"That's what Dick said."
As but little steam was needed Sam had no call to urge on his fire beneath the boiler, and he and Tom sat down near the speaking tube, to talk occasionally to Dick.
Thus two hours went by. Nobody had the least desire to go to sleep, even though the long swim had made each boy rather tired. The fury of the elements made them nervous.
"This puts me in mind of the time we were on the Pacific," called down Dick through the speaking tube. He referred to the adventures they had had as related in "The Rover Boys on Land and Sea."
"Well, we don't want to be cast away on a lonely island as we were then," said Sam.
"There are no islands around here," answered Tom. "I looked on the chart to make sure."
"In that case we can't hit anything. I am thinking—"
"Back her!" yelled Dick, through the speaking tube, and then jingled the bell.
Tom leaped for the engine and reversed it. There was a pause, and they felt the steam yacht swing half around. Then, after a wait, Dick ordered the speed ahead.
"What was wrong?" asked Tom, at the tube.
"Light right ahead," was the answer. "We cleared it by fifty feet.But I was scared, I can tell you that."
"What kind of a light?"
"A steamer—tramp, I reckon. She's way behind now."
Sam ran on deck to get a view of the stranger, but the fury of the storm shut out the sight.
"I suppose you didn't see much of her, Dick," he said, going into the wheelhouse.
"I saw enough," was the grim response. "I thought we were going to have a smashup sure, and I reckon the other pilot thought the same."
"Did you see anybody on board?"
"Not a soul. She came up like a ghost, with only two lights showing, and by the time I had backed and turned she was gone. But it nearly gave me nervous collapse," added the amateur pilot.
The wind was now so heavy that it sent the rain against the pilot house in solid sheets. Dick could not see ahead at all and he requested Sam to go to the bow, to keep the best lookout possible.
"If you see anything wrong yell to me," he said. "And be careful that you don't tumble overboard." And then he spoke to Tom through the tube and asked the amateur engineer to play fireman also for the time being.
Wrapped in the raincoat, and with a cap pulled far down over his head, Sam took up his station near the bow, clinging to the rail for protection. He knew their safety depended in good part on keeping a sharp lookout and he eyed the darkness ahead closely. So far there had been little lightning and scarcely any thunder, but now the rumbling increased until there came a crash and a flare that made all on theMermaidjump.
"Did that hit us?" yelled Tom up the tube.
"No, but it was pretty close," answered Dick,
"Where is Sam now?"
"At the forward rail. I can see nothing from the wheelhouse."
"If it gets much worse you had better come below and let the boat run itself, Dick."
"I can't do that, Tom—I must stick to my post."
Another half-hour went by, and there was no let up in the fury of the storm. Poor Sam was almost exhausted and, tying the wheel fast for the time being, Dick went to him.
"Better come in," he said. "If you'll take the wheel I'll stay out here. Just keep her straight before the storm."
"All right," panted poor Sam, and made his way back to the wheelhouse step by step, and holding on to whatever was handy, to keep from being swept overboard.
Sam had interested himself in steering from the start and knew how to handle a wheel moderately well. He looked at the compass and saw that they were running almost due east, varying a little to the southward. He untied the wheel and kept to the course with but little trouble.
"Dick has gone on the lookout," he explained to Tom. And then he added: "You've got the best job to-night."
"I'd come up, if you could run the engine," was Tom's reply.
"No, you had better attend to that, Tom."
"Doesn't the storm seem to be letting up?"
"Not a particle. If anything it is growing worse."
"It must be a hurricane."
"It is—or next door to it," answered the youngest of the Rovers.
The thunder and lightning appeared to draw closer, until the steam yacht was literally surrounded by the electrical display. The flashes of lightning were so blinding that, for the moment afterward, neither Sam nor Dick could see anything. Sam tried to keep the windows of the pilot house fairly clean, but the effort was a dismal failure.
Presently came one awful flash and crash that caused Sam to sink back in a heap on one of the pilot-house cushions. He felt that the steam yacht must have been struck and every nerve in his body tingled and quivered. Only after a strong effort was he able to pull himself together and clutch the wheel once more.
"Dick must have felt that," he murmured. "I wish—"
Another flash of lightning, but less vivid, interrupted his meditations.He looked out of the front window towards where Dick had been standing.Then he gave a cry of alarm.
His big brother had disappeared!
Had the lightning struck Dick and knocked him overboard?
Such was the terrifying question which Sam asked himself as he stared out of the pilothouse window into the darkness before him. Another flash of lightning lit up the scene and he made certain that his big brother was nowhere in sight.
"Tom! Tom!" he yelled down the tube, frantically.
"What now, Sam?"
"Dick is gone—struck by lightning, I guess. Come up!"
At this alarming information Tom left the engine room at a bound and came on deck almost as soon as it can be told. He met Sam running toward the bow.
"Where was Dick?" he screamed, to make himself heard above the roaring and shrieking of the wind.
"At the forward rail, on the lookout. He was standing there just before that awful crash came, and I haven't seen him since."
No more was said by either, but holding fast to whatever came to hand, the two Rovers worked their way forward until they reached the rail where Dick had been standing. They now saw that the foretopmast had come down, hitting the rail and breaking it loose for a distance of several feet.
"The mast must have hit Dick and knocked him overboard," said Tom, with a quiver in his voice.
"Oh, Tom!" Sam could say no more, but his heart sank.
The two boys stared around helplessly, not knowing what to do. Dick was very dear to them and they could not bear to think that he was lost, and forever.
Suddenly, as another flash of lightning lit up the scene, Sam caught sight of something dark lying just a few feet away. He rushed over, to see Dick lying in a heap, his head under his forearm.
"Dick! Dick!" he cried. "Are you killed?"
There was no answer, and now both Tom and Sam knelt beside their brother and raised him up. His face was pale and the blood was flowing from a cut over the left temple.
"The topmast hit him when it came down," said Tom. "Let us carry him to the cabin."
They raised their brother up and, not without difficulty, took him to the companionway and down to the cabin. Here they placed him on the couch and Sam got some water and bathed his wounded forehead. They saw he was not dead but unconscious from the blow received.
"I must look to the engine,—I don't want theMermaidto blow up," said Tom, and rushed off,—to get back in less than three minutes. By this time Dick was gasping and groaning, and soon he opened his eyes.
"Dick," said Sam, softly. "Don't worry, you are safe."
"Sam! Th—the mast came down on m—me!"
"We know it. We found you in a heap on the deck. I was afraid you had been knocked overboard. It was that awful flash of lightning did it, I think."
"Yes."
Dick could say little more just then and did not try. Sam and Tom made him as comfortable as possible and found he had suffered only from the fall of the topmast and not the lightning stroke itself.
"If Hans felt a little better he might look after Dick, but he is still as sick as ever," said Tom. "He declares we are all going to the bottom and he doesn't care if we do!"
"That's the way with folks who are real seasick," answered Sam. "They feel so utterly miserable they don't care what happens."
Leaving Dick on the couch in the cabin, Sam returned to the wheelhouse and Tom to the engine room. The steam yacht had been drifting and the waves were dashing over a portion of her deck. As quickly as possible Sam brought the craft around and now headed her up to the storm, which made her ride better than ever.
For some reason neither Sam nor Tom thought of the disagreeableness of the situation after that. Both were overjoyed to think that Dick had escaped serious injury. The foretopmast lay on the forward deck still, but as it was not in the way it was allowed to remain there for the time being.
Thus the whole of the night wore away, and with the coming of morning the storm gradually died down. But the waves still ran high and it was noon ere the sun came out, to cheer them up.
"I am thankful that is over," said Sam, breathing a deep sigh of relief. "I never want to go through such a night again."
"Nor I," answered Tom. "It takes all the fun out of a chap."
Dick got up, a handkerchief tied around his forehead. He still felt a trifle weak but that was all.
"I will take the wheel," he said to Sam. "If you want to do something you can get breakfast—and be sure and make plenty of hot coffee, for we need it to make us less sleepy."
As the storm went down, Hans came forth from his stateroom, pale and so woebegone that Tom had to turn away to hide a smile.
"Vos dot storm ofer alretty?" asked Hans, sinking in a chair.
"Just about," answered Dick.
"Oh, such a night, Dick! I ton't forgot him of I lif a dousand years, ain't it!"
"We shan't forget it either, Hans."
"Dick, I durn me insides owit more as fifty dimes, yes!" went on theGerman youth, earnestly.
"We've had our own troubles too," said the eldest Rover, and then related what had occurred. Hans was glad Dick had escaped falling overboard but was still too weak to take a great deal of interest.
The wheel was lashed fast and the engine slowed down, and all hands went to breakfast. It was by no means an elaborate meal, yet it made all but Hans feel much better. The German youth had little appetite and ate sparingly.
"Der kvicker ve git py land on der besser vill I like him," said he.
"Maybe you won't be seasick after such a dose," said Sam, hopefully.
During the night all of the Rovers had become more or less soaked and they were anxious to find a complete change of clothing, so that their own might be thoroughly dried.
"Sam, you can hunt around for some things," said Dick. "I'll go back to the wheel and you, Tom, had better go back to the engine. Hans, will you help Sam?"
"Sure I vill dot," answered the German boy.
Sam knew where there were several lockers containing both outer clothing and underwear and he proceeded to these, followed by Hans. They soon had one locker open and hauled forth what it contained.
"This underwear will about fit Dick and Tom," he said. "It's rather big for me, though."
"Vell, maype der udder closets got someding schmaller in dem," suggested Hans, and opened up a second locker.
Here they found a variety of things, including socks, shoes, collars, cuffs, and even fancy neckties.
"Whoever was on board of this steam yacht left everything behind him when he went away," was the comment of the youngest Rover.
They next opened a locker filled with outer clothing, including linen coats and panama hats. As the weather was growing warmer this just suited the boys.
"Hello, here is a pretty big suit," observed Sam, hauling it forth and holding it up. "The man who wore that must have been a pretty large fellow. Even Dick would get lost in that suit."
"Dot's so!" exclaimed Hans. "Vait, I try on dot coats. Ha! Ha! Ain't he schmall alretty!" And Hans began to roar, for the coat came to his knees and the sleeves hid his hands from sight.
"You've got to grow, Hans, before you can fill that," said Sam, laughing.
"Vell, maype I grow some day."
"You will if you eat plenty of sauerkraut and Limburger cheese," andSam grinned broadly.
"I vos eat vot I blease, Sam Rofer!"
Hans took off the coat and in doing so turned the garment over. From out of one of the pockets there fell a flat cardcase of red morocco leather.
"Hello, you've dropped something, Hans."
"So I tit," answered the German youth, and flinging aside the coat he picked up the leather cardcase.
"Has it got any cards in it?" questioned Sam, with sudden interest.
"Dot vos vot I vos going to see. Now vait, I vill oben him," went onHans, backing away as the youngest Rover reached out for the case.
"Well, do hurry, Hans! You are so slow!" cried Sam, impatiently.
"Vot's der use of hurrying ven you got lots of dime, hey?"
"I want to see what is in the case."
"Maype der tont been noddings in him."
"Hans, will you open it, please?"
"Yah."
"Well, then, do so."
With great deliberation the German youth opened the leather cardcase. Out of it fluttered a small card photograph. Sam picked it up, gave one look, and let out a cry of astonishment.
"Well, I never!"
"Who is it?" questioned Hans, trying to gain possession of the photograph, but instead of answering Sam started from the cabin.
"I must show this to Dick and Tom!" he cried. "Come along."
"Yah, put—" began the German boy, and then stopped, for there was nobody to talk to, Sam being already out of sight.
"Dick, look what I found," cried the youngest Rover, as he dashed into the pilot house.
"A fortune?" asked Dick, with a smile.
"No, a picture. Just look!"
Dick did as requested and gave a start.
"You found this on the yacht?" he cried. "Yes. In the pocket of a big coat hanging in one of the lockers. It was in a cardcase."
"This is certainly queer. It looks exactly like Harold Bird, doesn't it?"
"It certainly is Harold. I wonder—Oh, look!"
Sam had turned the picture over. On the back were these words, written in a strong, masculine hand:
To father, from Harold. Merry Xmas!
"Why, Harold must have given this to his father," said Dick, thoughtfully.—"And if so—"
"Do you think the coat belonged to Mr. Bird?" broke in Sam.
"Perhaps. Did you find anything else?"
"Ve titn't look," came from Hans, who stood in the doorway. "So dot vos a picture of Harold Pird, alretty! Dot vos kveer!"
"It is astonishing," said Dick. "Sam, see if you can find anything else."
Sam went back and Hans with him, and while they were gone Dick, through the speaking tube, acquainted Tom with the discovery made.
"Maybe Mr. Bird was on this steam yacht," called up Tom.
Sam and Hans went over the stuff in the lockers with care. They found some cards bearing the name of James Morrison and a short note about a meeting of a yacht club addressed to Barton Knox.
"Those men must have been on theMermaid," said Sam. "Perhaps they were part owners. Frequently several men or a whole club own a yacht like this in common."
"Vell, she ton't vos a common poat," was Hans' comment. "She vos a peauty."
Sam was on the point of giving up the search when he saw something sticking from a crack next to the wall. He pulled the object forth and saw it was the photograph of a big, heavy-set man with rather a handsome face. He turned it over and gave a short gasp, for on the back was written in pencil:
Sharwell Lee Bird, Murderer.
"What a horrible thing to write!" murmured the youngest Rover. "It makes a fellow shiver to read it!"
"Of he killed dot man ven he vos hunting he vos sure a murderer, Sam."
"Not exactly, Hans; he didn't mean to shoot the fellow. It was accidental."
"Yah, put der mans vos teat, ain't it!"
"Yes, and the death of the poor fellow drove Mr. Bird insane. I must show this to Dick, and to Tom, too."
Sam took the second picture, and all on board the steam yacht discussed the discovery for some time. But they could reach no conclusion saving that Mr. Bird had likely been on the vessel at one time and had left his coat and the two pictures behind him.
"Perhaps he was on this vessel after he disappeared from Kingston," said Tom. "If so, the question is, Where did he go after that?"
"We must tell Harold of this, the first chance we get," said Sam.
"Providing he is alive," answered Dick. "Remember, we are not at all sure that theMascotteoutlived that crash in the fog."
The middle of the afternoon found theMermaidsteaming on her course at a good rate of speed. Tom had now become fairly familiar with the engine and he allowed the steam to run up some pounds higher than before. Hans fell to tending the fire and Sam took turns with Dick at the wheel.
"We ought to sight some kind of land by to-morrow," said the eldest Rover. "But of course there is no telling where we will fetch up, exactly."
"Somewhere on the coast of Florida, and not very many miles from Tampa Bay, I reckon," returned Sam. "By the way, Dick, don't you think the rascals on theDogstarhave had ample time in which to make their escape?"
"Perhaps so. But the storm may have crippled them, and we may overtake them even yet. A sailing vessel can't make the speed a steamer or a steam yacht can."
Twice during the afternoon they saw vessels at a distance, one a steamer and the other a bark, and both bound westward. Neither came close enough to be hailed and our friends did not think it wise to raise any signals of distress.
"The yacht is running all right now," said Dick. "We may as well take her into port and get the salvage money. The amount will be a good round sum."
"Do you know, I shouldn't mind owning a steam yacht like this myself," said Tom, to whom he was speaking. "Couldn't we take some dandy trips, off the coast of New England and elsewhere!"
"We certainly could, Tom. But you must remember that we ought to go back to school. If we don't, we'll never get through. It's about time I was thinking of college."
"I hate to think of leaving Putnam Hall, Dick. Why, the place is just like a second home to me!"
"It is to all of us. But we are growing older and must either go to college or get into business."
The sun was setting when Dick went on deck again. Hans was preparing supper and Sam was at his station in the pilot house. The waters of the gulf were growing calm and the scene was a beautiful one.
"This is something like," remarked the eldest Rover, as he drew in a deep breath of fresh air. "Doesn't look like the storm of last night, eh, Sam?"
"No, Dick, this is just splendid."
"What's that ahead?" asked the big brother, casting his eye on a dark speck directly in the track of the steam yacht.
"I don't know—I didn't see it before."
The object, whatever it was, was a long way ahead, and by the time they drew closer it was too dark to see clearly. But Dick saw enough to make him cry out in astonishment:
"A rowboat, and full of men!"
The eldest Rover was indeed right, it was a large rowboat and it contained six persons, four of whom were at the oars and the others in the stern. The rowboat contained in addition a keg of water and several small boxes and tins.
"Ship ahoy!" came hoarsely over the water, as the steam yacht drew closer to the small craft.
"Ahoy!" called back Dick, and ran forward, while Sam signaled to Tom to stop the engine.
"Can you take us on board?" was the question from a man in the rowboat."We've lost our ship and we are played out."
"Certainly we can take you on board," answered Dick. "Wait a minute, and I'll throw you a rope ladder."
"Thank you very much!" called back the man.
The steam yacht was brought to a standstill and the ladder thrown out. Soon the rowboat came tip to the ladder, and one after another those aboard the small craft mounted to the deck of theMermaid. The three Rovers and Hans were at hand to see who they were.
"Dan Baxter!"
"Sack Todd!"
Such were the cries that came from Sam and Tom. Two of the new arrivals were indeed the persons named, and a third was Gasper Pold.
"Did you come from theDogstar?" demanded Dick.
"We did," answered Dan Baxter, sullenly. Evidently he was much chagrined over this unexpected meeting.
"Have you been following us in this steam yacht?" asked Sack Todd, with a sickly grin on his hard face.
"We were certainly following you," answered Tom. "But we didn't start out in this vessel. We—"
"Tom!" said Dick, warningly, and then Tom shut up instantly.
"Who's the captain here?" demanded one of the men from the rowboat.
"I suppose I am, for the present," answered Dick.
"You!" And the man, a burly fellow, took a step back in astonishment.
"Yes. Who are you?"
"I am Sid Jeffers, first mate of theDogstar. We sprung several bad leaks in that storm last night and made up our mind the schooner was going down. So we got out the boats and I and two men and these three chaps manned one of them. We lost sight of the ship in the dark,—and here we are. We're mighty hungry and we'd like something to eat. And if you've got any liquor on board let us have it by all means," concluded Sid Jeffers.
It was plainly to be seen that the first mate of theDogstarwas in no wise an agreeable person to meet, and the Rovers and Hans were sorry that he and the others had come aboard the steam yacht. The two sailors from the lumber schooner were also rough men and probably under the thumb of the mate.
"We can give you what is on board of theMermaid," said Dick, a little stiffly. "I have not looked for liquor, so I can't say if there is any on the vessel or not."
"Captain, and don't know what's aboard!" exclaimed Sid Jeffers.
While he was speaking Sack Todd and Dan Baxter had been looking around the deck in the semi-darkness.
"Where are the rest of the people on this boat?" demanded the ex-counterfeiter.
"I don't see anybody," declared Dan Baxter. "Say, do you know whatI think?" he cried suddenly. "I think these fellows are all alone!"
"Humph!" muttered Sack Todd. "If they are—" He did not finish, but smiled quietly to himself.
"Where can we get something to eat?" demanded the first mate, after a rather awkward pause.
"In the galley or the cabin, as you please," said Dick. "But you will have to prepare it yourselves. We have no cook on board."
"Oh, that's it, eh? Well, Guirk can cook pretty good and he can do the trick for us, eh, Guirk?"
"Aye, aye!" answered one of the sailors. "Just show me the victuals an' the stove, an' I'll be after doing the rest in jig time. I'm hungry enough to eat 'most anything."
Dick led the way to the galley and the crowd from the small boat followed; one sailor stopping long enough to tie the rowboat astern.
"Nobody else on board, eh?" said Sid Jeffers, turning suddenly on Dick.
"No, not at present," answered the eldest Rover, boldly.
"Where are you bound?"
"For Tampa Bay."
"What vessel is this?"
"The steam yachtMermaid."
"Did you charter her?"
"No, we found her," answered Dick, resolved to tell the plain truth.
"Found her?" came from the mate and also from Dan Baxter.
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Out here in the gulf."
"Who was on board?" questioned Sack Todd.
"Nobody."
"Nobody!" came from all the newcomers.
"Do you mean to say there wasn't a soul on this boat when you found her?" asked Dan Baxter, in high curiosity.
"That is the truth," said Tom. "She was drifting around, abandoned.We simply climbed on board and took possession."
"Out in the middle of the gulf?" asked the first mate, incredulously.
"Yes."
"Ve vos shipwrecked and vos mighty glad to got on board," said Hans.
"Oh, that's it!" cried Sid Jeffers and a gleam of intelligence shot from his eyes. "Mighty lucky you was, and no error! A ship like this is worth a pile of money. But let us have something to eat and to drink first and then we can talk matters over. A fellow can't pow-wow well on an empty stomach."
He spoke a few words in a low tone to his two men and they passed into the galley, where Hans and Sam showed them the food that was on board. In the meantime Sid Jeffers went on a hunt for liquor, and finding a bottle took a long drink, and then passed it over to Sack Todd and the others.
"Dick, I don't like this at all," whispered Tom, as soon as he could get the chance.
"Neither do I, Tom. I never expected to meet this crowd out here."
"There are six of them, while we number only four," went on the fun-loving Rover.
"Come with me," answered Dick, softly. "Sam, you take charge for a while," he added to his youngest brother.
Dick led the way to the main cabin of theMermaidand to a case which was screwed fast to the wall. Inside were several pistols, and below were several boxes of ammunition.
"I reckon I understand you," said Tom. "We had better arm ourselves at once. There is no telling what those fellows will take it into their heads to do."
"Let us four arm ourselves, and then hide all the other pistols," said Dick. "Then, if they are not armed, we'll have them at something of a disadvantage."
They took four pistols,—one for Sam and another for Hans,—with the necessary cartridges, and then all of the remaining weapons were hidden at the bottom of one of the berths. This accomplished they went on deck again, and called Sam and Hans.
"They are having a big time, eating and drinking," said Sam, as he took the weapon handed to him. "I feel sure we will have trouble sooner or later. Pold, Todd, and Baxter won't want to run the risk of being arrested as soon as we land, and that mate and his men may side with them."
"That isn't the only thing," said Dick. "They know this steam yacht is valuable. The party to bring the vessel in to port will get big money. Didn't the mate speak of it? That shows how his mind was running."
Our friends talked the matter over for some time, but the conversation did not relieve their worry. They felt that there was serious trouble ahead of them and that it might break out at any moment.
"You know the old school whistle," said Dick. "If anybody gets into trouble whistle, and then the others can come to his aid." And so it was agreed.
Not knowing what else to do, Dick went to the pilot house followed by Hans, while Tom returned to the engine room and Sam to his job as fireman. Soon the engine was started up once more, and the steam yacht headed again for the western coast of Florida. It proved to be a clear night, and though there was no moon the stars shone brightly in the heavens.
A full hour went by, during which time the party from theDogstarmade themselves at home aboard theMermaid. They feasted on the best the steam yacht afforded and several of the men drank a good-deal of liquor.
"This is like falling into the softest kind of a snap," declared Sack Todd, after he and Gasper Pold had been talking in a corner for some time. "They don't own this steam yacht any more than we do."
"Right you are," answered the other.
"And if they calculate to take us to Tampa and hand us over to the officers of the law, why—"
"Not much, Todd! I am not going to prison just yet."
"Can you trust Jeffers? You seem to know him pretty well."
"I think I can. Jeffers is close—he likes money—and he sees big money in this steam yacht."
"That's an idea! Now what of the two sailors?"
"I think Guirk and the other fellow will do what the first mate tells them to—especially if he promises them good wages for the job."
"And what of Baxter? Remember, he used to go to school with the Rovers."
"I don't know what to make of him. Sometimes I think he is all right, and then again I don't feel like trusting him."
"That's my way of it, too. We don't want anybody we can't trust in this."
"Oh, he'll have to do as we say."
"Hello, what's up there?" shouted Sid Jeffers, from the bench where he was sitting, finishing some liquor before him.
"We want to talk certain things over," said Gasper Pold. "Come here."
In a cautious manner Sack Todd and Gasper Pold "sounded" the first mate of the ill-fatedDogstar. They said, if they could get control of the steam yacht, it might mean big money to all concerned.
"But what will you do with those Rover boys and the Dutch lad?" askedJeffers.
"Oh, we can either cast them adrift somewhere or else put them off on a deserted shore," answered Sack Todd. "Then I can turn this steam yacht over to a friend of mine—an utter stranger to them—and he can get the salvage on the craft for us and we can divide up."
This plan to make money appealed strongly to the first mate, and he finally agreed to aid the others in gaining possession of the craft. Then the two sailors were instructed by Jeffers and they agreed to do as ordered, leaving the consequences on the mate's shoulders. Finally Dan Baxter was consulted.
"I don't care what you do, so long as we can get away from the officers of the law," said the bully. "But don't kill anybody—I won't stand for that," he added, showing that his hard heart had at least one soft spot in it.
"Say, boy, come down in the cabin; I want to talk to you."
It was Sack Todd who spoke and he addressed Hans, who had left the pilot house to look over the stern, to see if the rowboat was still safe.
"Vot you vonts of me?" asked Hans, in surprise.
"I want to ask you a few questions," returned Todd, smoothly.
Hans was a trifle suspicious, and yet he saw no direct reason for refusing to comply with Sack Todd's request. He followed the ex-counterfeiter across the deck and down the companionway.
"I want to ask your opinion of this letter," said Sack Todd, as he laid a written sheet on the table. "We can't understand it at all. I know you are a pretty smart boy and maybe you can help us."
Flattered by the compliment paid him, the German youth took up the letter and scanned it by the light of the swinging lamp. As he did so, Sack Todd closed the cabin door and motioned to Gasper Pold and Dan Baxter, who stood behind an angle of the wall.
Almost before he could realize it, poor Hans was a prisoner. His arms were held tightly by someone, while someone else thrust a gag into his mouth and fastened it by means of a cloth running to the back of his neck.
"Sthop! ton't choke me!" he gasped, and that was all he was allowed to utter. Then his arms were fastened, and his feet secured.
"Now, into the stateroom with him!" cried Gasper Pold, and the three evildoers lifted the prisoner up, carried him into one of the staterooms, and threw him on the berth. Then the door was closed and locked.
"That's Number One," declared Sack Todd. "And an easy job, too."
"If you can bag the others as easily, it will be a grand job," wasDan Baxter's comment.
"We must get one of those chaps up from below next," said Gasper Pold. "Baxter, you can go down and tell one of them his brother in the wheelhouse wants to see him. We'll catch him on the stairs."
"All right," said the former bully of Putnam Hall.
He hurried down to the engine room and then to the nearest coal bunker, where Sam was shoveling coal.
"Sam!" he called out, to make himself heard.
"Hullo, Dan Baxter, what do you want?"
"Dick wants you on deck at once."
"What for?"
"I don't know—I think Hans has a fit. That Dutch boy always was a queer stick," muttered Dan Baxter.
"All right, I'll go up," answered the youngest Rover, and dropping his shovel, he hurried through the engine room.
"Sam!" called Tom, warningly, but his brother did not hear him on account of the noise made by the machinery.
All unconscious of the trap laid for him, poor Sam started to go on deck, when he was hurled backward in a dark corner of a passageway. Somebody came down on top of him, a gag was forced into his mouth, and a rope was brought into use.
"Let—let up!" he managed to say. "Help!" And then his wind was completely cut off for the moment until the gag was secured.
But though gagged the youngest Rover was game and did not give up. He squirmed and kicked and landed a blow on Gasper Pold and another on Dan Baxter. In return the former bully of Putnam Hall kicked him in the side, and then the men tied him up, hands and feet.
"Where will you put him?" asked Baxter.
"Put him in another of the staterooms,—for the present," answeredSack Todd. "After we have got them all we can put them somewhere else."
"Shall we search him?" went on Dan Baxter, who was anxious to know what Sam might be carrying.
"Not now—we haven't time."
Poor Sam was placed in a stateroom next to that occupied by Hans, and then the evildoers hurried off to see what they could do in the way of capturing Dick. They expected to take the eldest Rover unawares, but in this they were mistaken.
In the meantime, Tom, full of suspicion from the very start, called up the speaking tube to his brother.
"I say, Dick, what's the mater with Dutchy?"
"Hans? Nothing that I know of," returned Dick. "Why?"
"Dan Baxter was just down here and said you wanted Sam quick—that something was wrong with Hans."
"I didn't send for Sam!" cried Dick, excitedly. He looked around him in the gloom. "Hans isn't here," he went on, down the tube.
"Well, look out—I think something is wrong," shouted back Tom. "Got your pistol handy?"
Dick felt in his pocket, and found the weapon where he had placed it. Then he looked around again, but the deck of theMermaidappeared to be deserted.
"I'm going to see what has become of Sam!" he shouted down the tube."I'll tie the wheel fast."
"Keep out of trouble!" shouted back Tom. "If I don't hear from you pretty quick I'll be up myself," he added.
With his hand on his pistol, Dick left the wheelhouse and walked slowly and cautiously toward the waist of the steam yacht. As he rounded a corner of the cabin he heard a murmur of voices, and the next moment he found himself confronted by Pold, Todd, the mate of theDogstar, and Dan Baxter.
The evildoers were taken somewhat by surprise and halted in confusion. In the semi-darkness Dick saw that one carried a gag and cloth and the two others ropes.
"There he is!" faltered Dan Baxter, before he had time to think.
"No, you don't!" cried Dick, stepping back several paces. "What were you going to do?" he demanded.
"We want to talk to you," answered Sack Todd, smoothly.
"What do you want? Stand back! I don't want any of you to come closer."
"See here, Mr. Rover, it's all right," came from Gasper Pold. "We ain't going to harm you. We only want to have a little peaceable palaver."
"Where is my brother Sam? And where is Hans Mueller?"
"They are both in the cabin. I was going to ask you to join us, in a general talk," said Sack Todd, catching his cue from Gasper Pold as to how best to proceed.
"We want to find out where you are taking us," put in the mate of theDogstar.
"You are acting very queerly," said Dick. He had backed up close to one of the small cabin windows, which was open. "Sam! Hans!" he yelled suddenly, and at the top of his lungs.
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 fromTom. "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.
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 theDogstar.
"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 theMermaiddoing 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 DanBaxter 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 GasperPold. "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 PutnamHall, 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. "AndI 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 theDogstarwere 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.
"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," remarkedSam.
"That makes me more suspicious than ever," answered Dick. "Boys, DanBaxter 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 theDogstar.
"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 theDogstar, 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?" askedTodd, 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 theMermaidtold 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 theDogstarand 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?"