gone!" Such were the first words which escaped
him. "She must have left the island altogether!"

With anxious eye he turned his gaze to the other harbors, and suddenly
gave a start.

"A steam tug! How lucky!" He had discovered the _Rocket_, which
was just getting up steam in order to follow the _Peacock_; the
screw being now repaired and ready for use.

As fast as he could he descended to the ground, his one thought being
to tell Tom of his discovery, and to either get to the steam tug or to
signal those on board, so that the tug might not leave the island
without them. He had noticed the black smoke curling up from the stack,
and knew that this betokened that steam was getting up.

"Sam Rover!"

The voice came from behind the rocks, like a bolt out of the clear sky.
Then Dan Baxter rushed forward, followed by his father.

Sam was taken off his guard, and before he could do anything the
Baxters had him by both arms and were holding him a prisoner.

"Let me go!"

"Not much!" came from Arnold Baxter. "Where are your brothers--I mean,"
he added, in some confusion, "where is Tom?"

"Find out for yourself, Arnold Baxter. Let me go, I say!" And Sam began
to struggle.

"Daniel Baxter, is it possible!" came in Josiah Crabtree's voice, and
he emerged from the brushwood. "What an extraordinary meeting!"

"I should say it was!" responded the bully. "Where did you spring
from?"

"Perhaps, Daniel, I can ask the same question."

"Is Tom Rover with you?"

"No, he is on a ship which is beached a short distance from here."

"Alone?"

"No, with some Canadians and--er--Mrs. Stanhope."

"Oh, I see! the same old game," growled the bully. "Anybody else on the
boat?"

"No."

"If that's the case we are in luck," came from Arnold Baxter. He gazed
at Crabtree sharply. "Do you know where this lad came from?"

"What do you mean?"

"He and his brother Tom escaped from us. We brought them here,"

"What! I thought they had followed me and
 Mrs. Stanhope."

"Hardly." Arnold Baxter proceeded to bind Sam's arms behind him. "Dan,
take him to yonder tree and tie him fast." Then he walked away to talk
to Josiah Crabtree.

The conversation which followed lasted for quarter of an hour. What was
said Sam could not make out. The boy wanted to get away, but was
helpless, and now Dan Baxter took away the pistol with which he had
provided himself. A little later the Baxters and Crabtree moved toward
the wreck, leaving him bound to the tree, alone.




CHAPTER XXVII.

HOW TOM WAS CAPTURED.


Tom was pacing the deck of the wreck in thoughtful mood when, on
looking up, he saw Josiah Crabtree coming back alone.

"Where is Sam?" he called out.

"Samuel wishes you to join him at the headland," replied Crabtree. "He
thinks a boat is coming around the other side of the island."

"Did you see it?"

"No, my eyesight is failing me and I had no spectacles along."

"Well, you can go back with me," said Tom, to make sure that the former
teacher should not bother Mrs. Stanhope during his absence from the
_Wellington_.

"I calculated to go back," responded Crabtree.

Telling Mrs. Stanhope that he would soon return, Tom left the wreck and
followed Josiah Crabtree around the marsh land and over the cocks.

So long as Crabtree was in front poor Tom did not anticipate any
treachery, consequently he was taken completely by surprise when the
Baxters fell upon him from behind and bore him to the ground.

"Don't!" he cried, and tried to rise. But Dan Baxter struck him a heavy
blow with a club, and then pointed the pistol at his head, and he had
to submit.

When he was a prisoner Josiah Crabtree came back, his face beaming
sarcastically. "The tables are turned once more, Thomas," he said. "We
are masters of the situation. How do you like the prospect?"

"What have you done with Sam?"

"We have taken care of him," answered Arnold Baxter. "And we'll take
good care of you after this, too."

Tom said no more, but his heart sank like a lump of lead in his breast.
The talk of a ship being in sight must be a hoax, unless Crabtree
referred to the _Peacock_.

The Baxters had a small bit of rope remaining, and with this they tied
Tom's hands behind him. Then he was made to march to where Sam was a
prisoner.

"What, Tom! you too?" cried the youngest Rover. And then he felt worse
than ever, for he had hoped that his brother might come to his rescue.

Both boys were tied to the trees, but at some distance apart. Then,
without delay, the Baxters and Josiah Crabtree hurried off toward the
_Wellington_. The Baxters had heard that the boat was not much
damaged, and thought that it might be possible to patch her up
sufficiently to reach the mainland, and to do this ere Dick Rover and
his party discovered them. For the _Peacock_ and Langless Arnold
Baxter now cared but little.

"She has left the bay," he said to Dan, "and more than likely has
abandoned us."

The Canadians were surprised to see Josiah Crabtree returning with two
strangers, and Mrs. Stanhope uttered a shriek when confronted by the
Baxters.

"I must be dreaming," she murmured, when she had recovered sufficiently
to speak. "How came you here?"

"We are not answering questions just now, madam," said Arnold Baxter.
"We wish to patch up this boat if we can, and at once," and he called
the Canadians to him.

As can be imagined, the sailors were dumfounded, especially when told
that the Rover boys would not be back, at least for the present. They
shook their heads.

"Ze ship cannot be patched up," said Peglace. "Ze whole bottom ees
ready to fall out."

Arnold Baxter would not believe him, and armed with lanterns he and Dan
went below to make an examination.

"What does this mean?" demanded Mrs. Stanhope of Crabtree, when they
were left alone. "What have you done with the Rover boys?"

"Do not worry about them, my dear," said the former teacher soothingly.
"All will come right in the end."

Then he began to look at her steadily, in an endeavor to bring her once
more under his hypnotic influence. But, without waiting, she ran off
and refused to confront him again.

"Follow me and I will leap into the lake," she cried, and fearful she
would commit suicide, he let her alone.

The examination below decks lasted nearly an hour, and was far from
satisfactory to Arnold Baxter. He felt that the _Wellington_ might
be patched up, but the work would take at least several days, and there
was no telling what would happen in the meantime.

"Dick Rover and his party are sure to find us Before that time," said
Dan.

"I am afraid so, Dan. But I know of nothing better to do than to remain
here."

"We might find the _Peacock_ and make a new deal with Captain
Langless."

"Langless is a weak-hearted fool, and I'll never trust him again. We
would have done much better had we hired a small boat which we could
ran alone."

"But what shall we do, dad?"

"I think we had best go into hiding in the interior of the island. We
can take a store of provisions along from this boat."

"Shall we take the Rovers with us?"

"We may as well. We can't let them starve, and by holding them
prisoners we may be able to make terms with Dick Rover and his
friends."

"That's an idea. I reckon Dick will do a lot rather than see Tom and
Sam suffer."

"To be sure."

"Where do you suppose Dick Rover and his friends are now?"

"Somewhere around the island, although I have seen nothing of their
boat."

By noon the Baxters had completed their plans and left the boat,
carrying with them a load of provisions wrapped up in a sheet of
canvas. They invited Josiah Crabtree to go with them, but that
individual declined.

"I cannot take Mrs. Stanhope along," he said, "and I will not desert
the lady."

"As you please," replied Arnold Baxter.

"What are you going to do with Tom and Sam Rover?"

"Take them with us. If you see anything of Dick Rover, don't say
anything about us."

"I don't wish to see Dick Rover," answered Josiah Crabtree nervously.

"If the Dick Rover party leaves the island, we'll come back," put in
Dan. "In the meantime, if I was you, I'd lay low."

Soon the Baxters were out of sight, and then Josiah Crabtree turned to
have another talk with Mrs. Stanhope, in the meantime setting the
Canadians on guard, to watch for and hail any passing sail which might
appear.

In his wandering on the island Arnold Baxter had stumbled across a
convenient cave near the headland where he had encountered Sam Rover,
and thither father and son now made their way.

The cave gained they put down their bundles, which included a quantity
of rope, and then started for the headland to bring in Tom and Sam.

The headland gained, a surprise awaited than. Both boys had
disappeared.




CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE BAXTERS TALK IT OVER,


"Tom, we are in a fix."

"So it would seem, Sam. Who ever dreamed of running across the Baxters
in this fashion?"

"We are in the hands of a trio of rascals now, for Crabtree is as bad
as the others."

"Perhaps, but he hasn't the nerve that Arnold Baxter has. What shall we
do?"

"Try to get free."

"I can't budge an inch. Dan Baxter took especial delight in tying me
up."

"I can move one hand and if--It is free! Hurrah!"

"Can you get the other hand free?"

"I can try. The rope--that's free, too. Now for my legs."

Sam Rover worked rapidly, and was soon as free as ever. Then he ran
over to where Tom was tied up and liberated his brother.

"Now, what shall we do?"

"I move we go after the people on that steam tug and get them to help
us rescue Mrs. Stanhope."

"That's a good idea, and the quicker we go the better."

Sam remembered very well in what direction he had seen the tug, and now
set a straight course across the island to the cove.

But the trail led over a hill and through a dense thicket, and long
before the journey was half finished both lads were well-nigh
exhausted.

"We ought to have followed the shore around--we would have got there
quicker," panted Tom, as he fairly cut his way through the dense brush-
wood.

"I hope there are no wild animals here."

"I doubt if there is anything very large on the island. If so, we would
have seen it before this."

So speaking, they pushed on once more. The woods passed, they came to a
swamp filled with long grass. They hurried around this, and then into
the forest skirting the lake shore.

At last the cove came into sight. Alas! the steam tug was nowhere to be
seen.

"She has gone!" groaned Sam. "Oh, what luck!

"I can't see a sign of her anywhere?" returned Tom. "She must have
steamed away right after you came down the tree."

"More than likely."

Much disappointed and utterly worn out, they cast themselves down in
the shade to rest. As they rested they listened intently, but only the
breeze through the trees and the soft lap-lap of the waves striking the
rocks reached their ears.

"I never thought a spot on our lakes could be so lonely," said Sam at
length. "Why, it's as if we were in the middle of the Pacific!"

"I trust no harm befalls Mrs. Stanhope, Sam. Perhaps it is our duty to
go back to her, in spite of the danger."

"I was thinking of that, too. But we are only two boys against two men
and a boy, and they are armed."

"I think the Canadians will prove our friends in a mix-up. They hate
Crabtree, for they half fancy he bewitched their boat."

"We might go back on the sly and do some spying."

"That is what I mean."

But they were too tired to go back at once, and spent a good hour near
the beach. Close at hand was a tiny spring, and here they procured a
drink of water and took a wash-up, after which they felt somewhat
better.

They were about to start on the return when Tom suddenly plucked his
brother by the sleeve.

"Somebody is coming," he whispered. "Let us hide."

They had scarcely time to get behind some brushwood when the Baxters
came into view, moving very slowly and gazing sharply around them.

"I don't see a thing, dad," came from Dan Baxter in disgusted tones. "I
don't believe they came this way."

"They certainly didn't go back to that old boat," replied Arnold
Baxter. "Let us take a walk along the beach."

"I am tired to death. Let us rest first."

So speaking, Dan Baxter threw himself on a grassy bank overlooking the
lake, and Arnold Baxter followed.

Both were out of sorts and did a large amount of grumbling. The father
lit a short briar-root pipe, while the son puffed away at a cigarette,

"I'd give a hundred dollars if a boat would come along and take us to
the mainland," observed the father. "I am sick and tired of this game
all through."

"So am I sick of it, dad. We made a mistake by ever coming East, it
seems to me."

"If I could get to the mainland I might make money out of it even so,
Dan. Anderson Rover may have sent that ten thousand dollars to Bay
City, after all. He thinks an awful lot of his sons, and won't want a
hair of their head harmed."

"So the money was to go to Bay City. You didn't tell me that before."

"I wanted to keep the matter secret."

"Who will receive it there?"

"A man I can trust."

"Oh, pshaw! you needn't be so close-mouthed about it," growled the son,
lighting a fresh cigarette.

"Well, the man's name is Cowdrick--Hiram Cowdrick. He comes from
Colorado, and used to know the Roebuck crowd."

"I suppose old Rover was to send the money in secret?"

"Certainly. I wrote him a long letter, telling him that if there was
the least effort made to follow up the money on his part the lives of
his sons should pay the forfeit."

"That's the way to put it, dad. I shouldn't wonder if old Rover sent
the money on."

"I'd soon find out, if I could get to shore. If I had the money the
boys could rot here, for all I care."

"Thank you for nothing," muttered Tom, under his breath. "Just you wait
till I have a chance to square accounts, that's all!"

"Hush!" whispered Sam. "They must not discover us." And then Tom became
silent again.

"Josiah Crabtree is in a fix, too," went on Dan, with something of a
laugh. "He don't seem to know what to do."

"Where is Mrs. Stanhope's daughter?"

"I don't know. If Crabtree marries Mrs. Stanhope, it will break Dora
all up."

"Well, that isn't our affair. But it is queer we should run together on
this island. We can--What is that? A sail!"

Arnold Baxter leaped to his feet, and so did Dan. Tom and Sam also
looked in the direction pointed out.

There was a sail, true enough, far out on the lake. All watched it with
interest and saw it gradually grow larger. Evidently the craft was
heading directly for the island.

"She is coming this way, dad!" almost shouted Dan.

"It looks so to me," replied Arnold Baxter, with increasing interest.
"And she isn't the _Peacock_, either."

"No, she's a strange ship--a sloop, by her rig."

The Baxters watched the coming sail eagerly, and it must be confessed
that the Rover boys were equally interested.

"If the folks on that boat are honest, they will surely help us against
the Baxters," murmured Sam.

"Just what I was thinking," replied his brother.

At last the vessel was near enough to be signaled, and, running to a
high rock overlooking the water, Dan swung his hat and a handkerchief
in the air.

At first the signals were not seen, but at last came a voice through a
speaking trumpet.

"Ahoy, there!"

"Ahoy!" shouted Dan. "Come here! Come here!"

"What's the trouble?"

"We are wrecked. We want you to take us off."

"Wrecked?"

"Yes. Will you take us off?"

"Certainly."

Slowly, but surely, the sloop drew nearer. She was a fair-sized craft,
and carried a crew of three. The men seemed to be nice fellows, and not
at all of the Captain Langless class. Soon the sloop dropped anchor
close in shore and the mainsail came down at the same time.




CHAPTER XXIX.

DORA STANHOPE APPEARS.


"So you have been shipwrecked?" said the master of the sloop, a young
man of apparently twenty-five, whose name was Fairwell.

"Yes," answered Baxter senior.

"Your own boat, or some large vessel?"

"Our own boat. We were out on a little cruise when we struck something
in the dark and our craft went down almost immediately. Fortunately we
were not far from this shore, or we would have been drowned. Where are
you bound?"

"Nowhere in particular. How long have you been on the island?"

"Since night before last?"

"All alone?"

"Yes."

"Had anything to eat?"

"Well--er--not much," stammered Arnold Baxter. "We found some wreckage
with some bread and a few cans of sardines, but that is all."

"Then I reckon you won't go back on a square meal?" laughed Fairwell.

"Indeed I won't!" put in Dan, bound to say something.

"We would like to get back to the mainland as soon as possible," went
on Arnold Baxter. "I am from Chicago, and must attend to some banking
matters. My name is Larson--Henry Larson of State Street."

"Well, Mr. Larson, we'll get you to the main shore as soon as we can;
that is, providing the lady who has hired this sloop is willing to go
on without stopping here. I reckon this young man is your friend?"

"He is my son. And you are--?"

"Randy Fairwell, at your service, sir. It's too bad you were wrecked,
but you can be thankful your life was spared. Seen anybody around here
since you've been ashore?"

"Not a soul."

"Nor any sail?"

"Nothing. It has been very, very lonesome," and Arnold Baxter shook his
head hypocritically.

Tom and Sam listened to this talk with keen interest. Tom now nudged
his brother.

"This has gone far enough," he whispered. "Those men seem all right and
I'm sure will prove our friends. I'm going to show myself."

"Wait till the Baxters go on board," replied Sam. "Otherwise they may
take it into their heads to run away again."

A few words more followed between those on the sloop and the Baxters,
and then the latter ran on the deck of the sloop by means of a plank
thrown out for that purpose.

Then Tom came forward, stick in hand, and Sam followed.

"Hold those men!" he cried. "Don't let them get away from you!"

Of course the men on the sloop were much astonished, both by the boys'
sudden appearance and by the words which were spoken.

"What's that?" called out Randy Fairwell.

"Those Rover boys!" ejaculated Arnold Baxter, and his face turned
white.

"I said, Hold those men!" repeated Tom. "Don't let them get away from
you."

"What for? Who are you?"

"Those fellows are rascals, and the father is an escaped prison-bird,"
put in Sam. "Hold them or they will run, sure."

"It's false," burst out Dan Baxter. "That fellow is crazy. I never saw
him before."

"I guess they are both crazy," put in Arnold Baxter, taking the cue
from his son. "Certainly I never set eyes on them before."

"Do not believe one word of what he says," said Tom. "His name is not
what he said, but Arnold Baxter, and he is the man who got out of a New
York prison by means of a forged pardon. You must have read of that
case in the newspapers last summer?"

"I did read of it," answered Randy Fairwell. "But--but--" He was too
bewildered to go on. "Where did you young men come from?"

"We were carried off in a schooner hired by these rascals and put in a
cave on this island. We escaped only after a hard fight."

"But why were you carried off?" asked one of the other men on board of
the sloop.

"These Baxters wanted to get our father to pay them money for our safe
return."

"A kidnapping, eh?"

"It's a--a fairy story, and these fellows must be stark mad!" cried
Arnold Baxter. "I give you my word, gentlemen, I never set eyes on the
chaps before. Either they are escaped lunatics or else their lonely
life here has turned their brains."

For a moment there was a pause; Sam and Tom standing at the end of the
plank, clubs in hand, and the Baxters on the deck of the sloop,
surrounded by the three men who had been sailing the craft. Those of
the sloop looked from one party to the other in bewilderment.

"Well, I must say I don't know whom to believe," said Randy Fairwell
slowly. He turned to the boys. "Who are you?"

"Tom Rover, and this is my brother Sam," answered the elder of the
pair.

"I never heard the name before," said Arnold Baxter loftily.

"They don't appear to be very crazy," put in one of the men, whose name
was Ruff.

"That's true, but they must be crazy or they wouldn't address my father
and me in this fashion," said Dan Baxter.

"They can talk all they please," retorted Sam. "But if you let them
escape, you will make a great mistake."

"Here is a fair suggestion," said Tom. "Take us all to the mainland and
to the nearest police station. The authorities will soon straighten out
this tangle."

"That certainly seems fair," muttered Randy Fairwell.

"I say these boys must be crazy," blustered Arnold Baxter. "If you take
them on board, the chances are they'll try to murder us."

"I don't want to sail with a couple of crazy fellows," put in Dan,
scowling darkly at the Rovers.

"We might keep a close watch on them," suggested Ruff.

"And keep a close watch on the Baxters," added Tom.

At this moment the door of the tiny cabin of the sloop opened, and a
girl came out, rubbing her eyes as if she had been taking a nap, which
was a fact.

She stared at the Baxters like one in a dream, and then gave a sudden
cry of alarm.

"Is it you!"

"Dora Stanhope!" ejaculated Tom and Sam in a breath.

Then the girl started and turned her eyes ashore. "Tom Rover! And Sam!
Where in the wide world did you come from?"

The Baxters fell back, almost overcome, and the father clutched the arm
of his son savagely.

"We've put our foot into it here," he muttered.

"Who would have supposed that she was on this boat?" came from the son.

"Do you know these folks, Miss Stanhope?" questioned Randy Fairwell.

"Yes, I know all of them." answered the girl, when she had somewhat
recovered from her surprise.

"Of course she knows us," put in Tom, "and she knows those rascals,
too; don't you, Dora?"

"Yes, Tom. But how did you come here?"

"It's a long tale, Dora. But just now I want you to help me bring the
Baxters to justice. They are trying to make out that they are all right
and that we are crazy."

"Crazy! The idea! Indeed, Mr. Fairwell, these boys are not crazy. They
are my best friends. They are Tom and Sam Rover, and they are brothers
to the Dick Rover I told you about."

"And what of these fellows?" questioned the master of the sloop.

"This man is an escaped prisoner, and this is his son, who is also
wanted by the authorities, I believe."

"Trash and nonsense!" stormed Arnold Baxter, hardly knowing what to
say. "This is simply a plot against us." He caught his son by the arm.
"Come, we had better be going, since we are not wanted here."

He leaped upon the plank and Dan came after him.

"Get back there!" roared Tom, standing at the outer end of the plank.
"Another step and I'll crack your head open, Arnold Baxter!"

And he swung his club in the air defiantly.

"Out of my way, or I will fire on you!" answered Arnold Baxter, and
started to draw his pistol.

"Oh, don't!" screamed Dora, and covered her face with her hands.

"We want no shooting here--" began Randy Fairwell, and then stopped
short in wonder.

For reaching down, Tom had suddenly given the end of the plank a
wobble. Before they could save themselves, the Baxters, father and son,
pitched with a loud splash into the lake.

"Good for you!" cried Sam. "If only they don't try to shoot when they
come up."

There was a commotion in the water and mud lining the shore, and slowly
the Baxters appeared to view, covered with slime and weeds, and both
empty-handed, for Dan had not had time to draw his weapon, and that of
the father lay somewhere on the bottom.

"Now do you surrender, or shall I do a little shooting?" said Tom
sternly, although he had no weapon.

"Don't shoot me, please don't!" howled Dan, his last bit of courage
deserting him.

The father said nothing, but looked as if he would like to annihilate
both of the Rovers.

Randy Fairwell turned quickly to Dora Stanhope.

"You are certain these people are bad?" he said.

"Yes, yes; very bad!" answered Dora, and continued: "You can believe
all the Rovers tell you concerning them."

One end of the plank still rested on the sloop, and Fairwell quickly
placed the board in position again.

By this time the Baxters were crawling out of the lake. Sam caught hold
of Dan while Tom tackled the father.

With a heavy boathook in his hand Randy Fairwell now ran ashore,
followed by Ruff.

"You had better give up the fight," said Fairwell to Arnold Baxter. "If
you are in the right, you shall have justice done to you."

"I will never give in!" growled Arnold Baxter savagely, and did his
best to get away. Seeing this, Sam let Dan go and started in to help
Tom. The struggle lasted several minutes, but Fairwell put an end to it
by catching Arnold Baxter from behind and holding him in a grasp of
iron, and then the rascal was made a close prisoner by being bound with
a rope.

"Now for Dan!" cried Tom, and turned around, to find that Dan Baxter
had taken time by the forelock and disappeared. It was destined to be
many a day before any of the Rovers set eyes on him again.




CHAPTER XXX.

HOME AGAIN--CONCLUSION.


"Dan is gone!"

"Which way did he go?"

"I don't know."

"He ran up the shore, in that direction!" called out Dora, pointing
with her hand.

Leaving Arnold Baxter in the grasp of Fairwell and Ruff, Tom and Sam
hurried off.

But Dan Baxter had disappeared in a perfect wilderness of rocks and
bushes and could not be located.

"Never mind," said Tom; "let him go, if he wants to remain on this
lonely spot."

All were soon on board the sloop, and Tom and Sam told their tale, to
which Dora, as well as the others, listened with close attention.

"Then my mother is safe!" burst out the girl. "Thank Heaven for that!"

"She was safe when last we saw her," said Tom. "I guess the best thing
we can do will be to get back to the wreck of the _Wellington_
without delay."

"Yes! yes! take me to my mother at once. I have been hunting for her
ever since she disappeared."

"But how did you happen to come here?"

"I found out that Josiah Crabtree had hired the _Wellington_, and
day before yesterday we ran across a steamboat which had sighted the
schooner headed in this direction."

"How did he get her away in the first place?"

"We were stopping at a hotel in Canada and I went out to do some
necessary shopping. When I got back my mother was gone. She had
received a bogus note, written I presume by Crabtree, asking her to
come to me at once, as I had been taken sick in one of the stores. I
immediately hired a detective, Mr. Ruff here, and we tracked Mr.
Crabtree to the lake."

"Good for you, Dora,--a man couldn't have done better," cried Sam so
enthusiastically that Dora had to blush.

"But now I want to get to mother without further delay."

"Let us set sail at once, then," said Tom. "The distance to the wreck
is not over two miles."

Without delay the anchor was hoisted, the mainsail set, and the sloop
left the shore. She was a trim-built craft, and under a good breeze her
bow cut the shining waters of the lake like a knife.

The only one on the boat who was not in good humor was Arnold Baxter.
When he got the chance he called Tom Rover to him.

"Rover, what do you intend to do with me?" he asked.

"We intend to hand you over to the authorities."

"You are making a great mistake."

"I'll risk that."

"If you'll let me go I'll promise to turn over a new leaf, and, more
than that, I'll help your father to make a pile of money out of that
mine in Colorado."

"Your promises are not worth the breath they are uttered in, Arnold
Baxter. You belong in prison, and that is where you are going."

At this Baxter began to rave and utter words unfit to print. But Tom
soon stopped this.

"Keep a civil tongue in your head, or we'll gag you," he said, and then
Baxter relapsed into sullen silence.

The breeze was favorable, and it was not long before the sloop rounded
a point of the island and came in sight of the _Wellington_.

"Let us surprise old Crabtree," suggested Sam. "We can keep out of his
sight until the last moment."

Tom was willing, yet Dora demurred, wishing to get to her mother as
soon as possible. Yet, as they drew closer, the girl stepped behind the
cabin for a minute.

"A ship!" cried Peglace, who was on watch on deck. "A ship at last, and
coming to shore!"